Eurovision 2019 is nothing short of the event of the year in Tel Aviv. Here’s a list of Hebrew words that will have you feeling and sounding like a local!
1. I’m not your toy.
Thanks to Netta Barzilai’s victory last year with her song “Toy,” Tel Aviv is hosting the 2019 Eurovision!
Keywords: שִׁיר
Translation: song
Transliteration: sheer
2. Front and center
The Eurovision stage is located at Park HaYarkon.
Keywords: בַּמָּה, הוֹפָעָה
Translation: stage, concert
Transliteration: bah-mah, hoh-fah-ah
Insider Tip: לְהוֹפִיעַ (the verb of הוֹפָעָה) means both “to perform” and “to appear/show up.”
3. I love your outfit!
Aside from the amazing songs, Eurovision is a place for countries to show off their fashion.
Keywords: תִּלְבֹּושֶׁת, אוֹפְנָּהּ
Translation: outfit, fashion
Transliteration: teel-boh-shet, ohf-nah
Insider Tip: Fashion comes from the same root as the word “bicycle” – אוֹפַנַיִם (oh-fah-nai-eem), from the root א-פ-נ – because they both have cycles!
4. Shabbat shalom!
Nothing says Israeli hospitality like a Friday evening dinner.
Keywords: אֲרוּחַת שִׁשִּׁי, לְאָרֵחַ
Translation: Friday dinner, to host
Transliteration: ar-oo-chaht shee-shee, leh-ah-rey-ahch
Insider Tip: Both the word “dinner” and “to host” come from the same root: א-ר-ח
5. Why all the traffic?
Want some help getting around the traffic? Try taking a scooter, or in Hebrew, קוֹרְקִינֵט (kor-kee-net).
Keywords: פְּקָק
Translation: traffic jam
Transliteration: p’kahk
Insider Tip: The word for traffic jam and wine cork are the same in Hebrew, because a wine cork is jammed into the neck of a bottle.
6. Paparazzi everywhere
Funny enough, this year’s Eurovision sponsor – MyHeritage – turned the “red carpet” orange to match their brand’s color.
Keywords: שָׁטִיחַ אָדֹום, מַצְלֵמָה
Translation: red carpet, camera
Transliteration: shah-tee-ahch ah-dohm, matz-leh-mah
7. Who’s going to win?
Will Israel repeat two years in a row?
Keywords: לִזְכּוֹת, תַּחֲרוּת
Translation: to win, competition
Transliteration: leez-koht, tah-chah-root
Insider Tip: Don’t confuse the word לְנַצֵחַ (leh-nah-tzey-ahch – to win a game) with לִזְכּוֹת (to win a competition or award).
8. Watch the final round May 18th, at 21:00 IST.
Only 20 will make it to the final. Who will win?
Keywords: שִׁידּוּר חַי, גְּמָר
Translation: live broadcast, final round
Transliteration: shee-door, g’mar
9. Represent your country!
41 countries are participating in this year’s contest, but who’s counting?
Keywords: לְיַצֵּג, אֶרֶץ
Translation: to represent, country
Transliteration: leh-yah-tzeg, meh-dee-nah
Insider Tip: The words for “to represent” and “to display” – לְהַצִּיג (leh-hah-tzeeg) – both come from the same root: י-צ-ג
10. Tourists, everywhere!
Tel Aviv has seen about 10,000 tourists arrive for the Eurovision week.
Keywords: תַּיָּר (m) / תַּיֶּרֶת (f)
Translation: tourist
Transliteration: tah-yar (m) / tah-yer-et (f)
11. Duz Puah!
The result of the 2019 Eurovision Song Contest will be decided for 50 percent by the public, and for 50 percent by a group of music industry professionals.
Keywords: שׁוֹפֵט (m) / שׁוֹפֶטֶת (f)
Translation: judge
Transliteration: shoh-fet (m) / shoh-fet-et (f)
Insider Tip: The words for “to judge” (לִשְׁפּוֹט – leesh-poht) and “sentence” (מִשׁפָּט – meesh-paht) both come from the same root: ש-פ-ט.
