In this post you’ll find multiple phrases – don’t be scared, it’s just a matter of gender. In fact, if you compare them, you’ll see that all you need to do is change an ending (usually just the vowel sounds<\/em>). Take a look:<\/p>\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0I\u2019d like to invite you for a meal – \u05d0\u05b2\u05e0\u05b4\u05d9 \u05e8\u05d5\u05b9\u05e6\u05b6\u05d4 \u05dc\u05b0\u05d4\u05b7\u05d6\u05b0\u05de\u05b4\u05d9\u05df \u05d0\u05d5\u05b9\u05ea\u05b0\u05da\u05b8 \u05dc\u05b7\u05d0\u05b2\u05e8\u05d5\u05bc\u05d7\u05b8\u05d4.<\/span><\/p>\n This phrase is being spoken by a man inviting a man to a meal. Look closely at the entire sentence, we’re going to make a comparison in a moment. If the man wants to invite a woman to a meal, he would say:<\/p>\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0I\u2019d like to invite you for a meal – \u05d0\u05b2\u05e0\u05b4\u05d9 \u05e8\u05d5\u05b9\u05e6\u05b6\u05d4 \u05dc\u05b0\u05d4\u05b7\u05d6\u05b0\u05de\u05b4\u05d9\u05df \u05d0\u05d5\u05b9\u05ea\u05b8\u05da\u05b0 \u05dc\u05b7\u05d0\u05b2\u05e8\u05d5\u05bc\u05d7\u05b8\u05d4.<\/span><\/p>\n Now let’s compare this sentence to the previous one. can you see any differences in them? The only one I see is the endings of the word “\u05d0\u05d5\u05ea\u05da<\/span> (you)”. In the first sentence it ends in “\u05da\u05b8<\/span>” and in the second one it’s “\u05b8\u05da\u05b0”. This is how you’d say “you” in Hebrew depending on whether you’re speaking to a man (\u05d0\u05d5\u05b9\u05ea\u05b0\u05da\u05b8<\/span>) or a woman (\u05d0\u05d5\u05b9\u05ea\u05b8\u05da\u05b0<\/span>). Otherwise, a consonant sound at the end of a word is usually used for the masculine gender, while the feminine gender uses an “-ah” or “-et” or “-it” sound.<\/p>\n The thing about Hebrew is that when written, the niqud are not normally written in. So how would you know to pronounce \u05d0\u05d5\u05ea\u05da<\/span> as oh-TAKH or oht-KHAH when it’s written? This is where you’ll need to pay attention to the context of the sentence. That’s your only indication. But the more you practice reading Hebrew, the better you’ll get at recognizing these differences and using them appropriately.<\/p>\n POP QUIZ!<\/strong> Here’s a way to invite a group of people out to a meal. Can you find how this is indicated and what ending is used?<\/p>\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u05d0\u05b2\u05e0\u05b4\u05d9 \u05e8\u05d5\u05b9\u05e6\u05b6\u05d4 \u05dc\u05b0\u05d4\u05b7\u05d6\u05b0\u05de\u05b4\u05d9\u05df \u05d0\u05b6\u05ea\u05b0\u05db\u05b6\u05dd \u05dc\u05b7\u05d0\u05b2\u05e8\u05d5\u05bc\u05d7\u05b8\u05d4.<\/span><\/p>\n Now that we know gender plays a role in Hebrew, what if a woman wants to do the inviting? The word \u05d0\u05d5\u05ea\u05da<\/span> does not change…I mean, it’s used the same as I showed you above – \u05d0\u05d5\u05b9\u05ea\u05b8\u05da\u05b0<\/span> when speaking to a woman and \u05d0\u05d5\u05b9\u05ea\u05b0\u05da\u05b8<\/span> when speaking to a man. The only other change in this phrase is with the word \u05e8\u05d5\u05e6\u05d4<\/span>. When a man is saying “I want…” he says \u05e8\u05d5\u05b9\u05e6\u05b6\u05d4<\/span> (ro-TSEH), whereas when a woman uses this word, the vowel sound changes so it’s pronounced \u05e8\u05d5\u05b9\u05e6\u05b8\u05d4<\/span> (ro-TSAH). Let’s look at the sentences again, but from a woman’s viewpoint:<\/p>\n I\u2019d like to invite you for a meal – \u05d0\u05b2\u05e0\u05b4\u05d9 \u05e8\u05d5\u05b9\u05e6\u05b8\u05d4 \u05dc\u05b0\u05d4\u05b7\u05d6\u05b0\u05de\u05b4\u05d9\u05df \u05d0\u05d5\u05b9\u05ea\u05b0\u05da\u05b8 \u05dc\u05b7\u05d0\u05b2\u05e8\u05d5\u05bc\u05d7\u05b8\u05d4.<\/span> So you see how just a small change in the vowel sounds can make a whole new meaning. So now that you’re invited, how excited are you to go? This is what you’d say:<\/p>\n (men say this<\/em>) I can\u2019t wait! – \u05d0\u05b2\u05e0\u05b4\u05d9 \u05dc\u05d5\u05b9\u05d0 \u05d9\u05b8\u05db\u05d5\u05b9\u05dc \u05dc\u05b0\u05d7\u05b7\u05db\u05bc\u05d5\u05b9\u05ea!<\/span> Here’s a little more formal way of saying it: When invited to another’s home, there are a few things you’ll need to keep in mind to make that great first impression. In the next post we’ll look at what to say and do when arriving at the person’s home. \u05d0\u05d5\u05b9 \u05e7\u05b5\u05d9\u05d9<\/span>?<\/p>\n See you then! – \u05dc\u05b0\u05d4\u05b4\u05ea\u05b0\u05e8\u05b8\u05d0\u05d5\u05b9\u05ea!<\/span><\/p>\n Picture: http:\/\/uri.hillel.org\/home.aspx<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" You’ve got your friends. What if they want to invite you to dinner at their home? Or maybe to a party? Well, let’s find out if that’s what is going on – you don’t want to miss out on the fun and being with friends, right? Let’s get together! – \u05d1\u05bc\u05d5\u05b9\u05d0\u05d5\u05bc \u05e0\u05b4\u05d9\u05e4\u05b8\u05bc\u05d2\u05b5\u05e9\u05c1 In this…<\/p>\n
\nI\u2019d like to invite you for a meal – \u05d0\u05b2\u05e0\u05b4\u05d9 \u05e8\u05d5\u05b9\u05e6\u05b8\u05d4 \u05dc\u05b0\u05d4\u05b7\u05d6\u05b0\u05de\u05b4\u05d9\u05df \u05d0\u05d5\u05b9\u05ea\u05b8\u05da\u05b0 \u05dc\u05b7\u05d0\u05b2\u05e8\u05d5\u05bc\u05d7\u05b8\u05d4.<\/span>
\nI\u2019d like to invite you for a meal – \u05d0\u05b2\u05e0\u05b4\u05d9 \u05e8\u05d5\u05b9\u05e6\u05b8\u05d4 \u05dc\u05b0\u05d4\u05b7\u05d6\u05b0\u05de\u05b4\u05d9\u05df \u05d0\u05b6\u05ea\u05b0\u05db\u05b6\u05dd \u05dc\u05b7\u05d0\u05b2\u05e8\u05d5\u05bc\u05d7\u05b8\u05d4.<\/span><\/p>\n
\n(women say this<\/em>) I can\u2019t wait! – \u05d0\u05b2\u05e0\u05b4\u05d9 \u05dc\u05d5\u05b9\u05d0 \u05d9\u05b0\u05db\u05d5\u05b9\u05dc\u05b8\u05d4 \u05dc\u05b0\u05d7\u05b7\u05db\u05bc\u05d5\u05b9\u05ea!<\/span><\/p>\n
\nI\u2019m looking forward to it! – \u05d0\u05b2\u05e0\u05b4\u05d9 \u05de\u05b0\u05e6\u05b7\u05e4\u05b6\u05bc\u05d4 \u05dc\u05b0\u05db\u05b8\u05da\u05b0 \u05d1\u05b0\u05bc\u05db\u05b4\u05d9\u05dc\u05b8\u05bc\u05d9\u05d5\u05b9\u05df \u05e2\u05b5\u05d9\u05e0\u05b7\u05d9\u05b4\u05d9\u05dd.<\/span><\/p>\n
\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/blogs.transparent.com\/hebrew\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/34\/2013\/01\/dinnerathome-350x262.jpg\")