The word זַיִן, which is also how we say the 7th letter of the Hebrew alphabet, is defined as the male reproductive organ. It is a word we hear a lot in Hebrew because it is in many slang terms – many of which are not necessarily related to sex.
Today we learn a few of these sayings and find out the connection between the term ‘friends with benefits’ and Austrian composer Franz Schubert.
New Words and Expressions:
Zayin – זַיִן
Koos – כּוּס
Ha-aretz mitpatachat kmo ha-zayin sheli – הָאַרֶץ מִתְפַּתַּחַת כְּמוֹ הַזַּיִן שֶלִי
Yezizoot – יְזִיזוּת
Yadid > yaziz – יָדִיד > יָזִיז
Eize zayin – אֵיזֶה זַיִן
Eize zayin hu –הוּא אֵיזֶה זַיִן
Ani sam zayin – אֲנִי שָׂם זַיִן
Lasim zayin – לָשִׂים זַיִן
Ani lo sam alav zayin – אֲנִי לֹא שָׂם עָלָיו זַיִן
Al hazayin sheli – עַל הַזַּיִן שֶלִי
Playlist and Clips:
Alef-bet – Naomi Shemer, lyrics
Franz Schubert – Gretchen am Spinnrade
Rami Kleinstein – Chutz mimech klum, lyrics
Johnny Blaze – Yedidim o yezizim
Yafti – Dvarim Muzari, lyrics
Hagar Dadon – Al ha-zayin sheli, 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.
Thanks, Guy! Just saw/listened to this episode at my computer. I left Israel in 89 and have been back to visit a lot, but wow, so many new words and expressions! Thanks for keeping me culturally up to date!
כל הכבוד, Judy
Toda raba Judy! Thanks so much for your kind words. We have more than 250 episodes waiting for you on your podcast app.