Chaval Al Hazman
AWESOME
“Chaval al hazman! That
concert was amazing.”
* Literal meaning: waste of time
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Ein Li Musag
I HAVE NO IDEA
“Who’s sitting over there?”
“Ein li musag.”
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Ba Li
I FEEL LIKE
“Ba li pizza.”
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Lo Ba Li
I DON’T FEEL LIKE IT
“Want to drive to Haifa?”
“Lo ba li.”
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Yalla Bye
GOTTA GO
“Thanks for lunch. Yalla bye!”
* “Yalla” is Arabic, “bye” is English, yet “yalla bye” is
the most Israeli!
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Sababa
COOL
“How was the trip? Sababa!”
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Tachlis
PRACTICAL DETAILS
“Tachlis, what still needs to be
done?”
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Kol Hakavod
GOOD JOB!
“You passed the test?
Kol hakavod!”
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Lech / Lechi Al Zeh
GO FOR IT!
“You want to write a book?
Lechi al zeh!”
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Davka
IN SPITE OF / ACTUALLY
“I thought you liked the movie?”
“Davka no, I’m not into it.”
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Yesh Matzav
IT’S POSSIBLE
“Will they join us?”
“Yesh matzav.”
* Literal meaning: there's a situation
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Stam
JUST KIDDING!
“I don’t like chocolate.
Staaaam!”
* Additional meaning: just because
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Ein Matzav
NOT A CHANCE
“Will Israel win the World Cup?”
“Ein matzav.”
* Literal meaning: there isn't a situation
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Eizeh Basah
WHAT A BUMMER!
“The restaurant’s closed?
Eizeh basah.”
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Eizeh Yofi
THAT'S SO GREAT!
“Look at this picture I drew.”
“Eizeh yofi!”
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Yalla
LET'S GO! / LET'S DO IT!
“Everyone ready? Yalla!”
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Mah Pit’om
WHAT ARE YOU TALKING ABOUT?
“We can’t go in there.”
“Mah pit’om?”
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Eich Haya
HOW WAS IT?
“You were at the concert?
Eich haya?”
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Sof Sof
FINALLY
“Sof sof! He made it to class.”
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Efshar
CAN I?
“I want to go to the bathroom.
Efshar?”
* Literal meaning: possible
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Al Hapanim
TERRIBLE
“How was the concert?”
“Ugh, it was al hapanim.”
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Madhim
AMAZING
“How was the concert?”
“Oh, it was madhim!”
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Betach
OF COURSE
“Are you going to camp this
summer?” “Betach!”
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Baduk
FOR SURE
“Are we still doing our
homework together?” “Baduk!”
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Bli Kavanah
I DID NOT MEAN TO
“Hey, you took my bike!”
“Oh, bli kavanah.”
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Shtuyot
NO BIG DEAL
“I'm sorry I broke your glass.”
“Ah, shtuyot.”
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L’gamrei
TOTALLY
“This day was so long.”
“L’gamrei.”
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Chaval
WHAT A SHAME
“I can't make it tomorrow.”
“Oh, chaval!”
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Kef chaim
SUPER FUN
“How was your day at the
beach?” “Kef chaim!”
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Kif
HIGH FIVE
“You made the team? Give me a
kif!”
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Yesh
YAY
“We’re going to Disneyland!”
“Yesh!”
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Zuz/Zuzi
MOVE IT
“You’re in my way! Zuzi!”
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Nu
COME ON ALREADY
“Nu, are you going to answer me?”
—from Yiddish
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Balagan
HOT MESS
“I can’t find anything in this
balagan.”
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Mamash
REALLY
“This dinner was mamash
tasty.”
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Walla
WOW/HUH
“Did you know we get an extra
day off?” “Walla?” —from Arabic
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Gamur/Gmurah
EXHAUSTED
“Did you get any sleep?” “Not at
all, I am gamur/gamurah.”
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Kashuach/Kshuchah
TOUGH
“How was the math test?”
“It was kashuach.”
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Bilti
ANNOYING
“I can’t stand that movie, it’s
bilti!”
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Kitzur
LONG STORY SHORT
“Kitzur, we arrived an hour late.”
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