The word כבר, meaning “already,” has so many functions in modern Hebrew that we decided to dedicate an entire episode to it.
New Words and Expressions:
Kvar acharey chatzot – It’s already past midnight – כבר אחרי חצות
Nu, dai kvar – Come on, enough already – נו, די כבר
Achalta kvar – Have you already eaten? – אכלת כבר
Ani kvar ba – I will come soon – אני כבר בא
Wow, chatzot kvar – Wow, it’s already midnight – וואו, חצות כבר
Ne’emar kvar ha-kol – Everything has already been said – נאמר כבר הכל
Ha-kol kvar ne’emer – Everything has already been said – הכל כבר נאמר
Achaltem kvar / kvar achaltem? – Have you already eaten? – אכלתם כבר / כבר אכלתם
“Geshem, red kvar geshem” – Rain, come down already – גשם, רד כבר גשם
Dai kvar – Enough already! – די כבר
Yalla, Bo kvar! – Come already! – יאללה, בוא כבר
Ata ba? Kvar, kvar. – Are you coming? In a sec. – אתה בא? כבר, כבר
Kvar ba’im – We’re coming in a sec. – כבר באים
Ani kvar hozer elecha – I’ll get back to you shortly – אני כבר חוזר אליך
Anachnu kvar ochlim – We’ll start eating soon – אנחנו כבר אוכלים
Anachnu kvar ochlim – We’re already eating (why are you late?) – אנחנו כבר אוכלים
Ani Kvar Ba – I am coming in a minute – אני כבר בא
“Adon Kimat and Gveret Kvar” – Mr. almost and Mrs. Already – אדון כמעט וגברת כבר
Playlist and Clips:
Ilanit – Kvar Aharei Hatsot (lyrics)
Ha-haverim shel Natasha – Ne’emar Kvar Ha-kol (lyrics)
Kaveret – Shir Ha-makolet (lyrics)
Yehudit Ravits – Balada al Adon Kim’at Ve-gveret Kvar (lyrics)
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.
