Streetwise Texting: The Hebrew Booty Call

What’s happened to Hebrew-speaking romantics in these days of Whatsapp, Facebook and Twitter? How do they convey their feelings in 140 characters?

Guy Sharett analyzes a unique song called ‘Smiley,’ whose lyrics are a collection of one-liners, sometimes just one word long, taken from real online chats between Israeli couples.

And, most importantly, which Hebrew word is used by Israelis to text their ex-partners at 3am?

New Words and Expressions:

Er/Era – Are you up (awake)? – ער/ערה

Daber/dabri iti – Talk to me – דבר/דברי איתי

Hit’orart? – Did you get up? – התעוררת

Lehit’orer – To wake up – להתעורר

Tachzor/Tachzeri elai – Get back to me – תחזרי אליי

Halo? Yachas! – Hey, can I get some attention here? – הלו? יחס

Yachas – Treatment, attitude, attention – יחס

Yechasim – Relations – יחסים

Kara mashehu – Did something happen? – קרה משהו

Likrot – To happen – לקרות

Eifo at? – Where are you? – איפה את

Bi-fgisha (be-pgisha) – In a meeting – בפגישה

Bensi’a – In the car – בנסיעה

Be-bayit – In a home – בְּבית

Ba-bayit – At home – בַּבית

Techef – In a sec. – תיכף

Mi ze – who is it? – מי זה

Mitkasher me-chasum – I am calling from a blocked number – מתקשר מֵחסום

Tafsiki lesanen – Stop screening – תפסיקי לסנן

Mesanenet – Strainer – מסננת

Ma nish (Ma nishma) – How are you? – מה ניש?

Daber elay – Talk to me – דבר אליי

Lo chashuv – It doesn’t matter – לא חשוב

Izvi (azvi) – Let it go – עזבי

Smiley boche – Crying face emoji – סמיילי בוכה

Smiley korets – Winking face emoji – סמיילי קורץ

Smiley tsochek – Smiley – סמיילי צוחק

Ch ch ch – LOL – חחח

Playlist and Clips:

Daniel Solomon – Ma nish? Daber Elai

Ep. 80 about digital Hebrew

Ep. 253 about LOL

Ep. 258 about azov

Ep. 271 about yachas

Ep. 286 about foreign words in Hebrew

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