Hebrew is one of the oldest languages of the world which at present is spoken by around 9 million people worldwide. Hebrew is a member of Canaanite group of Semitic languages. It was the language of early Jews, however, from 586 BC, Aramaic started to replace this language. With the passage of time, the language passed through several ups and downs, ceased, revived, and today, it is the official language of Israel (along with Arabic).
Like every other language, Hebrew has many fascinated words and interesting slangs that have no direct translation in English. Let us learn a few of them.
Yalla
The word derived from Arabic means ‘let’s go’ or ‘come on.’ It is used in daily language to express one’s wish to get people moving on. It can be used in multiple ways, like if you are near the conclusion of phone calls and the moment someone says ‘yalla,’ it means it is time to go, and it is not even awkward.
Balagan
Balagan is used to refer a mess when there is a lack of order and limitless chaos. It can be used to refer a traffic jam on the street, a bustling supermarket or a busy classroom. For example, “in the absence of teacher, the class turned balagan.”
Neshama
Neshama is similar to ‘sweetie,’ but the literal meaning is ‘soul.’ Hebrew speakers say ‘neshama sheli’ which means ‘my soul’. It is often used by both men and women to express that you are so important to me that you are like part of my soul.
Sababa
It means great, excellent, cool, alright and any similar variation. It is used to express enthusiasm and happiness about a situation. For example, “We are going to a beach party next Saturday.” “Sababa!”
Koev Li Halev
The literal meaning of Koev Li Halev is ‘my heart hurts.’ This Hebrew phrase is used to show empathy for someone or something. It is like saying that you identify someone’s suffering so much that your heart feels like aching.
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