This week we’re celebrating half a million downloads of our podcast, so host Guy Sharett has decided to dedicate this episode to “hatsi/hetsi” – “half” in Hebrew. From telling the time, to sports, to fashion, “hetsi” gets everywhere. But when do we say “hetsi” and when “hatsi”? Listen to find out.
New words & expressions:
Omrim li she-ani hatsi benadam ve-hi hatsi meshuga’at – They tell me that I am half a person and that she’s half crazy – אומרים לי שאני חצי בנאדם והיא חצי משוגעת
Hetsi/Hatsi, pl. hatsa’im – Half, halves – חצי, חצאים
Hatsi olam sone hatsi – Half the world hates the other half – חצי עולם שונא חצי
Tsarat rabim hatsi nechama – Distress of many people is half consolation; “others’ troubles are a half-consolation” – צרת רבים חצי נחמה
Matsati li heder va-hetsi – I found myself a room-and-a-half – מצאתי לי חדר וָחצי
Hamesh va-hetsi – Half past five – חמש וחצי
Hatsi daka – Half a minute – חצי דקה
Ten li hatsi daka – Give me a second – תן לי חצי דקה
Hatsi gmar, hatsi ha-gmar – Semi finals, the semi finals – חצי גמר, חצי הגמר
Mahatsit – Half – מחצית
Ba-mahatsit ha-rishona – In the first half – במחצית הראשונה
Hatsi ee – Peninsula – חצי אי
Hetsi ko’ach – Half power; “not so amazing” – חצי כוח
Eich lahafoch simla le-hatsait – How to turn a dress into a skirt – איך להפוך שמלה לחצאית
Hatsot – Midnight – חצות
Kvar aharey hatsot – It’s already past midnight – כבר אחרי חצות
Ma’avar hatsaya/hatsiya – Pedestrian crossing; zebra crossing – מעבר חצייה
Hatsiya – Crossing – חצייה
Kavim – Lines – קווים
Hatsiyat kavim – Lines crossing; “crossing the line” – חציית קווים
Hetsi-hetsi – Half-half; split into halves – חֵצי חֵצי
Looking for the monologue text? It’s available to our patrons at patreon.com/streetwisehebrew.
Playlist and clips:
Nimrod Lev & Orly Perl – Ze Kol Ha-kesem (Lyrics)
Shlomo Artzi – Tachat Shmey Yam Ha-tichon (Lyrics)
Yehuda Poliker – Halon La-yam Ha-tichon (Lyrics)
Hamesh va-hetsi TV show
Ha-paytan reality show
Eich lahafoch simla le-chatsa’it – how to turn a dress into a skirt
Ilanit – Kvar Acharey Hatsot (Lyrics)
Iluf kelev, dog training
MK Shelly Yehimovich on “hatsiyat kavim”
Sadyle – Hetzi (Lyrics)
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Want Guy to talk about a pressing Hebrew issue? Find him at StreetWiseHebrew.com or follow him on Twitter.
