{"id":2697,"date":"2020-07-20T07:00:50","date_gmt":"2020-07-20T11:00:50","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blogs.transparent.com\/hebrew\/?p=2697"},"modified":"2020-07-07T17:49:16","modified_gmt":"2020-07-07T21:49:16","slug":"hebrew-grammar-and-vocabulary-for-summer-vacation","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blogs.transparent.com\/hebrew\/hebrew-grammar-and-vocabulary-for-summer-vacation\/","title":{"rendered":"Hebrew Grammar and Vocabulary for Summer Vacation"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Image via Pixabay<\/p><\/div>\n

The Israeli school year lasts ten months, from September first to the end of June. Last month, more than two millions Israeli students held graduation ceremonies, received certificates, and went on their summer vacation.<\/p>\n

Israeli students enjoy short vacations during the year. Summer break is their longest vacation, lasting two months from July through August. It is called \u05d4\u05b7\u05d7\u05b9\u05d5\u05e4\u05b6\u05e9\u05c1 \u05d4\u05b7\u05d2\u05bc\u05b8\u05d3\u05d5\u05b9\u05dc<\/strong>, and literally\u00a0means the big vacation<\/em>. Students of all ages wait eagerly for the end of school year, looking forward to the big vacation<\/em> that separates one school year from another. Two months of shining sun and clear sky, without classes and school chores, just before the fresh start at the next grade.<\/p>\n

In Hebrew, nouns are made definite by adding the prefix \u05d4<\/strong>. This prefix is called \u05d4\u2019 \u05d4\u05b7\u05d9\u05b0\u05bc\u05d3\u05c5\u05d9\u05e2\u05b8\u05d4<\/strong> (hey hayedia) and functions like the definite article the<\/em> in English. The word \u05d7\u05b9\u05d5\u05e4\u05b6\u05e9\u05c1<\/strong> (holiday, vacation<\/em>) indicates any holiday, while the word \u05d4\u05b7\u05d7\u05b9\u05d5\u05e4\u05b6\u05e9\u05c1<\/strong> (the holiday<\/em>) refers to a specific one.\u00a0For example:<\/p>\n

\u05d7\u05b9\u05d5\u05e4\u05b6\u05e9\u05c1 \u05d4\u05d5\u05bc\u05d0 \u05d4\u05b7\u05d6\u05b0\u05bc\u05de\u05b7\u05df \u05d4\u05b8\u05d0\u05b4\u05d9\u05d3\u05b5\u05d0\u05b8\u05dc\u05b4\u05d9 \u05dc\u05c5\u05de\u05b0\u05e0\u05d5\u05bc\u05d7\u05b8\u05d4.<\/strong><\/p>\n

A vacation is the ideal time for a rest.<\/p>\n

\u05e0\u05b7\u05e6\u05bc\u05b5\u05dc \u05d0\u05b6\u05ea \u05d4\u05b7\u05d7\u05b9\u05d5\u05e4\u05b6\u05e9\u05c1 \u05dc\u05c5\u05de\u05b0\u05e0\u05d5\u05bc\u05d7\u05b8\u05d4.<\/strong><\/p>\n

You should used the vacation for a rest.<\/p>\n

In Hebrew, when a combination of a noun and its modifying adjective is made definite, the hey haydia definite article prefix will precede both the noun and the adjective. Note the difference between the two in the next sentences:<\/p>\n

\u05e8\u05b7\u05d1\u05bc\u05b4\u05d9\u05dd \u05d7\u05d5\u05ba\u05dc\u05b0\u05de\u05c5\u05d9\u05dd \u05e2\u05b7\u05dc \u05d7\u05b9\u05d5\u05e4\u05b6\u05e9\u05c1 \u05d2\u05bc\u05b8\u05d3\u05d5\u05b9\u05dc.<\/strong><\/p>\n

Many dream of a big vacation.<\/p>\n

\u05e8\u05b7\u05d1\u05bc\u05b4\u05d9\u05dd \u05de\u05b0\u05d7\u05b7\u05db\u05bc\u05b4\u05d9\u05dd \u05dc\u05b7\u05d7\u05b9\u05d5\u05e4\u05b6\u05e9\u05c1 \u05d4\u05b6\u05d2\u05bc\u05b8\u05d3\u05d5\u05b9\u05dc.<\/strong><\/p>\n

Many wait for the big vacation<\/em>.<\/p>\n

Students draw special table months before the summer, counting down the days left for the dreamy two-months vacation. The Hebrew phrase for such a table made for crossing out the days is \u05d8\u05b7\u05d1\u05b0\u05dc\u05b7\u05ea \u05d9\u05b5\u05d0\u05d5\u05bc\u05e9\u05c1<\/strong> (tav-lat ye-ush). \u05d8\u05b7\u05d1\u05b0\u05dc\u05b7\u05ea \u05d9\u05b5\u05d0\u05d5\u05bc\u05e9\u05c1<\/strong> is a construct state consisting of two nouns: \u05d8\u05b7\u05d1\u05b0\u05dc\u05b8\u05d4<\/strong> (table<\/em>), and \u05d9\u05b5\u05d0\u05d5\u05bc\u05e9\u05c1<\/strong> (despair<\/em>). \u05d8\u05b7\u05d1\u05b0\u05dc\u05b7\u05ea \u05d9\u05b5\u05d0\u05d5\u05bc\u05e9\u05c1<\/strong> is used to estimate the remaining time till the end of a period one wishes to end. It is used as a tool to inspire hope and to alleviate the enduring despair, hence its name: \u05d8\u05b7\u05d1\u05b0\u05dc\u05b7\u05ea \u05d9\u05b5\u05d0\u05d5\u05bc\u05e9\u05c1<\/strong>, literally means table of despair<\/em>. The first noun of this construct state \u2013 \u05d8\u05b7\u05d1\u05b0\u05dc\u05b8\u05d4<\/strong> \u2013is conjugated to \u05d8\u05b7\u05d1\u05b0\u05dc\u05b7\u05ea<\/strong>. As many other nouns that end with \u05d4<\/strong>. The word \u05de\u05b0\u05db\u05d5\u05b9\u05e0\u05b8\u05d4<\/strong> (machine<\/em>), for example, is conjugated, too, in the construct state \u05de\u05b0\u05db\u05d5\u05b9\u05e0\u05b7\u05ea \u05db\u05bc\u05b0\u05d1\u05b4\u05d9\u05e1\u05b8\u05d4<\/strong> (washing machine<\/em>). The word \u05e2\u05d5\u05bc\u05d2\u05b8\u05d4<\/strong> (cake<\/em>), for example, is conjugated, as well, in the construct state \u05e2\u05d5\u05bc\u05d2\u05b7\u05ea \u05d2\u05bc\u05b0\u05d1\u05b4\u05d9\u05e0\u05b8\u05d4<\/strong> (cheesecake<\/em>).<\/p>\n

A famous Israeli song describes the magic of the big vacation<\/em>. \u05d4\u05b7\u05db\u05bc\u05b9\u05dc \u05d4\u05b7\u05db\u05bc\u05b9\u05dc \u05d0\u05b2\u05e0\u05b4\u05d9 \u05d9\u05b8\u05db\u05d5\u05ba\u05dc \u05db\u05bc\u05b4\u05d9 \u05d6\u05b6\u05d4 \u05d4\u05b7\u05d7\u05b9\u05d5\u05e4\u05b6\u05e9\u05c1 \u05d4\u05b7\u05d2\u05bc\u05b8\u05d3\u05d5\u05ba\u05dc<\/strong> (I can do everything, because it\u2019s the big vacation<\/em>), as the chorus goes. \u05db\u05bc\u05b4\u05d9 is a short one-syllable conjunction meaning because<\/em>. \u05db\u05bc\u05b4\u05d9<\/strong> connects between two clauses of a sentence and it is used to explain the first clause. It explains the reason of the situation, action, or a feeling that appears before the conjunction. For example: \u05d4\u05b7\u05ea\u05bc\u05c5\u05d9\u05e0\u05d5\u05ba\u05e7 \u05d1\u05bc\u05d5\u05ba\u05db\u05b6\u05d4 \u05db\u05bc\u05b4\u05d9 \u05d4\u05d5\u05bc\u05d0 \u05e8\u05b8\u05e2\u05b5\u05d1<\/strong> (the baby is crying, because he is hungry<\/em>).<\/p>\n

Watch this sweet video clip of the song (lyrics attached):<\/p>\n