A gay couple at a mock wedding organized by the Israel's Meretz party. Photo by Amir Levy/FLASH90

Gay marriage is new to the world, and Hebrew, a gender-based language, has to face the music and find new ways to talk about it. On this episode, Guy talks about an email from a married gay listener.

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Words and expressions discussed:

Lahatab – LGBT – להט”ב – לסביות, הומואים, טרנס, בי
Zeh ishi – This is my man – זה אישי
Zeh ba’ali – This is my husband – זה בעלי
Zeh ben hazug sheli / Ze haben-zug sheli – זה בן הזוג שלי / זה הבנזוג שלי
U-ma im ba’ala yod’ea – And what if her husband knows – ומה אם בעלה יודע
Ba’al – Husband, owner – בעל
Ba’al ha-bait (Balabayit) – Landlord, business owner, boss – בעל הבית
Ba’ali – My husband – בעלי
Liv’ol – To have intercourse with someone – לבעול
Be’ila – Intercourse – בעילה
Bba’alo – His husband – בעלו
Ishta – Her wife – אישתה
Efshar ledaber im ha-balabayit? – May I speak to the owner? – אפשר לדבר עם הבעלבית
Ba’al ha-bayit hishtage’a – The landlord became crazy – בעל הבית השתגע
Ba’al hayim – Animal – בעל חיים
Ba’aley hayim – Animals – בעלי חיים, בע”ח
Be’alim – Owner (also: husbands) – בעלים
Ata ha-be’alim – You are the owner – אתה הבעלים
Efo ha-be’alim? – Where is the owner/Where are the owners? -איפה הבעלים?
Efo ha-ba’al? – Where is the husband? – איפה הבעל?
Az kach ba’alut al ha-neches shelcha – So take ownership of your asset – אז קח בעלוּת על הנכס שלך
Ba’alut – Ownership – בעלוּת
Lakachat ba’alut – To take ownership – לקחת בעלוּת

Playlist:
David Broza – Sigaliyot (lyrics)
Omer Adam – Wai Li (lyrics)
Eden Ben Zaken – Ba Li Od (lyrics)
Animals (ba’aley hayim) for kids
Manual for home ownership (ba’alut)

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Want Guy to talk about a pressing Hebrew issue? Find him at StreetWiseHebrew.com or follow him on Twitter.

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