BS”
Basic Course |
Hebrew |
Unit 1 |
1.1 Greetings (Two Men)
Mr. Cohen
| Hello, Moshe | Shalom, Moshe |
שלום משה |
| How are you? | Ma, shlom-cha? |
?מה שלומך |
|
Peace, welfare |
שלום | |
|
What |
מה | |
|
The welfare of |
shlom- |
–שלומ |
|
You, your (m.s.) |
-cha |
ך |
Moshe
| Thank you very much. |
Todah rabah |
תודה רבה |
| I’m fine. |
Ani beseder |
אני בסדר |
| And how are you? |
Uma shlom-cha? |
?ומה שלומך |
|
Thanks |
todah | תודה |
|
Much |
rabah | רבה |
|
I |
Ani | אני |
|
And |
Ve | –ו |
Mr. Cohen
| Fine. | Tov |
טוב |
| How is | Aych |
איך |
| the family? | Hamishpacha? |
?המשפחה |
|
The |
Ha- |
– ה |
|
Family |
Mishpacha | משפחה |
Moshe
| OK. | Beseder |
בסדר |
| How is | Aych |
איך |
| your wife? | Ish-techa |
?אישתך |
|
Ok |
בסדר | |
|
How |
איך |
Mr. Cohen
| She is fine, too | Gam he beseder |
גם היא בסדר |
| Excuse me | Slicha |
סליחה |
| I have to | Ani tsa-rich |
אני צריך |
| Run | Larutz |
לרוץ |
|
Too, also |
גם |
|
|
She |
היא |
|
|
Excuse/pardon me |
סליחה |
|
|
To run |
לרוץ |
Moshe
| Oh, yes! |
O – ken! |
!או – כן |
| It’s late already | Kvar |
כבר |
| Goodbye | Meuchar |
מאוחר |
|
Yes |
כן | |
|
Already |
כבר | |
|
Late |
מאוחר | |
Mr. Cohen
| So long |
Shalom |
שלום |
| Be seeing you | Lehitraot |
להתראות |
|
To see again |
להתראות | |
1.2 Greetings (Two Women)
Mrs. Cohen
| Hello, Miriam |
Shalom, Miriam |
שלום, מרים |
| How are you? | Ma Shlomech |
?מה שלומך |
|
You, your (f.s.) |
-ech |
ך |
Miriam
| Thank you very much |
Todah rabah |
תודה רבה |
| I’m fine | Shlomi tov |
שלומי טוב |
| And how are you? | Uma shlomech |
?ומה שלומך |
Mrs. Cohen
| Fine |
Tov |
טוב |
| How’s the family? | Ma shlom hamishpacha |
?מה שלום המשפחה |
Miriam
| All right |
Beseder |
בסדר |
| How is your husband? | Ma shlom ba-al-ech |
?מה שלום בעלך |
|
Husband |
Ba-al | בעל |
|
Your husband (f.s.) |
Ba-al-ech | בעלך |
Mrs. Cohen
|
He’s fine, too |
Gam shlomo tov |
גם שלוםו טוב |
| Excuse me | Slicha |
סליחה |
| I have to run | Ani tsri-cha la-rutz |
אמי צריכה לרוץ |
|
Him |
-o | ו – |
|
Have to, must (f.s.) |
Tsri-cha | צריכה |
Miriam
|
Oh yes! It’s late already. |
O – ken! Kvar meyuchar |
או – כן! כבר מאוחר |
| So long. | Shalom |
שלום |
Mrs. Cohen
|
So long, be seeing you |
Shalom. Lehitraot. |
שלום לחתראות |
1.3 Additional Vocabulary
|
We are fine. |
Shlomenu tov |
שלומנו טוב |
|
How are you? (m.pl.) |
Ma shlomchem |
?מה שלומכם |
|
How are you? (f.pl.) |
Ma shlomchen |
?מה שלומכן |
|
How are they? (m.pl.) |
Ma shlomam |
?מה שלומם |
| How are they? (f.pl.) | Ma shloman |
?מה שלומן |
|
Mr. Karmi |
Mar Karmi |
מר כרמי |
|
Mr. Karmi (alternative form) |
Adon Karmi |
אדון כרני |
|
Miss, Mrs. or Ms. Karni |
Gveret Karmi |
גברת כרני |
|
It is early |
Mukdam |
מוקדם |
1.3 Classroom expressions
In this section, we introduce a few additional Hebrew phrases. They should be practiced until the pronunciation is learned. Some of the expressions are given in more than one form, differing in gender or number.
|
Close the door. |
||
|
(said to a man) |
Sgor et hadelet |
סגור את הדלת |
|
(said to a woman) |
Si-gri et hadelet |
סגרי את הדלת |
| Sit down, please. | ||
|
(said to a man) |
Shev bvakasha |
שב בבקשה |
|
(said to a woman) |
Shvi bvakasha |
שבי בבקשה |
|
(said to men or both) |
Shvu bvakasha |
שבו בבקשה |
|
Quiet please |
Sheket bvakasha |
שקת, בבקשה |
|
Open your books. |
||
|
(said to more than one person) |
Patchu et hasefarim |
פתחו את הספרים |
|
Speak louder. |
||
|
(said to a man) |
Dabair yotair bekol |
דבר יותר בקול |
|
(said to a woman) |
Debri yotair bekol |
דברי יותר בקול |
|
All together |
Kulam biyachad |
כולם ביחד |
|
Again |
Od Pa-am |
עוד פעם |
|
Do you understand? |
||
|
(said to a man) |
Atah mehvin |
?אתה מבין |
|
(said to a woman) |
At mehvina |
?את מבינה |
|
I don’t know |
||
|
(said by a man) |
Ani loh mehvin |
אני לא מבין |
|
(said by a woman) |
Ani loh mehvina |
אמי לא מבינה |
|
Please translate |
||
|
(said to a man) |
Targem, bvakasha |
תרגם, בבקשה |
|
(said to a woman) |
Targ-mi, bvakasha |
תרגמי, בבקשה |
|
How do you say table in Hebrew? |
Aych omrim | איך אומרים tableבעברית |
Grammar Drills
1.5 Masculine and Feminine
Compare the following sets of corresponding sentences from conversations 1.1 and 1.2:
| Hello Moshe |
Shalom, Moshe |
שלום, מרים |
| How are you? | Ma Shlom-cha |
?מה שלומך |
| Hello, Miriam |
Shalom, Miriam |
שלום, מרים |
| How are you? | Ma Shlomech |
?מה שלומך |
| How is your wife? |
Ma shlom eesh-te-cha |
?מה שלום אישתך |
| How is your husband? | Ma shlom ba-al-ech |
?מה שלום בעלך |
Note that forms differ whether a man or a woman is being spoken to. It is important that you learn the corresponding forms at the begining. All nouns in Hebrew, whether or not referring to beings with gender, are members of one of the other class. These will be designated (m) or (f) in the vocabulary listings.
The following drills should be thoroughly learned. Such errors may produce a reaction similar to that felt by English speaks on hearing the following;
“How is your brother?”
“She is fine thank you.”
The cue words in the following drills are the names of men and women. Include the name in the response so as to fix firmly the connection of form and gender of the person spoken to. You can vary the drill by using the masculine and feminine names that you are familiar with.
| Partner | Shalom Moshe, ma shlom-cha |
שלום משה מה שלומך |
| Student | Shalom Moshe, ma shlom-cha |
שלום משה מה שלומך |
| Partner |
Miriam |
מרים |
| Student | Shalom Miriam, ma shlomech |
שלום מרים מה שלומך |
| partner | Shalom Miriam, ma shlomech |
שלום מרים מה שלומך |
A. Shalom Moshe, Mashlom-cha שלום משהץ מה שלומך
|
Miriam |
Shalom Miriam, ma shlomech |
מרים |
| Mar Cohen | Shalom Mar Cohen, ma shlom-cha |
מר כהן |
| Gveret Williams | Shalom gveret Williams, ma shlomech |
גב‘ וויליאמס |
| Gveret kaspi | Shalom gveret Caspi, ma shlomech |
גב‘ כספי |
| Mar Williams | Shalom Mar Williams, ma shlomcha |
מר ווילאמס |
| Avigdor(m) | Shalom Avigdor, ma shlomcha |
אביגדור |
| Chana (f) | Shalom Chana, ma shlomech |
חנה |
| Mar Kaspi | Shalom Mar Kaspi, ma shlomcha |
מר כספי |
| Moshe | Shalom Moshe, ma shlomcha |
משה |
B. Ma Shlom ish-te-cha, Mar Williamsמה שלום אשתך, מר וויליאמס?ס
|
Gveret Williams |
Ma shlom ba-al-ech, gveret Williams |
גב‘ וויליאמס |
| Mar Kohen | Ma shlom ish-te-cha, Mar Kohen |
מר כספי |
| Gveret Kohen | Ma shlom ba-al-ech, gveret Karmi |
גב‘ כהן |
| Gveret Karmi | MMa shlom ba-al-ech, gveret Williams |
גב‘ כרמי |
| Chana | Ma shlom ba-al-ech, Chana |
חנה |
| Moshe | Ma shlom ish-te-cha, Moshe |
משה |
| Mar Williams | Ma shlom ish-te-cha, Mar Williams |
מר וויליאמס |
1.6 Pronominal Suffixes – Singular Set
There are several sets of pronouns indicating person, gender and number. The following occur as suffixes to singular nouns and to certain propositions. They will be referred to as the singular set.
When suffixed to nouns they are after translated as possessives.
Ma shlomcha (literally) What is your peace? (meaning) how are you?
Ma shlom ish-te-cha How is your wife?
Shlomi tov (literally)My peace is good (meaning) I’m good
When suffixed to prepositions they are usually translated as the objects of the prepositions.
A. Substitution Drill
| How are you | Ma shlom-cha |
מה שלומך |
|
Ma shlomech |
מה שלומך |
|
| Ma shlom-chem |
מה שלומכם |
|
| Ma shlomam |
מה שלומם |
|
| Ma shloman |
מה שלומן |
|
| Ma shlomo |
מה שלומו |
|
| Ma shlom-chen |
מה שלומכן |
|
| Ma shloma |
מה שלומה |
|
B. Substitution Drill
| I’m fine | Shlomi tov |
שלומי טוב |
| Shlomenu |
שלומנו |
|
| Shlomo |
שלומו |
|
| Shloman |
שלומן |
|
| Shloma |
שלומה |
|
| shlomam |
שלומם |
|
C. Response Drill
| Partner | Ma shlomcha |
?מה שלומך |
| Student |
Shlomi tov |
|
| Partner | Ma shlomchem |
?מה שלומכם |
| Student | Shlomenoo tov | |
| Partner | Ma shlomam |
?מה שלומם |
| Student | Shlomam tov | |
| Partner | Ma shlomo |
?מה שלומו |
| Student | Shlomo tov | |
| Partner | Ma shlomchen |
?מה שלומכן |
| Student | Shlomenoo tov | |
| Partner | Ma shloma |
?מה שלומה |
| Student | Shloma tov | |
| Partner | Ma shlomech |
?מה שלומך |
| Student | Shlomi tov |
D. Response Drill
| Partner |
Ma shlom ba-al-ech |
?מה שלום בעלך |
| Student |
Shlomo tov |
|
| Partner | Ma shlom ish-t’cha |
?מה שלום אשתך |
| Student | Shloma tov | |
| Partner | Ma shlom hamishpacha |
?מה שלום המשפחה |
| Student | Shloma tov | |
| Partner | Ma shlom ba-al-ah |
?מה שלום בעלה |
| Student | Shlomo tov | |
| Partner | Ma shlom ish-toh |
?מה שלומם אשתו |
| Student | Shloma tov | |
1.7 Alternate forms of nouns before suffixes
Many nouns have alternate for when occurring with a pronominal suffix.
| Shalom | Welfare | Shlomi | My welfare |
| Isha | Wife | Ish-ti | My wife |
Compare, on the other hand;
| Ba-al | husband | Ba-al-i | My husband |
It is very difficult to predict which nouns will have such alternate forms or what the alternative form will be. You should simply drill these as they occur in the text until you have mastered them.
When a suffixed noun occurs in a basic sentence the independent form of the noun will be given in the vocabulary breakdown and as much as possible drills will be provided.
Review Conversations
The purpose of the Review Conversations is to lead you into free conversation within the range of the vocabulary and grammatical patterns which have been learned.
Read the conversations a number of times until you are familiar with them. If you need help with the translations look back at the work that you have already done. When you are confident that you understand the conversations you are ready to practice them.
2. If you have a partner to work with, the partner can read the conversations and you can repeat them. You can then switch roles. If you are working alone you can be all the ‘parts’.
| A |
Shalom, gveret Kohen. Ma shlomech? |
שלום, גברת כהן, מה שלומך |
א |
|
B |
Todah. Shlomi tov, uma shlom-cha? |
תודה. שלומי טוב ומה שלומך |
ב |
|
A |
Gam shlomi tov, todah. |
גם שלומי טוב, תודה |
א |
|
B |
Ma shlom Moshe? |
מה שלום מושה |
ב |
|
A |
Ani loh yo-dey-a. |
אני לא יודע |
א |
|
C |
Ma shlom ish-te-cha, Mar Karmi? |
מה שלום אשתך, מר כרמי |
ג |
|
D |
Bseder, todah. Ma shlom ba-al-ech? |
בסדר, תודה. מה שלום בעלך |
ד |
|
C |
Shlomi tov. Ma shlom hamishpacha |
שלומו טוב. מה שלום המשפחה |
ג |
|
D |
Tov, todah. Slicha. Meh-u-char |
טוב, תודה. סליחה. מאוחר |
ד |
|
C |
O, gam ani tsri-cha larutz. Shalom |
או, גם אני צריכה לרוץ. שלום |
ג |
|
D |
Shalom, lehitraot |
שלום, להתראות |
ד |
|
E |
Shalom, Mar Williams; Shalom Gaveret Williams | שלוםת מר וויליאמס | |
|
F |
Ma shlomchem? | מה שלומכם | |
|
G |
Todah rabah. Shlomenu tov. | תודה רבה. שלומנו טוב | |
|
H |
Ma shlomech, gveret Zahavee | מה שלומך, גברת זהבי | |
|
I |
Beseder. Ma shlom hamishpacha | בסדר. מה שלום המשפחה | |
|
J |
Slicha. Ani loh mehvin. Od hapa-am bvakasha | סליחה. אני לא מבין. עוד הפעם בבקשה | |
|
K |
Ma shlom hamishpacha | מה שלום המשפחה | |
|
L |
Shloma tov, todah | שלומה טוב, תודה | |
|
|
|||
|
M |
Shalom, Mar Karmi. | שלום, מר קרמי | |
|
N |
Oy! Shalom Moshe. Ma Shlomcha? | או! שלום, משה! מה שלומך | |
|
O |
Bseder. Sgor et hadelet, bvakasha. | בסדר. סגור את הדלת, בבקשה | |
| P | Ken. Slicha. | כן. סליחה | |
| Q | Mar Williams, shev, bevakasha. | מר וויליאמס, שב, בבקשה | |
| R | Od hapa-am, bvakasha, ani loh mehvin | עוד הפעם, בבקשה. אני לא מבין | |
| S | Shev, bvakasha. | שב, בבקשה | |
| T | O ken. Ani mehvin, todah. | או כן. אני מבין. תודה | |
| U | Slicha, Miriam. Ani tsarich larutz. | סליחה, מרים. אני צריך לרוץ | |
| V | Loh. Shev, bvakasha. Mookdam. | לא. שב, בבקשה. מוקדם | |
| W | Lo, todah. Meh-u-char. | לא, תודה. מאוחר | |
| Tov. Lehitraot | טוב. להתראות | ||
| X | Sheket, bvakasha. | שקט, בבקשה | |
| Y | Slicha. Daber yoter bakol. | סליחה. דבר יותר בקול | |
| Z | Sheket! Atah mehvin? | שקט! אתה מבין | |
| A | Tov. Ani mehvin. Slicha | טוב. אני מבין. סליחה |
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