Cursing* drivers is a national sport in Israel. Here are a few words and phrases you can use the next time someone cuts you off.

* Streetwise Hebrew will not be responsible or liable for any misuse of idioms, words, verbs or adjectives mentioned in this show.

Listen to the All-Hebrew Version of This Episode

New Words and Expressions:

Hel’at ha-min ha-enoshi – Scum of the human race – חלאת המין האנושי

Evil mashrish – Stupid person – אוויל משריש

Ben zona – Son of a bitch – בן זונה

Bat zona – Daughter of a bitch – בת זונה

Mashu ben zona – A helluva thing – משו בנזונה

Maniak – Bastard – מניאק

“Haiyti manyak ve-lo yadati she-ani manyak” – I was really a bastard, and I didn’t know that I was a bastard – הייתי מניאק ולא ידעתי שאני מניאק

Ya Tamer – Hey Tamer – יא תאמר

Ya maniak – You bastard – יא מניאק

Ya ben zona – You son of a bitch – יא בן זונה

Chatichat, chatchat – A piece of… – חתיכת, חת’כת

Chat’chat efes (chatichat efes) – You piece of nobody – חת’כת אפס, חתיכת אפס

Ima’shcha (Ima shelcha) – Your mother – אמאש’ך, אמא שלך

​Playlist and Clips:

Natan Zehavi

Ha-tayarim – Imash’cha (lyrics)

Oum Kalthoum – Alf Leila

Shotei Ha-Nevu’a – Hayiti Manyak (lyrics)

Episode no. 49

Episode no. 242

It happens all the time. Someone cut you in the line at a Tel Avivi market, just stepped right in front. What do you say to put them back in their place? That is, back behind you in the queue. Let's learn what Israelis say in this situation, paying special attention to delicate intonations that make all the difference.

Listen to the All-Hebrew Version of this Episode

Words and expressions discussed:

Ze rak she'ela – It's just a question – זה רק שאלה

Slicha – Sorry / Excuse me – סליחה

Ani hayiti kodem - I was (here) before – אני הייתי קודם

Chutspa – Nerve – חוצפה

Halo-halo! – Hey! – הלו-הלו

Halo, ma niya? – What's going on? – ?הלו, מה נהיה

Lo lo lo / Lo lo lo lo lo – No, no, no – לא לא לא / לא לא לא לא לא

Achshav ani – Now it's my turn – עכשיו אני

Achi / Haver / Gever / Adoni – Dude / mate / man / Sir – אחי / חבר / גבר / אדוני

Hayita po? – Were you here? – ?היית פה

Gvirti slicha, ani kodem – Ma'am excuse me, I am first – גבירתי סליחה, אני קודם

Episode 144 on 'nihya'

Music:

Matti Caspi - Slicha (lyrics)

Amir Benayoun - Mehila (lyrics)

George Bar – Halo, halo

Shotei Ha-nevu'a - Yefehfiya (lyrics)

Rivka Michaeli & Ran Eliran – Lo Lo Lo (lyrics)

Ha-haverim shel Natasha – Achshav Ani (lyrics)

Tsipi Shavit – Gveret Shokolada (lyrics)