- "The food here is נורא טעים (terribly tasty)!" - "What are you talking about? It’s נורא ואיום (terrible and orrible)!" In modern Hebrew, the word נוֹרָא  ( nora ) is commonly used in two main ways: Very bad or terrible:  For example, מזג אוויר נורא  (terrible weather) or הרגשתי נורא  (I felt terrible). Very or extremely:  For example, נורא יפה  (terribly beautiful) or התעצבנתי נורא  (I got extremely annoyed). While the second usage is common in colloquial speech, it is best

Let’s be real—we’re all using AI these days. Or at least, most of us are. And truth be told? It’s actually a fantastic tool for language learning—provided you know how to wield it. At Ulpan Aviv Bertele (UAB) , we believe AI should complement a structured program, not replace it. It’s about enriching your vocabulary and getting that extra practice outside the classroom. Our personal favorite? Gemini.  There’s something about the way it thinks—it feels deeper and more intuitiv

When is it correct to use מעולם , and when should you use לעולם ? The rule is simple: מעולם  is for the past, and לעולם  is for the future. The adverb מעולם  is used with past-tense verbs to mean "always" or "since the beginning of time." For example: "Your throne is established from of old; מעולם  You are."  (Psalms 93:2) "And perhaps, these things מעולם  did not happen."  (Rachel the Poetess) "Have you ever skydived?" – "I have מעולם  not skydived, but I’d really love to tr

In honor of Tu Bishvat , the New Year for Trees, it is the perfect time to explore the beautiful nuances of the Hebrew language regarding growth and renewal. While in English we often use the general term "planting," the Hebrew language offers a precise vocabulary— Nata , Shatal , and Zara —each carrying its own unique history and meaning. Here is a breakdown of these terms and how they have evolved from Biblical times to modern Hebrew. When we go out to the fields or gardens

Forget everything you thought you knew about your light bill. The word חַשְׁמַל  (Electricity) is a linguistic rollercoaster that travels from ancient mystical visions to modern-day power grids. Here is the story of how a "holy spark" became the word for your iPhone charger. The Mystery of the חַשְׁמַל  The word חַשְׁמַל  is one of the Bible’s most famous "missing links." It appears only three times in the entire Tanakh—all within the Book of Ezekiel. The prophet describes

In the rainy season, we encounter a variety of Hebrew nicknames for the showers that visit our land. One of them is גשם זלעפות. Well – what are "זלעפות"? The singular form זַלְעָפָה and the plural forms זַלְעָפוֹת or זִלְעָפוֹת appear in the Bible, each once, and all three not in the context of rain. The closest to the matter is the one in Psalms 11:6: "יַמְטֵר עַל רְשָׁעִים פַּחִים אֵשׁ וְגׇפְרִית, וְרוּחַ זִלְעָפוֹת מְנָת כּוֹסָם" (Upon the wicked He shall rain snares, fire

If you have spent any time in an Ulpan , you already know the name Eliezer Ben-Yehuda . He is the legendary Mechaye HaSafah  (Reviver of the Language), the stubborn visionary who insisted on speaking Hebrew when everyone else spoke Yiddish, Ladino, or Russian. You know him as the father of Modern Hebrew, but the actual details of his life are often just as fascinating as the myth. How did a boy from a traditional background end up revolutionizing a language? How did he invent

Learning Hebrew is often about discovering layers. You might learn one word for "dance," only to discover three others that mean something slightly different depending on whether you are at a wedding, the ballet, or reading the Psalms. Today, we are looking at four essential words for anyone interested in the arts and culture: ריקוד  (Rikud), מחול  (Machol), להקה  (Lahaka), and הופעה  (Hofa’ah). We will explore how to use them today and where they come from in the Tanach and

Animal names have contributed significantly to the Hebrew vocabulary, providing us with quite a few verbs. Some of these verbs stem from borrowing the animal’s name to indicate a human trait, and while many were born in slang and colloquial speech, some have maintained a long-standing grip on our language. Verbs from Spoken Language The verb הִתְחַזֵּר This means to behave rudely (especially in the context of food) or wickedly—in short, to act like a חֲזִיר . The animal חֲזִ

Tomorrow (December 25th) marks the Christian festival of Christmas. In Jewish tradition, the designation for this holiday is ניטל  (pronounced Nittel ), a term originally derived from Yiddish. The etymological root of the word lies in ancient Latin ( Dies Natalis  – Day of Birth). This phrase underwent a slight shift in Medieval Latin ( Natale Domini  – Birth of the Lord), and from there, it likely made its way into Yiddish. In Ashkenazi Jewish tradition, various customs were

We are often asked if there is a real difference between the words סופה  (Sufah) and סערה  (Se'arah), and if so—what is it? The Biblical Context: A Tale of Synonyms In the Bible, סוּפָה  and סְעָרָה  (or סַעַר ) are considered synonyms. Both terms describe a fierce wind, and metaphorically, they denote turmoil, noise, and even anger or wrath. For example, looking at the Book of Amos (1:14): "I will set fire to the wall of Rabbah, and it shall devour her strongholds, with shou

Rain and wind are both characteristic of winter days and have been connected since ancient times. In the prayer for rain we say: "מַשִּׁיב הָרוּחַ וּמוֹרִיד הַגֶּשֶׁם" . And of course, there’s the well-known proverb: "נְשִׂיאִים וְרוּחַ וְגֶשֶׁם אָיִן – אִישׁ מִתְהַלֵּל בְּמַתַּת שָׁקֶר"  (Proverbs 25:14), meaning: someone who makes promises but never follows through is like clouds ( נשיאים ) and wind that bring no rain. The word רוּחַ  originally refers to a gust or breath o

The word תקציב  is most likely one of Eliezer Ben-Yehuda’s innovations, even though it does not appear in his dictionary. Its first recorded appearance is from 1906, in a report published in the newspaper השקפה  (edited by Ben-Yehuda) about the budget of the Hebrew Gymnasium in Jaffa. Itamar Ben-Avi testified in a letter that his father coined the word (לשוננו לעם לג [תשמ"ב], עמ' 91). The use of the root קצ"ב  in the context of determining sums of money is ancient in Hebrew.

Many Hebrew learners wonder  whether it is correct to say: המורה ביקשה לרשום חיבור", רשמתי" ,"מאמר", or "רשום בתורה". This confusion appears  because the two verbs seem similar, but they are not interchangeable. A clear distinction exists  between רָשַׁם and כָּתַב in both history and usage. Katav: The Standard Verb for Writing Words Historical evidence shows  that כָּתַב has been widely used since Biblical times. Some scholars believe  that כָּתַב originally referred to engr

In modern Hebrew, both expressions ראש עיר  ( Rosh Ir ) and ראש עירייה  ( Rosh Iriyah ) are used to refer to the leader of a city. Hebrew learners often ask which term is more correct. The answer is that both are acceptable , but the nuance between them is important. The difference is not grammatical but conceptual. ראש עירייה  emphasizes the official administrative position within the municipal government. It aligns with the modern governmental structure and parallels expres

What is the origin of the word "גיוס" (giyus) ? The word "גַּיִס" (gais)  appears in Hebrew for the first time in the Mishnah , where it is stated that if you were traveling during Pesach  and remembered that there is chametz  at home, you don’t need to return immediately — as long as you’re on your way to rescue someone from a “גיס” ( Pesachim  3:7). But what exactly is a גַיִס ? The word "גיס"  is borrowed from Aramaic  — the common language of the Middle East in the Mishna

Both phrases — “הגעתי הַבַּיְתָה” and “הגעתי לַבַּיִת” — are correct. The form הביתה  parallels לבית , much like other pairs such as...

From "מועדים לשמחה" to "חג שמח": The Story Behind Our Holiday Greetings The familiar greeting "חג שמח"  rolls easily off the tongue...

Over the years, the word turned from derogatory slang into a label proudly used within the religious community. How is it possible that a...

You study Hebrew and practice in the classroom—but still struggle to understand Israelis in real life. Why? Here’s a tip worth saving. We...