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| Jessi: Hello, and welcome to Hebrew Survival Phrases, brought to you by HebrewPod101.com. This course is designed to equip you with the language skills and knowledge to enable you to get the most out of your visit to Israel. You'll be surprised at how far a little Hebrew will go. Now, before we jump in, remember to stop by HebrewPod101.com and there you'll find the accompanying PDF and additional info in the post. If you stop by, be sure to leave us a comment! |
| Survival Phrases Lesson 16 - Counting |
| This lesson is very straightforward as we're going to cover counting from zero through ten. Let's jump right in. |
| Please note that counting things in Hebrew can be a bit tricky as objects in Hebrew have gender. |
| First we will list the masculine form of the numbers, and then the feminine form. |
| 0 אֶפֶס efes |
| 1 אֶחָד/אַחַת echad/achat |
| 2 שְׁנַיִם/שְׁתַּיִם shnayim/shtayim |
| 3 שְׁלוֹשָׁה/שָׁלוֹשׁ shlosha/shalosh |
| 4 אַרְבָּעָה/אַרְבַּע arba'ah/arba |
| 5 חֲמִישָׁה/חָמֵש khamisha/khamesh |
| 6 שִׁשָּׁה/שֵׁשׁ shisha/shesh |
| 7 שִׁבְעָה/שֵׁבַע shiv'ah/sheva |
| 8 שְּמוֹנָה/שְּמוֹנֶה shmona/shmone |
| 9 תֵּשַׁע/תִּשְׁעָה tish'ah/tesha |
| 10 עֲשָׂרָה/עֶשֶׂר asara/eser |
| Neutral numbers (numbers of streets, public transport lines, and numbers as you read them one by one) are set in their feminine form. Furthermore, we also use "one" or אֶחָד/אַחַת, Echad/achat as the indefinite article meaning "a/an" after nouns. So we have אֶחָד, Echad after masculine nouns, and אַחַת, Achat after feminine nouns. For example, "One person (a man)" is Ish echad. Let's break down these two words and hear them one more time, אִישׁ אֶחָד, Ish echad. And "One person (a woman)" is אִשָּׁה אַחַת, Isha achat. Let's break down these two words and hear them one more time, אִשָּׁה אַחַת, Isha achat. |
| The number comes first, followed by the thing. To say "two people," you will say, שְׁנֵי אֲנָשִׁים, Shnei anashim. In this case, אֲנָשִׁים, anashim is the plural of אִישׁ, Ish. An exception is the singular form. In the singular form, the noun that you count comes first followed by the number. Please note that, in Hebrew, as you have seen, nouns have singular and plural forms and they can be feminine, or masculine or neuter. |
| If there are "five people," you have חֲמִשָּׁה אֲנָשִׁים, khamisha anashim. |
| Numbers can be very useful especially when shopping in Israel. Let's imagine you are buying some presents to bring back to your country. For example, imagine you would like to buy two bottles of עָרָק, Arak (Israeli alcohol) in a nice shop. "I would like to buy two bottles of Arak," for a male speaker is Ani rotze liknot shnei bakbukim shel arak bevakasha. Let's break down these two words and hear them one more time, אֲנִי רוֹצֵה לִקְנוֹת שְׁנֵי בַּקְבּוּקִים שֶׁל עָרַק בְּבַקָּשָׁה, Ani rotze liknot shnei bakbukim shel arak bevakasha. |
| Ani rotze, אֲנִי רוֹצֵה are the Hebrew words for "I would like." Next, you have the word לִקְנוֹת, Liknot, which means "to buy." Then, you have the number שְׁנֵי, Shnei "two," followed by בַּקְבּוּקִים, Bakbukim, which is plural for the object "bottle." Next is the word שֶׁל, Shel, which in English means, "of." Then, we have the word עָרַק, Arak meaning "Israeli alcohol" (what that you wanted to buy). Last is the word בְּבַקָּשָׁה, Bevakasha, which in English is "please." |
| For a female speaker, "I would like to buy two bottles of Arak." is אֲנִי רוֹצָה לִקְנוֹת שְׁנֵי בַּקְבּוּקִים שֶׁל עָרַק בְּבַקָּשָׁה, Ani rotza liknot shnei bakbukim shel arak bevakasha. Let's break down these two words and hear them one more time, אֲנִי רוֹצָה לִקְנוֹת שְׁנֵי בַּקְבּוּקִים שֶׁל עָרַק בְּבַקָּשָׁה, Ani rotza liknot shnei bakbukim shel arak bevakasha. אֲנִי רוֹצָה, Ani rotza are the Hebrew words for "I would like." Next is the word לִקְנוֹת, Liknot, which means "to buy." Then, you have the number שְׁנֵי, Shnei "two," followed by בַּקְבּוּקִים, Bakbukim, which is plural for the object "bottle." Following it is the word שֶׁל, Shel, which in English means "of." Then, we have the word עָרַק, Arak meaning "Israeli alcohol" (what that you wanted to buy). Last is the word בְּבַקָּשָׁה, Bevakasha, which in English is "please." |
| What do you say when you want to buy a nice, traditional, necklace? For a male speaker, "I would like to buy a necklace," is אֲנִי רוֹצֵה לִקְנוֹת שַׁרְשֶׁרֶת אַחַת, Ani rotze liknot sharsheret achat. אֲנִי רוֹצֵה, Ani rotze are the Hebrew words for "I would like." לִקְנוֹת, Liknot is the verb "to buy." Let's break the word down and hear it again, לִקְנוֹת, Liknot. Next, we have שַׁרְשֶׁרֶת, Sharsheret "necklace." Let's break this word down and hear it again ,שַׁרְשֶׁרֶת , Sharsheret. Finally, you have אַחַת, achat used as an indefinite article meaning "a/an." Let's use the entire sentence now, אֲנִי רוֹצֵה לִקְנוֹת שַׁרְשֶׁרֶת אַחַת, Ani rotze liknot sharsheret achat. |
| For a female speaker, "I would like to buy a necklace," is אֲנִי רוֹצָה לִקְנוֹת שַׁרְשֶׁרֶת אַחַת, Ani rotza liknot sharsheret achat. אֲנִי רוֹצָה, Ani rotza are the Hebrew words for "I would like." לִקְנוֹת, Liknot is the verb "to buy." Let's break it down and hear it again, לִקְנוֹת, Liknot. Next, we have שַׁרְשֶׁרֶת, Sharsheret "necklace." Let's break it down and hear it one more time, שַׁרְשֶׁרֶת, Sharsheret. Finally, you have אַחַת, achat used as an indefinite article meaning, "a/an." Let's use the entire sentence now, אֲנִי רוֹצָה לִקְנוֹת שַׁרְשֶׁרֶת אַחַת, Ani rotza liknot sharsheret achat. |
| In this case, we use אַחַת, Achat after the noun שַׁרְשֶׁרֶת, Sharsheret, since שַׁרְשֶׁרֶת, Sharsheret ("necklace") is in the singular form. |
| Eventually, you change your mind, and decide to buy שָׁעוֹן, Shaon, meaning a "watch" in English. If you are a male, you would say, אֲנִי רוֹצֵה לִקְנוֹת שָׁעוֹן אֶחָד, Ani rotze liknot shaon echad. "I would like to buy a watch." Let's break it down and hear it one more time, shaon, אֲנִי רוֹצֵה לִקְנוֹת שָׁעוֹן אֶחָד, Ani rotze liknot shaon echad. |
| If you are a female, you would say, אֲנִי רוֹצָה לִקְנוֹת שָׁעוֹן אֶחָד, Ani rotza liknot shaon echad. "I would like to buy a watch." Let's break it down and hear it one more time, שָׁעוֹן, shaon, אֲנִי רוֹצָה לִקְנוֹת שָׁעוֹן אֶחָד, Ani rotza liknot shaon echad. |
| Please note that שָׁעוֹן, shaon is a masculine noun, so for this reason we have changed the indefinite article אַחַת, Achat to אֶחָד, Echad. |
| Ok, to close out today's lesson, we would like you to practice what you have just learned. I'll provide you with the English equivalent of the phrase and you're responsible for shouting it out loud. You'll have a few seconds before I give you the answer, so !בְּהַצְלָחָה Behatzlacha! which means "Good luck!" in Hebrew. |
| "One person."(male counter) - אִישׁ אֶחָד, Ish echad. |
| "One person."(female counter) - אִשָּׁה אַחַת, Isha achat. |
| "Five people." - חֲמִשָּׁה אֲנָשִׁים, khamisha anashim. |
| "I would like to buy two bottles of Arak please."(for a male speaker) - אֲנִי רוֹצֵה לִקְנוֹת שְׁנֵי בַּקְבּוּקִים שֶׁל עָרָק, בְּבַקָּשָׁה, Ani rotze liknot shnei bakbukim shel arak, bevakasha. |
| "I would like to buy two bottles of Arak please."(for a female speaker) - אֲנִי רוֹצָה לִקְנוֹת שְׁנֵי בַּקְבּוּקִים שֶׁל עָרָק, בְּבַקָּשָׁה, Ani rotza liknot shnei bakbukim shel arak, bevakasha. |
| "I would like to buy a necklace."(for a male speaker) - אֲנִי רוֹצֵה לִקְנוֹת שַׁרְשֶׁרֶת אַחַת, Ani rotze liknot sharsheret achat. |
| "I would like to buy a necklace."(for a female speaker) - אֲנִי רוֹצָה לִקְנוֹת שַׁרְשֶׁרֶת אַחַת, Ani rotza liknot sharsheret achat. |
| "I would like to buy a watch."(for a male speaker) - אֲנִי רוֹצֵה לִקְנוֹת שָׁעוֹן אֶחָד, Ani rotze liknot shaon echad. |
| "I would like to buy a watch."(for a female speaker) - אֲנִי רוֹצָה לִקְנוֹת שָׁעוֹן אֶחָד, Ani rotza liknot shaon echad. |
| Jessi: Alright! That's going to do it for today. Remember to stop by HebrewPod101.com and pick up the accompanying PDF. If you stop by, be sure to leave us a comment! |
Comments
HideWhat is the most difficult number to pronounce?
Hello Alden,
Thank you for your kind feedback!
I am glad to hear that you found this lesson helpful.❤️ I hope you like the rest of our series. 😊
Please feel free to shoot through any questions you have throughout your studies.
Cheers,
Ali
Team HebrewPod101.com
Thank you!
This definitely helps with what I have been looking for.
Shalom Betsy,
Todah rabah for your feedback! We took a note of it and will take it into consideration! Thank you!
Kind regards,
Levente (לבנטה)
Team HebrewPod101.com
Great lesson--thank you!
The practice at the end is especially helpful. However, the teacher goes too fast! I can't even state the words, much less think about what I am about to say. Is it possible to allow a bit more wait time before giving the "answer"?
Thank you!
Hi Louis Boer,
Thanks for commenting.
In Hebrew, R is never "w" and should always sound guttural as you heard it on the second R. Naturally, some people who learned Hebrew later than in their childhood might have an accent that would result in different R sounds, but this doesn't reflect the "correct" pronunciation.
Right, generally speaking, the guttural R is easier to produce after consonants than after vowels.
Yours,
Roi
Team HebrewPod101.com
I hear the first R in the word שרשרת pronounced as "w", shaw-sheret. Production of resh is apparently affected when followed by a sheen. By contrast, the second R in the word שרשרת is pronounced as guttural "r". Production of resh apparently more easy when followed by a tet. Correct?
Hi Cindy Yourison,
Thanks for commenting and for the positive feedback!
Yes, but the identity of the speaker isn't important. Any speaker, speaking to a male, would use 'rotze' when asking "do you want", and 'rotza' when speaking to a female.
Yours,
Roi
Team HebrewPod101.com
Thanks for the lesson.
I have a question:
If I am a female speaker, speaking to a male, would I use rotze?
And if I was a male speaker, speaking to a female, would I use rotza?
Thanks. Have a blessed day!
Hi Cornelia,
Thanks for commenting!
Yes, you're correct Shnayim/Shtayim is the name of the number 2, but in Hebrew, the number 2 is inflated when describing nouns, according to the gender. Therefore, 2 girls will: shtey yeladot (and not shtayim) and 2 boys: shney yeladim.
This topic will be covered in future lessons, don't worry if it's not yet 100% understood :)
Yours,
Roi
Team HebrewPod101.com
Hi, in the beginning of the lesson you say that "two" is shnayim/shtayim, but in the examples you use "Shnei" for two bottles. Please explain... Thank you
Shalom Roi,
This lesson says that ten, Esser, is feminine, but when you get to 11, 12, and the teens, esrai is used for the second half of the feminine numbers which is the male form of ten according to this lesson and the masculine numbers use esser for the second half which is the feminine form of ten. I understand the switch because the single numbers switch and it makes the numbers shorter, but definately mixed up, but correct for Hebrew. Can't seem to remember these numbers without a chart in front of me. Is this correct?
Hello Brian,
Thank you for posting.
We're sorry for the inconvenience.
Now we're checking the PDF.
Meanwhile, could you please check the numbers in Hebrew in the following lesson:
https://www.hebrewpod101.com/2011/10/24/survival-phrases-17-counting-10-100/
Here the PDF includes the Hebrew characters as well.
Let us know if you have any question.
Sincerely,
Lena
Team HebrewPod101.com
Shalom Shelley Lynn,
Thank your for posting.
Yes. correct! יהיו is the plural future of the verb להיות (to be).
Happy Hebrew learning,
Lenny
Team HebrewPod101.com
oops-you actually said "should have"
Thanks, Lenny- Please explain the verb (sheh) y 'heyu (That) she will be? Is it future of "to be"? You used it in your sentence and said" that she would be" just checking on the tense.
Shalom Shelley Lynn,
Thank you for posting.
All women should have for themselves a hundred beautiful necklaces. =
לכל הנשים צריכות להיות מאה שרשראות יפות
This is the exact translation from the English and it s the only one.
You could also say:
כל אשה צריכה שיהיו לה מאה שרשראות יפות
every woman should have for herself a hundred beautiful necklaces.
I suppose the meaning is similar but its a slightly different sentence, also in English...
Happy Hebrew learning,
Lenny
Team HebrewPod101.com
כל נשים רצהו להן מאה שרשרתות יפות All women should have for themselves a hundred beautiful necklaces. Are there several ways to say this?
Hello Debbie
Thank you for your comment! :smile:
If you have any questions, please be free to ask! :smile:
Elena
Team HebrewPod101.com
I am enjoying the lessons and planning to visit Israel next year.
I like listening to the speakers and their comments about Israeli culture are interesting.
Shalom Pedro,
Thank you for your comment, this is a very good and interesting question!
The Hebrew word for the number 2 is really an exceptional. Anytime that it is used as an adjective instead of שניים or שתיים we use שני or שתי.
We use שניים/שתיים only when this word stands for its own.
Examples: יש לי שני חברים טובים (yesh li shnei khaverim tovim = I have two good friend)
כמה חברים טובים יש לך? שניים (kama khaverim tovim yesh lekha? shnaim. = How many good friends do you have? two.)
הייתי שם שתי דקות ( haiti sham shtei dakot = I was there for two minutes)
מה השעה? שתיים ( ma ha"sha-ah? shtaim = what time is it? two o'clock )
To your question, No, it will not be corrects to use the word שניים instead of שני in
אני רוצה לקנות שני בקבוקים של ערק בבקשה
Happy Hebrew learning,
Lenny
Team HebrewPod101.com