Photo: Yonatan Sindel/Flash90

The word סחבק comes from Arabic and means “your friend.” So what’s its meaning when used in Hebrew? And what’s סחבקייה? Oh, and there’s even a verb, להסתחבק. Guy explains.

New Words and Expressions:

“Sahbak qal li” – Your friend told me (Ar.) –  صاحبك قالي – סחבק קאל לי

“Ve’az sahbak ro’eh she-hamatsav lo tov” – And then yours truly sees that things are not going well”. – ואז סחבק רואה שהמצב לא טוב

Ha-sahbakiyoot ha-israelit – The notion of the lack of protocol, and genuine friendliness in Israel – הסחבקיות הישראלית

Fraier – Sucker – פראייר

“Sahbak lo fraier” – I am not a fraier – סחבק לא פראייר

Hibook sahbaki – A hearty hug – חיבוק סחבקי

Sahbakiya – Army slang for lack of distance – סחבקייה

“Patachnu po sahbakiya?” – We’re not friends hanging out together – פתחנו פה סחבקייה

I am not your sahbak – I am not your mate – אני לא סחבק שלך

Lehistahbek – To be chummy with someone – להסתחבק

“Nisiti lehistahbek im ha-shoter, aval ze lo halach li” – I tried to be chummy with the policeman, but it didn’t work out – ניסיתי להסתחבק עם השוטר אבל זה לא הלך לי

“Ehud Barak lo sahbak, manhig” – Ehud Barak is not a dude, he’s a leader – אהוד ברק לא סחבק, מנהיג

Lashevet, lakoom – To sit, to stand up – לשבת, לקום

“Dai im ha-nimnoom, sahbak lo rotse lihyot radoom” – Enough with the numbness, sahbak does not want to be numb – די עם הנמנום, סחבק לא רוצה להיות רדום

Playlist and Clips:

Hassan El Asmar – Sahbak Qal Li 

Tachles – Shuvo shel ha-sahbak (lyrics)

Sahbak lo fraier

Shabak Samech – Lashevet: Lakoom! (lyrics)

Ep. no. 67 about Fraier, sucker HEB

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