The Hebrew word קטן looks small but its root holds a large number of slang expressions and verbs. Here’s an example: what does קטן עליי, literally “small on me,” mean in slang?
New Words and Expressions:
Katan – Small – קטן
Ze katan aleinu – Yes, we can do it – זה קטן עלינו
Katan alai – Easy as pie – קטן עליי
Katan aleycha, katan alayich – You can do it! – קטן עליך, קטן עלייך
Ba-ktana – A bit, small size of something – בקטנה
“Cottage baktana” – Mini-cottage-cheese – קוטג’ בקטנה
Shtuyot, ba-ktana – It’s not a big deal – בקטנה
Artsenu ha-ktantonet – Our tiny country – ארצנו הקטנטונת
Ktantan, ktantonet, ktantanim – Small and cute – קטנטן, קטנטונת, קטנטנים
Ktantanim – Toddlers – קטנטנים
Lehaktin – To reduce, minimize, decrease – להקטין
Taktin/taktini shniya – Minimize it for a sec. – תקטין, תקטיני שנייה
Lehaktin rosh (to be rosh katan) – Do the minimum – להקטין ראש
Nu, dai lehaktin rosh – Come on, stop doing the minimum – נו, די להקטין ראש
Nitu’ach le-haktanat chaze – Operation for breast reduction – ניתוח להקטנת חזה
Degem muktan – Miniature – דגם מוקטן
Katin, ktina, ktinim – Minor, underaged – קטין, קטינה, קטינים
Katonti miledaber ba-inyan – Who am I to talk about this topic? – קטונתי
Playlist and Clips:
Omanei Israel – Katan Aleinu (lyrics)
Lahakat Pikud Ha-tasfon – Od Lo Tamu Kol Pla’ayich (lyrics)
Yonatan Razel – Katonti (lyrics)
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