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 – Penis – זין
Koos –Vagina – כוס
“Ha-aretz mitpatachat kmo ha-zayin sheli” – “The country is developing like my dick” – הארץ מתפתחת כמו הזין שלי
Yedidoot – Friendship – ידידות
Yezizoot – “friendship with benefits” – יזיזות
Yadid – Platonic friend – ידיד
Yaziz – Friend with benefit – יזיז
Eize zayin – What a bummer – איזה זין
Eize zayin hu – He is such a prick – איזה זין הוא
Ani sam zayin – I don’t give a damn – אני שם זין
Lasim zayin – Not to give a damn – לשים זין
Ani lo sam alav zayin – I don’t give a damn about him – אני לא שם עליו זין
Al hazayin sheli – I don’t care – על הזין שלי
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 under youtube clip)
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.
does יזיזות only refer to friends with benefits if a penis is involved? can it be used for women fuck buddies too?
Yes, yezizut is a general term.
Bravo for the podcast.
I learn both hebrew and english with you.
Toda Raba
Daniel, From Paris, trsarfat
Thanks to you for these musical examples because they help to remember words much easier than from other podcasts ! I am not a young chick, but it is true. Тhe opera piece sounds in my ears while I am writing … Funny, but helpful ,, toda”!