In Hebrew, נחמה (nechama) means consolation, comfort. It’s also a woman’s first name. The difference comes down to pronunciation. Today Guy explains how to give your condolences and how to jokingly comfort a friend who was delivered a cold pizza.
Bonus: How do we say “Misery loves company”? How about comfort food?
New Words and Expressions:
Ko zkukim le-nechama – We really need consolation – כה זקוקים לנחמה
Nechama – Comfort, consolation – נחמה
NeCHAma – Female first name – נחמה
MenaCHEM – He comforts – מנחם
MeNAchem – First name – מנחם
Ochel menachem – Comfort food – אוכל מנחם
Ha-ochel mesapek chavaya chushit neima, menachemet – This food provides a pleasant sensual experience, comforting – האוכל מספק חוויה חושית נעימה, מנחמת
Aruchat boker menachemet – Comforting breakfast – ארוחת בוקר מנחמת
Aval ani menachemet et atsmi be-kafe – But I comfort myself with coffee – אבל אני מנחמת את עצמי בקפה
Bamba haita menachemet oti achshav – Bamba would have comforted me right now (if only I had some) – במבה הייתה מנחמת אותי עכשיו
Ase she-lo et’ave kol kach lihyot menucham ela menachem – Please let me not seek as much to be consoled as to console – עשה שלא אתאווה כל כך להיות מנוחם אלא מנחם
Alcoholistim Anonimiyim – Alcoholics Anonymous – אלכוהוליסטים אנונימיים
Hem menachamim oto/ota – They comfort him/her – הם מנחמים אותו/אותה
Menachamim – People who pay their condolences – מנחמים
Bikur nichumim – A condolence visit – ביקור ניחומים
Tanchumai – My condolences – תנחומיי
Pras nichumim – Consolation prize – פרס ניחומים
Titnachem/titnachmi be-ze she- – Take comfort in the fact that… – תתנחם/תתנחמי בזה ש…
Lehitnachem be-shokolad – Take comfort in Chocolate – להתנחם בשוקולד
Tsarat rabim – hatsi nechama – Misery loves company – צרת רבים – חצי נחמה
Tsarat rabim nechamat shotim/tipshim – The troubles of many are the consolation of the fool – צרת רבים – נחמת שוטים/טיפשים
Playlist and Clips:
Nechama Hendel – Dona, Dona (lyrics)
Ochel menachem – Comfort Food (KAN TV)
Shuly Nathan – Ana Eli (lyrics)
Francesco d’assisi – Preghiera
Shuly Nathan – Yerushalayim Shel Zahav (lyrics)
Avigail Roz – Hatsi Nechama (lyrics)
Streetwise Hebrew ep. no. 117 – Ya Habibi
Taarovet Eskot – Ve-Ulai Tavo Eizo Nechama (lyrics)
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I have experienced the deaths of two very close family members in Israel, each with a funeral and shiva, in the past three years. At neither of these did I ever hear “תנחומיי”
Having said that, today I happened to watch an Israeli TV series, and in it, I finally heard “תנחומיי”, for the first time!