Just a Sec: Hustling Patience Like an Israeli

So you’re in Israel. You’re chatting away with someone, and then they stop you mid-sentence. Surprise, surprise. How do you tell someone to “wait a minute” or “hold on a second?” Today host Guy Sharett talks about one of the most popular words in Hebrew, rega, moment, but also “just a moment.”

Words and expressions discussed:

Rega, rega’im – Moment/s – רגע, רגעים

Rega, nahag – Just a sec., driver – רגע, נהג

Efshar rega she’ela? – May I just ask one question? – אפשר רגע שאלה?

Rak shniya/daka – Just a second/minute – רק שנייה/דקה

Haké , haki, haku – Wait (imperative, m., f., pl.) – חכה, חכי, חכו

Haké shniya/rega –  Wait a bit– חכה שנייה/רגע

Haké-haké/haki-haki – Just you wait – חכה-חכה/חכי-חכי

Tsohek mi she-tsohek aharon – He who laughs last, laughs the best – צוחק מי שצוחק אחרון

Ten/tni li daka/shniya – Give me a minute – תן/תני לי דקה/שנייה

Ten li daka/rega lir’ot – Give me a moment to see – תן לי דקה/רגע לראות

Rak daka/shniya/rega – Just a moment – רק דקה/שנייה/רגע

Od rega/shniya/daka – One sec. – עוד רגע/שנייה/דקה

Od rega, ha-shakshuka ba-derekh – Just a sec., the shakshuka is on the way – עוד רגע, השקשוקה בדרך

Savlanut – Patience – סבלנות

Haké be-savlanut ba-tsad – Wait patiently on the side – חכה בסבלנות בצד

Music:
Ha-tarnegolim – Shir Ha-shchuna (lyrics)
Corinne Alal & Inbal Perelmutter – Kshe-ze Amok (lyrics)
Mati Caspi – Afilu Daka (lyrics)
Trem da Onze – Gal Costa
My Fair Lady – Just you wait
Hava Alberstein & Arik Sinai – Shuv (lyrics)
Hava Alberstein – Ha-layla hu shirim (lyrics)
Shlomo Artzi – La’azazel Eich Lo Yadati (lyrics)

 

The Hebrew Verb Tables app is available to everyone on the iOS App Store and Google Play Store

Looking to support the show? Learn how on Patreon.

 

Want to see more Hebrew gems? Like Streetwise Hebrew on Facebook and Instagram.

Want Guy to talk about a pressing Hebrew issue? Find him at StreetWiseHebrew.com or follow him on Twitter.

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