Today’s date: 29th of Sivan, 5772 – כ״ט בסיון תשע״ב

שלום! How’s it going? Today I want to see how well you’ve been learning Hebrew. We’re going to build up on what I’ve posted and make an actual conversation where you meet someone, greet them, ask how they are doing, where they’re from, etc. okay? But before we continue, if you want to referesh your memory, here are the posts where you’ve learned basic conversational needs:

Meeting and Greeting Others
How are you?
Introducing Yourself and Others
Asking where someone is from

Now, I’m going to present you with some exercises and quizzes. You can say them aloud or write them on a sheet of paper – either way is fine. If you get stuck, it’s okay to look back at any of the past posts to help you, or check the vocabulary list at the end of this post. Ready?

Activities

It is 1:00 on a Saturday afternoon and you see Rabbi Kohen (רַב כֹּהֵן – rahb ko-hen):

1. Greet him
2. Ask how he is doing
3. He asks how you are. Respond.
4. Ask him about his family.

You’re in Haifa (חֵיפָה‎‎ – kha-ee-fah) and you see your friend’s wife.

1. Greet her
2. Ask how she is doing
3. She asks how you are. Respond.
4. Ask about her husband ().

Reading

Here’s a short reading exercise to get you warmed up for what’s ahead

Response Exercises

Read the first part in Hebrew. Then translate the English into Hebrew and say it aloud (or write it on a sheet of paper):

מה שמך? – My name is…
נעים מאוד. – Pleased to meet you (too)
שבת שלום – Sabbath greetings
להתראות! – See you later!
מֵאַיִן אתה? – I’m from …

Conversation

Here’s a full conversation for you to read and use in your next meeting with a Hebrew speaker. We’re going to do it without nikud so you can get used to reading Hebrew as it’s usually written:

Vocabulary

מר – Mr. (mar)
כרמי – Carmi (a person’s surname)
גברת – Mrs., Miss
וויליאמס – Williams (a person’s surname)
אני – I
בסדר – fine (lit. “in order”)
ו – and
מ – From…
כן – yes
תֵּל אָבִיב – Tel-Aviv
דִּבֵּר – to speak (dee-ver)
קצת – a little bit (k-tsat)
לרוץ – to run (lah-roots)
כבר – already (kvahr)
מאוחר – late (meh-oo-kher)

Phrases
בוקר טוב – Good morning
מה שלומך? – How are you?
תודה – Thank you
להתראות – See you later (leh-heet-rah-oht)
מה שמך? – What is your name? (mah shim-kha)
שמי _____ – My name is…
נעים מאוד. – Pleased to meet you (na-‘eem meh-‘od)
מאין? – From where
סליחה – Excuse me (slee-khah)
מוכרח – (I) have to, must (mookh-rakh)
או! – Oh!, ah!