#225 Hamsa Hamsa Hamsa: Streetwise Hebrew Celebrates 5 Years of Podcasting

The Hamsa symbol, a hand with five fingers, is believed to bring good luck and keep away the evil eye. In Arabic, hamsa is the number five, which just happens to be the number of years we've been making our Streetwise Hebrew podcast!

We celebrate this grand occasion with a special episode on all things hamesh (חמש). Pssstttt... have a listen to how you too can keep away the evil eye!

Listen to the All-Hebrew Version of this Episode

New Words and Expressions:

Yomuledet hamesh - 5th birthday - יומולדת חמש

Hamesh shanim - Five years - חמש שנים

Shana, shanim - Year, years - שנה, שנים

Hamisha gvarim ve-isha - “Five men and a woman” - חמישה גברים ואישה

Hameshet ha-rochvim - The five riders - חמשת הרוכבים

Hameshet ha-gvarim - The five men - חמשת הגברים

Hameshet ha-hushim - The five senses - חמשת החושים

Hamisha kilogramim/kilo - Five kg. - חמישה קילוגרמים, חמישה קילו

“Hamesh kilo” - Five kg. (slang) - “חמש קילו”

Hamisha shkalim (“Hamesh shekel” in slang) - 5 shekel - חמישה שקלים (חמש שקל, סלנג)

Pi hamisha (“pi hamesh”, slang) - Fivefold - פי חמישה (פי חמש, סלנג)

Hamisha kochavim - Five stars - חמישה כוכבים

Malon hamisha kochavim, melonot hamisha kochavim - Five star hotel/s - מלון חמישה כוכבים, מלונות חמישה כוכבים

Hamsin - Heatwave - חמסין

Hamishim - Fifty - חמישים - Arabic: Hamsin

Hamishim Gvanim shel Afor - 50 shades of grey - חמישים גוונים של אפור

Hamsa - Five (arabic) - חמסה

Hamsa aleicha - May you be protected from any harm - חמסה עליך

Hamsa-hamsa - “Touch wood” - חמסה-חמסה

Emuna tfela - Superstition - אמונה טפלה

Hu pote’ach alai ayin - He brings the evil eye - הוא פותח עליי עין

 

Playlist and Clips:

Yafa Yarkoni - Hamesh Shanim al Michael (lyrics)

Hamisha Gvarim Ve-isha (telenovela)

Arik Einstein - Ha-balada al Moshe Yoel Salomon (lyrics)

Couscous in NY (Kan TV)

Lahakat Pikud Merkaz - Hamsinim Ba-mishlat (lyrics)

Hamishim Gvanim shel Afor (Kan TV)

Sarit Hadad - Hamsa (lyrics)

Hummus Hamsa commercial

Hamesh-Hamesh movie soundtrack (lyrics)