Tip #41

The Hebrew Hub -
all you need to learn Hebrew

How to say it in Hebrew
Tip #41

I am often asked ...

How to say in Hebrew "this ..."

"This is easy!"

First of all, (remember last weeks' newsletter? 😉 !קֹדֶם כֹּל) let's see how to say "this" in Hebrew. You are probably thinking – what's difficult about it? Well, first, in English there are two similar words – "this" and "it," whereas in Hebrew there is only one – זֶה. And this is it – זַהוּ זֶה. 😊 That's definitely good news.

Then, in English, after "this" we often need to say "is." Like in "this is a table." A funny question, but I need to ask it - how do we say "is" in Hebrew? You are probably laughing now and thinking "Alisa, what are you asking!? There is no am/is/are in Hebrew!!! You kept telling us that all the time!" – and you are right. 😊
And here - it's a very good sign for us! A sign that where in English something starts with "this is …" we can just take away the "is" and translate the rest as is. 😊
Simple example – "This is a table" – זֶה שֻׁלְחָן.

More examples:
All this is good and nice, but.. כָּל זֶה טוֹב וְיָפֶה, אֲבָל…
This is not true ("not correct")! – זֶה לֹא נָכוֹן!
What is this? מָה זֶה?
This is not a pipe – זֶה לֹא מִקְטֶרֶת

In some cases of the above type we do not use "this" in Hebrew! Newsletter #21 is all about it!

"This lesson is easy"

Now you may think that in order to say "this lesson is easy" you do the same – take away the "is" – and you have it… but I have some bad news for you – it's not exactly the case…

Let's start the investigation from saying:
"This is a new thing. The new thing is strange." I hope you guessed it right -
"זֶה דָּבָר חָדָשׁ. הַדָּבָר הֶחָדָשׁ מוּזָר"

So – it's as if to say "the new thing," we say "the thing the new" – did you notice that? ;)
How would you say "the strange thing," then? Right, "the thing the strange" – הַדָּבָר הַמּוּזָר.
And how would you say – "This strange thing," then? Forgive me for butchering the English, but it's like "the thing the strange… the this!" :D הַדָּבָר הַמּוּזָר הַזֶּה!
Let's now get rid of the "strange" word and stay with "this thing" – how would you say it? Right, הַדָּבָר הַזֶּה. it's as if you were saying "the thing the this"! Very different from English!

Another clue that may help you understand what's happening here is to notice that "this" works here like an adjective. Like – "the big house" – הַבַּיִת הַגָּדוֹל, and "this house" ("the this house" – הַבַּיִת הַזֶּה.

Let's see some more examples:
Where is this child?* אֵיפֹה הַיֶּלֶד הַזֶּה?
Why are you asking this question?* לָמָּה אַתָּה שׁוֹאֵל אֶת הַשְּׁאֵלָה הַזֹּאת?
I'll remember this day* – אֶזְכֹּר אֶת הַיּוֹם הַזֶּה
This letter is confusing* – הַמִּכְתָּב הַזֶּה מְבַלְבֵּל

*To make it plural – change "זֶה" (this) to "אֵלֶּה" (these)
הַיְּלָדִים הָאֵלֶּה
הַשְּׁאֵלוֹת הָאַלָּה
הַיָּמִים הָאַלָּה
הַמִּכְתָּבִים הָאַלָּה

To sum up –
if there is an "is" after "this" – safely remove it, and this is it
If there is no "is" – then "this" works like an adjective! Then the words change places (and "this" goes after the word it describes)
Consider this chain:
"This is a book" – זֶה סָפַר
Then, "this is an interesting book" – זֶה סֵפֶר מְעַנְיֵן
"The interesting book is on the shelf" – הַסֵּפֶר הַמְּעַנְיֵן עַל הַמַּדָּף.
"This interesting book is on the shelf" – הַסֵּפֶר הַמְּעַנְיֵן הָזָה עַל הַמַּדָּף.
"This book is on the shelf" – הַסֵּפֶר הָזָה עַל הַמַּדָּף

------

That's it, זַהוּ זֶה!

I hope it's all clear now! If not completely – you know what to do!
Write to me, ask me, - I am here to help you understand and speak Hebrew. ????

Happy Hebrew-learning,
Alisa

Tip #41

video

Learn Hebrew on the go!

Subscribe to "Hebrew Tips"