The Hebrew word ‘sherut’ means ‘service,’ but the plural – ‘sherutim’ – is more commonly used to mean something quite different. From toilets to angels, Guy Sharett teaches us what else we can learn from this root. Hope you’re happy with our sherut!
New Words and Expressions:
Sherut – Service – שירות
Lesharet – To serve – לשרת
Hi mesharetet – She serves – היא משרתת
Sherut tsva’i – Army service – שירות צבאי
Sherut le’umi – National service – שירות לאומי
Sherut atsmi – Self service – שירות עצמי
Monit sherut – Shared taxi – מונית שירות
Sherut lakochot – Customer service – שירות לקוחות
Sherut chadarim – Room service – שירות חדרים
Sherutim – Toilets, bathroom – שירותים
Sherutim tsiburiyim – Public toilets – שירותים ציבוריים
Hayinu me’ashnim be-sherutei ha-banim – We used to smoke in the boys toilets – היינו מעשנים בשירותי הבנים
Sheruti – Service-oriented – שירותי
Le-sherutcha – At your service – לשירותך
Lo kolel sherut – Doesn’t include service – לא כולל שירות
Sharat – Computer server; janitor – שרת
Mal’achey ha-sharet – Ministering angels – מלאכי השרת
Shalom aleychem mal’achey ha-sharet – Peace be upon you, ministering angels – שלום עליכם מלאכי השרת
Playlist and Clips:
Arik Einstein – Ani Roe’e Ota Ba-derech La-gimnasya (Lyrics)
Monit Sherut
TV10 story about public toilets
Yehuda Poliker – Sof Ha-zikaron (Lyrics)
Sasi Keshset – Shalom Aleychem (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.
Great lesson. Keep the good work.
Guy, upon listening to your program on Sherut you drew my interest as it regards the meaning of sherut, service and your surname. My surname is similar, Chertow albeit an Americanized from the Russian. I was told by some the Churt and the ov, meant from the devil. What’s going on here? I most certainly like the Hebrew interpretation, service.
Well, I am not sure Chertow and Chertok have the same etymology. I was told devil could be related, but there were also other options. I am not an expert on this.