Photo: Zipa Kempinsky

We all know the symptoms: Runny nose, cough, and headaches. What do Israelis say when they go to see their family doctor?

New Words and Expressions:

Ani mekorar, mekoreret – I have a cold – אני מקורר, אני מקוררת

Ani metsunan, metsunenet – I have a cold – אני מצונן, אני מצוננת

Hatafti tsinun – I caught the cold – חטפתי צינון

Ani metsunan/metsunenet kvar kama yamim – I’ve been having this cold for a few days – אני מצונן, מצוננת כבר כמה ימים 

Yesh li tsinoon she-lo over – I have a cold that won’t go away – יש לי צינון שלא עובר

Yesh hom? – Do you have a fever? – יש חום

Shi’ul – A cough – שיעול

Shi’ul yavesh – Dry cough – שיעול יבש

Shi’ul lach – “Humid” cough – שיעול לח

Leicha – Mucus – ליחה

Shiul she-lo over – A cough that won’t go away – שיעול שלא עובר

Lehishtael – To cough – להשתעל

Ata mishtael, at mishtaelet? – Do you have a cough? – אתה משתעל, את משתעלת

Tishtael rega, tishta’ali rega – Cough please – תשתעל רגע, תשתעלי רגע

Nazelet – Runny nose – נזלת

“Ha-shafan ha-katan shachach lisgor ha-delet” – The little rabbit forgot to close the door – השפן הקטן שכח לסגור הדלת

“Hitstanen, ha-misken, ve-kibel nazelet” – The poor thing got a cold and a runny nose – הצטנן המסכן וקיבל נזלת

Ani menuzal, ani menuzelet – I have a runny nose – אני מנוזל, אני מנוזלת

“Kartis?” – Card – כרטיס

“Ken, ani itcha/ani itach” – Yes, I am with you – כן, אני איתך

Linshom amok, tinshom amok, tinshemi amok – Take a deep breath – לנשום עמוק, תנשום עמוק, תנשמי עמוק

Po, koev? – Does it hurt here? – פה, כואב

Ani roshem lecha/lach antibiotika – I am prescribing you antibiotics – אני רושם לך אניטיביוטיקה

Tihye bari! Tihyi bri’ah – Be well – תהייה בריא, תהיי בריאה

Ha-ba ba-tor! – Next in line – הבא בתור

Mi achshav – Who’s now? – מי עכשיו

Playlist and Clips:

Shi’ul – Cough

Miriam Avigal – Ha-shafan Ha-katan (lyrics)

Hanna Aharoni – Ha-shafan Ha-katan

Mike Burstyin – Ha-shafan Ha-katan (lyrics)

Ep. 3 about Tihye bari, be well

Ep. 113 about rofe, doctor

Ep. 177 about himum, heating

Ep. 210 about lahtof, to grab

Ep. 230 about misken, poor thing

Ep. 278 about getting well soon

Ep. 280 about chilly & chill

Ep. 289 about hom, fever 

Zemereshet, documenting old Hebrew songs

Previous Episodes

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