‘Haver,’ the Hebrew word for ‘friend,’ has had quite an amazing comeback to modern Israeli lingo. How do we use it in this day and age and how do we differentiate between a platonic friend and a serious partner?

Words and expressions discussed:

Shalom haver – Goodbye friend – שלום חבר

Heye li haver – Be a friend for me – הייה לי חבר

Tihye/Tihyi/Tihyu – Be! (Imperative) – תהיה/תהיי/תהיו

Ze Ben, haver – This is Ben, a friend – זה בן, חבר

Ze Ben, haver yakar – This is Ben, a dear friend –זה בן, חבר יקר

Ze Ben ha-haver sheli – This is Ben, my boyfriend – זה בן, החבר שלי

Ze Ben, ha-haver – This is Ben, the friend/boyfriend – זה בן, החבר

Ze Ben, ha-ben zoog – This is Ben, my partner –זה בן, הבן זוג

Hu haver-haver o…? – Is he boyfriend or just a friend? – הוא חבר-חבר, או…?

Ken, ze ha-haver – Yes, this is the boyfriend/the friend – כן, זה החבר

Hu haver mamash tov – He’s a really good friend – הוא חבר ממש טוב

Anachnu yedidim – We’re (just) friends – אנחנו (רק) ידידים

Kama ha-haver lo ratsa lavo lekan hayom? – How much did the friend not want to come here today? – כמה החבר לא רצה לבוא לכאן היום?

Ben ha-zoog, Ha-ben zoog – The partner (m.) – בן הזוג, הבן זוג

Bat ha-zoog, Ha-bat zoog – The parnter (f.) – בת הזוג, הבת זוג

Haver shel ha-mishpacha, haver tov shel ha-mishpacha, havera tova shel ha-mishpacha – Family friend – חבר (טוב) של המשפחה

Haverimot – Friends (m.+f.) – חברים/ות, חברים.ות, חבריםות, חברימות

Playlist:
Bill Clinton speech (1995) – Shalom Haver
Teapacks – Yesh Li Havera (lyrics)
Heye Li Haver, Heye Li Ach – Netanela (lyrics)
Agam Rodberg – Guy Pines

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