Imperative in Hebrew: Often the 'real' imperative of our language sounds archaic to us, so we use the future instead. Here's a quick how-to on the Hebrew imperative.

Hear the All-Hebrew Episode on Patreon

 

New Words and Expressions:

Saper/sapri/sapru – Tell (imp.)! – ספר, ספרי, ספרו

Tesaper – You will tell – תספר

"Elohim, ten li rak tipat mazal" – God, just give me a bit of luck – אלוהים תן לי רק טיפת מזל

"Az titen li shiv'a shkalim" – So just give me 7 shekel then – אז תיתן לי רק שבעה שקלים

Ten/tni/tnu! – Give! – תן/תני/תנו

"Tni lo perach, tni lo yayin, aval et libech shimri" – Give him a flower, give him wine, but guard your heart – תני לו פרח, תני לו יין, אבל את ליבך שמרי

Titen, titni, titnu – You will give – תיתן, תתני, תתנו

Emor shalom – Say 'shalom' – אמור שלום

Bo – Come – בוא

Lech/lechi/lechu – Go – לך/לכי/לכו

Sa le'at – Drive slowly – סע לאט

Lech/lechi/lechu mi-po! – Go away! – לך/לכי/לכו מפה

Shev/Shvi/Shvu – Sit! – שב, שבי, שבו

"Al tagidi ken ve'al tagidi lo" – Don't say yes, and don't say no – אל תגידי כן ואל תגידי לא

Al titen – Don't give – אל תיתן

Al tavo – Don't come – אל תבוא

Tagid li – Tell me – תגיד לי

Takshiv – Listen – תקשיב

Ulai tesaper eich haya – Maybe you'll tell us how it was? – אולי תספר איך היה

 

Playlist and Clips:

Arik Einstein – Kama Tov She-bata Ha-baita (lyrics)

Zehava Ben – Tipat Mazal (lyrics)

Gali Atari – Tni Lo Perach (lyrics)

Shokolad, Menta, Mastik – Emor Shalom (lyrics) 

Arik Einstein – Sa Le'at (lyrics)

Svika Pick – Ein medina la-ahava (lyrics)

 

Ep. no. 175 about negation of the imperative Hebrew version

Ep. no. 184 about Bo Hebrew version