In Hebrew, שירה means singing. It can also be used to mean poetry. It depends on the context. On this episode, Guy reviews the words that stem from the root ש/י/ר and several well-known phrases that make use of them.
New Words and Expressions:
Nurit – Buttercup – נורית
Agav – Speaking of, apropos – אגב
Shira – Singing, Poetry – שירה
Shira be-tsibur – Singalong – שירה בציבור
Ha-cohenet ha-gdola – The high priestess – הכוהנת הגדולה
Meshorer, meshoreret – Poet – משורר, משוררת
Le-ma Hitkaven Ha-meshorer? – What did the poet mean? – ?למה התכוון המשורר
Festival Ha-Zemer Ve-ha-pizmon Ha-israeli – The Israel song festival – פסטיבל הזמר והפזמון הישראלי
Zemer – A song – זמר
Pizmon – The chorus section of a song – פזמון
“Ve-ha-zamar yezamer” – And the singer will sing – והזמר יזמר
Zamar, zameret – Singer – זמר, זמרת
Hu yezamer ba-chakira – He’s going to sing like a bird in the interrogation – הוא יזמר בחקירה
Machazemer (pl. machazot zemer) – A musical (machaze+zemer) – מחזמר
Mizmor – Hymn, chant – מזמור
Zamrir – Jingle – זמריר
Playlist and Clips:
Nurit Galron – Ma Yihye Be-sofenu (lyrics)
Sarale Sharon – Shira be-tsibur
Festival Ha-Zemer Ve-ha-pizmon Ha-israeli
The Israel Song Festival (Wikipedia)
The Revivo Project – Od Yom Yavo (lyrics)
Hanny Nahmias – Dvarim She-oti Mesamchim (lyrics)
Shlishiyat Af-Ozen-Garon – Sarah shara shir same’ach (lyrics)
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fed up with 2020!!!
I listen to your podcasts every Sunday morning. I particularly like Streetwize Hebrew which keeps me updated with Hebrew since we visit our children every year except 2020.
Toda raba, thanks for listening, Bill!
I loved the story by Nurit. It rang many bells with my own experiences growing up in UK with name Yoav. When I visited Israel it was great to hear my name pronounced easily but of course in Hebrew the emphasis is on the second syllable “av” rather than first “yo” as in English.
Top little podcast, Guy. Nurit’s story is so sweet. Such a warm telling of her personal feelings about her name and how frustrating her younger years were with ‘Philistines’ mispronouncing it all the time, or worse, changing it without her permission. I can imagine the annoyance that could build up over time.
I’m going over to have a look at your own website now. Keep up the good work.