Eavesdrop on any phonecall on a bus or sherut in Israel, count to ten, and you’ll probably hear be’emet? (‘really?’)
‘Truth,’ emet, and its derivatives are found in all shapes and sizes in Hebrew. Host Guy Sharett teaches us some words and expressions with the alef-mem-tav root… we mean it! Be’emet!
New Words and Expressions:
“Rak sheteda et haemet” – Just that you know the truth – רק שתדע את האמת
Ta’emet/Ha-emet – I’ll give you the truth, to be honest – ת’אמת/האמת
Kol haemet verak emet – The truth and nothing but the truth – כל האמת ורק אמת
“Aval im telchi im ha-emet shelach at targishi tov im atsmech” – If you’re true to yourself, you’ll feel good with yourself – אבל אם תלכי עם האמת שלך את תרגישי טוב עם עצמך
“Ma ha-chayim ha-ele bli le’ehov, be’emet vemikarov” – What is this life without loving, truthfully and closely – מה החיים האלה בלי לאהוב, באמת ומקרוב
Be-emet – Really? / really – באמת
Be’emet toda raba! – Thank you very much, thanks for nothing – באמת תודה רבה
Nu, be’emet – Give me a break – נו, באמת
“U-miyad achar kach bi-zman emet” – Up next, in real time – ומייד אחר כך בזמן אמת
Mechonat emet – Lie detector – מכונת אמת
Emet o chova – Truth or dare – אמת או חובה
Gever amiti – A real man – גבר אמיתי
Amiti, achi – For real, dude – אמיתי, אחי
Le’amet – To verify – לאמת
Le’amet pratim – To verify the details – לאמת פרטים
Imut – Verification – אימות
For verification – Le-imut – לאימות
Playlist and Clips:
Sarit Hadad – Rak she-teda et ha-emet (lyrics)
Ha-click – Kol Ha-emet (lyrics)
Muki – Be’emet U-mi-karov (lyrics)
Yoni Rechter – Even min Ha-lev (lyrics)
Ehud Banay – Masach Ha-barzel (lyrics)
Riki Gal – Emet O Chova (lyrics)
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Want Guy to talk about a pressing Hebrew issue? Find him at StreetWiseHebrew.com or follow him on Twitter.
