Discussion Group for General Hebrew Questions

[MiOB]

Welcome to the Hebrew Virtual School!

This is an over-all thread about the Hebrew language and your questions concerning it.

This thread is for beginners just as it is for the advanced. If you have a question, which you think doesn't deserve a new thread, or if you feel like you have a couple of questions with no common topic, this is the thread for you.

Please, take your time to introduce yourself. You can start by writing how well your Hebrew already is, how you have come to learn it, why do you want to learn it, and basically, everything you'd happily like to share with us.

Also, feel free to ask for Hebew resources & courses, or, even better, to share what you have with us.

And, of course, don't be thrifty with the feedback!

Enjoy learning Hebrew!
[rp]
ברוך/ה הבא/ה לבית הספר המקוון לעברית!

זה הוא שרשור מקיף על השפה העברית ועל שאלותיך הנוגעות אליה.

שרשור זה הוא למתחילים ולמתקדמים כאחד. במקרה שיש לך שאלה, שאת/ה סבור/ה כי היא לא דורשת שרשור בלעדי, או במקרה שיש לך כמה שאלות ללא מכנה משותף, זה הוא המקום בשבילך.

בבקשה, מצא/י את הזמן להציג את עצמך. תוכל/י להתחיל, בכך שתכתב/י מה היא רמת העברית שלך, כיצד התחלת ללמוד את השפה, למה החלטת ללמוד אותה, ובעצם, כל דבר שתרא/י לנכון לשתף איתנו.

נוסף לכך, אל תהסס/י לבקש שיעורים ומקורות בעברית, ו/או אף יותר מכך, לשתף איתנו את כול אשר ברשותך כבר.

והכי חשוב, לא להיות קמצנים בנוגע למשובים!

הנאה רבה בלמידת השפה העברית! [/rp]

[Stan]

do you know of any program for typing Hebrew?

[MiOB]

hey stancel!

could you give more details? what exactly are you asking for?
I tried searching for programs like that, but couldn't tell which one you meant.

[M@!]

Hello,

Maybe Stan meant some kind of a visual keyboard, like this one in Arabic: http://www.zeitun-eg.org/keyb.htm
If he didn't, then I am asking for it, please. I tried to find something online but in vain.

Thanks.

[MiOB]

Oh, ok then, I think I understand what you mean.

Here are a few that I have:

Mikledet, Virtual Keyboard, Another one , and... Another one , and... Just another one

Hope it's good for you.

If it's not, explain better then.

[Stan]

Toda!

[MiOB]

!על לא דבר (have yourself a challange to read that )

[M@!]

None of the links Omri posted were what I was looking for.

!על לא דבר (have yourself a challange to read that )

Okay! I could read 3ala la. 3 stand for ayin, as I was told it's like our letter 3ayn in Arabic.
I couldn't read the rest, because it contains two letters I confuse, but I recognize beit. So, dalet and beit and.. reish? Would be...?
I guess it's the answer of thanks (toda?).
How's toda written in Hebrew? Tet and dalet only?

Thank you.

[MiOB]

None of the links Omri posted were what I was looking for.

Tried my best.

but I recognize beit. So, dalet and beit and.. reish? Would be...?

I wouldn't tell you that fast INSTEAD, I'll write it with its punctuation:

עַל לֹא דָּבָר

Now try to read it, and tell me if you succeed.

I guess it's the answer of thanks (toda?) ... How's toda written in Hebrew? Tet and dalet only?

Yep, it is. It means (literally) "For not a thing", which in English would mean "You're welcome". As for Toda:

תּוֹדָה

omri

[MiOB]

Each week, I'll be bringing a story in Hebrew for you to read, and, if you also desire, to translate into English.

My purpose is to let you have an opportunity to discover new words and thereupon enrich your vocabulary, to discover new ways of Hebrew phrasing, and to just have a better comprehension of the language.

Of course, this will also be the place for you to ask about words' meanings, that you don't understand, and to generally discuss about the story, language-wise and interpretation-wise.

Story #1:

[rp]העץ הנדיב / ש. סילברסטיין | תרגום: יהודה מלצר

פַּעַם אַחַת הָיָה עֵץ... וְהוּא אָהַב יֶלֶד קָטָן אֶחָד. וְכָל יוֹם הַיֶּלֶד הָיָה בָּא וְאוֹסֵף אֶת הֶעָלִים שֶׁל הָעֵץ וְעוֹשֶׂה מֵהֶם כְּתָרִים וּמְשַׂחֵק בְּמֶלֶךְ הַיַּעַר. הוּא הָיָה מְטַפֵּס עַל הַגֶּזַע וּמִתְנַדְנֵד לוֹ עַל הָעֲנָפִים וְאוֹכֵל תַּפּוּחֵי-עֵץ. וְהֵם הָיוּ מְשַׂחֲקִים בְּמַחֲבוֹאִים. וְכְשֶׁהַיֶּלֶד הָיָה מִתְעַיֵּיף, הוּא הָיָה נִרְדָּם בְּצִלּוֹ שֶׁל הָעֵץ. וְהַיֶלֶד אָהַב אֶת הָעֵץ מְאֹד מְאֹד. וְהָעֵץ הָיָה מְאֻשָּר. אַךְ הַזְּמָן חָלַף לוֹ, וְהַיֶּלֶד הָלַךְ וְגָדַל. וּלְעִתִּים קְרוֹבוֹת הָעֵץ נִשְׁאַר לְבַדּוֹ.

וְאָז הַיֶּלֶד בָּא יוֹם אֶחָד אֶל הָעֵץ, וְהָעֵץ אָמַר: "בּוֹא יֶלֶד, בּוֹא תְטַפֵּס עַל הַגֶּזַע שֶׁלִי, תִּתְנַדְנֵד עַל הָעֲנָפִים וְתֹאכַל תַּפּוּחִים וּתְשַׂחֵק בְּצִלִּי וְתִהְיֶה מְאֻשָׁר"

"אֲנִי יוֹתֵר מִדַּי גָּדוֹל בִּשְׁבִיל לְטַפֵּס וּלְשַׂחֵק", אָמַר הַיֶּלֶד. "אֲנִי רוֹצֶה לִקְנוֹת דְּבָרִים וְלַעֲשׂוֹת חַיִּים. אֲנִי רוֹצֶה קְצָת כֶּסֶף. אַתָּה יָכוֹל לָתֵת לִי קְצָת כֶּסֶף?"

"אֲנִי מִצְטַעֵר", אָמַר הָעֵץ, "אֲבַל אֵין לִי כֶּסֶף יֵשׁ לִי רַק עָלִים וְתַפּוּחִים. קַח אֶת הַתַּפּוּחִים שֶׁלִי, יֶלֶד, תִּמְכּוֹר אוֹתָם בָּעִיר. כָּךְ יִהְיֶה לְךָ כֶּסֶף וְתִהְיֶה מְאֻשָׁר".

וְאָז הַיֶּלֶד טִפֵּס עַל הָעֵץ וְקָטַף מִמֶּנוֹ אֶת הַתַּפּוּחִים וְלָקַח אוֹתָם אִתּוֹ.

וְהָעֵץ הָיָה מְאֻשָׁר. אֲבָל הַיֶּלֶד הָלַךְ וְלֹא חָזַר הַרְבֵּה זְמָן... וְהָעֵץ הָיָה עָצוּב...

וְאָז יוֹם אֶחָד הַיֶּלֶד חָזַר וְהָעֵץ רָעַד מֵרֹב שִׂמְחָה וְאָמַר: "בּוֹא יֶלֶד, בּוֹא תְטַפֵּס עַל הַגֶּזַע שֶׁלִי, וְתִתְנַדְנֵד עַל הָעֲנָפִים וְתִהְיֶה מְאֻשָׁר".

"אֲנִי יוֹתֵר מִדַּי עָסוּק בִּשְׁבִיל לְטַפֵּס עַל עֵצִים", אָמַר הַיֶּלֶד. "אֲנִי רוֹצֶה בַּיִת, שֶׁיִּהְיֶה לִי חַם", הוּא אָמַר. "אֲנִי רוֹצֶה אִשָׁה וְאֲנִי רוֹצֶה יְלָדִים, וּבִשְׁבִיל זֶה אֲנִי צָרִיךְ בַּיִת. אַתָּה יָכוֹל לָתֵת לִי בַּיִת?"

"אֲבַל אֵין לִי בַּיִת", אָמַר הָעֵץ, "הַיַּעַר הוּא בֵּיתִי. אֲבַל אַתָּה יָכוֹל לְקַצֵץ אֶת הָעֲנָפִים שֶׁלִּי וְלִבְנוֹת בַּיִת. אָז תִהְיֶה מְאֻשָׁר".

הַיֶּלֶד קִצֵּץ לָעֵץ אֶת עֲנָפָיו וְלָקַח אוֹתָם אִתּוֹ לִבְנוֹת אֶת בֵּיתוֹ. וְהָעֵץ הָיָה מְאֻשָׁר. אֲבָל הַיֶּלֶד הָלַךְ וְלֹא חָזַר הַרְבֵּה זְמָן...

וּכְשֶׁהוּא חָזַר הָעֵץ הָיָה כָּל-כַּךְ מְאֻשָׁר שֶׁבְּקֹשִׁי הִצְלִיחַ לְדַבֵּר. "בּוֹא יֶלֶד", הוּא לָחַשׁ, בּוֹא תְשַׂחֵק".

"אֲנִי יוֹתֵר מִדַּי זָקֵן וְעָצוּב בִּשְׁבִיל לְשַׂחֵק" אָמַר הַיֶּלֶד. "אֲנִי רוֹצֶה סִירָה שֶׁתִּקַּח אוֹתִי הַרְחֵק הַרְחֵק מִכָּאן. אַתָּה יָכוֹל לָתֵת לִי סִירָה?"

"כְּרוֹת אֶת הַגֶּזַע שֶׁלִּי וְתַעֲשֶׂה לְךָ סִירָה" אָמַר הָעֵץ. "כָּךְ תּוּכַל לְהַפְלִיג לַמֶּרְחַקִים וְתִהְיֶה מְאֻשָׁר"

הַיֶלֶד כָּרַת לָעֵץ אֶת הַגֶּזַע וּבָנָה לוֹ סִירָה וְהִפְלִיג לַמֶּרְחַקִים. וְהָעֵץ הָיָה מְאֻשָׁר.. אֲבָל לֹא מְאֻשָׁר מַמָּש

וְאַחֲרֵי הַרְבֵּה זְמַן הַיֶּלֶד חָזַר שׁוּב.

"אֲנִי מִצְטַעֵר, יֶלֶד", אָמַר הָעֵץ, "אֲבַל לֹא נִשְׁאַר לִי שׁוּם דָּבָר לָתֵת לְךָ, הַלְוַואי שֶׁיָּכֹלְתִּי לָתֵת לְךָ מַשֶׁהוּ, אֲבָל לֹא נִשְׁאַר לִי כְּלוּם. אֲנִי סְתָם גֶּזַע כָּרוּת זָקֵן. אֲנִי מִצְטַעֵר...".

"אֲנִי לֹא צָרִיך הַרְבֵּה עַכְשָׁו" אָמַר הַיֶּלֶד, "רַק מָקוֹם שָׁקֵט לָשֶׁבֶת וְלָנוּחַ. אֲנִי עָיֵף מְאֹד".

"אִם כָּךְ", אָמַר הָעֵץ וְזָקַף אֶת עַצְמוֹ כַּמָּה שֶׁרַק הִצְלִיחַ, "אִם כָּך, גֶּזַע כָּרוּת זָּקֵן הוּא כֵּן טוֹב בִּשְׁבִיל לָשֶׁבֶת וְלָנוּחַ. בּוֹא, יֶלֶד, שֵׁב לְךָ וְתָנוּחַ" וְהַיֶּלֶד יָשַׁב. וְהָעֵץ הָיָה מְאֻשָׁר .[/rp]

[MiOB]

OK, a failing idea.

[M@!]

I wouldn't tell you that fast INSTEAD, I'll write it with its punctuation:
עַל לֹא דָּבָר

Ala la daber?

תּוֹדָה Omri.

As for your story, it would be a great idea if I was only a little bit more advanced, but hence, I am only a beginner.

[MiOB]

Hey M, could you exactly describe what kind of keyboard it is? I tried to look again, but couldn't really tell.

Yes of course, thank you very much. But I still can't find a visual Hebrew keyboard. Uriah showed me the Arabic one, so he must find me a Hebrew one.

Ala la daber??

Almost! It would be "Al lo davar".

As for your story, it would be a great idea if I was only a little bit more advanced, but hence, I am only a beginner. Maybe soon in sha Allah. :--)

In sha Allah indeed!
Though, I personally think it is sutible for just anyone who is fully able to read punctuation, since my main idea was to enrich vocabulary and reading comprehension in beginners and to enforce it in the advanced.
BUT, each one and his own pace! I don't mind.
I just would have been happy indeed to at least get some feedback about it, so I could know what to change, but I've already gotten used to this indifferent community.

[Luís]

Poor Omri...

These days I even find it hard to find the time to read my Hebrew textbook, let alone these really complicated texts you post... Maybe I'll give it a try during the summer break

Maybe soon in sha Allah.

In sha Allah indeed!

Oxalá! (read oh-shuh-LAH)

[Radagast]

Ooh, I hate this story! It just I know it from childhood and it's sooo sad.. Poor tree. I hate the way the kid treats it.

[MiOB]

Totally!

What a little brat that kid is!

[M@!]

Omri, I'd love to have a visual keyboard like this one for Arabic.
There is that new feature for inserting special characters here, but I prefer a visual keyboard.

I guess all these little things in al lo davar are vowels, but I haven't learnt them yet, I am still trying to get rid of every single problem I have with the alphabet.

I just found this page and I am learning the cursive letters from it.
If I get it right, the square letters are used in books and websites and the cursive ones are used in one's usual handwriting? I never came across a text written in cursive online, or maybe I am not that advanced yet.

As for your story, bear in mind the persons who'll read it. Try even, if you have time, to adapt your stories to the learners in this forum, depending on their level. You see that I'll do just fine with trying to read single words, not whole stories yet. Once we are a bunch of a bit advanced learners here, we'll get to discuss the stories suggested in Hebrew.

Oxalá! (read oh-shuh-LAH)

I didn't get this part.

[Luís]

Oxalá! (read oh-shuh-LAH)

I didn't get this part.

Oxalá is a Portuguese word that comes from the Arabic in sha Allah.
It can be roughly translated as "Let's hope so", "God willing".

One day I'll make a list of similar vocabulary in Portuguese and Semitic languages

[M@!]

Oh, I see! Thank you for the explanation Luís.
In sha Allah, as you maybe already know, means literally in Arabic: if wants Allah. So it's Allah willing.

[MiOB]

Omri, I'd love to have a visual keyboard like this one for Arabic. I don't want to install a Hebrew keyboard, I don't even Arabic installed, and I hate it when my keyboard switches to French or to English all of a sudden.
There is that new feature for inserting special characters here, but I prefer a visual keyboard.

Well, I did check this web page again, and I just see a keyboard on whose keys you click and then the letters are inserted into the text box, as if you were writing with an Arabic keyboard. Right? In the links I had given you there were also these types of keyboards, which makes me wonder why it is not the same. Perhaps you could point out that one little thing, that makes it all unusable for you?

I guess all these little things in al lo davar are vowels, but I haven't learnt them yet, I am still trying to get rid of every single problem I have with the alphabet.

Those are indeed vowels, and I thought you had already learned them.
Anyhow, you will in the future I guess!

If I get it right, the square letters are used in books and websites and the cursive ones are used in one's usual handwriting? I never came across a text written in cursive online, or maybe I am not that advanced yet.

Exactly. Square letters are books, newspapaers, official documents and websites, while the cursive one is the usual handwriting. As for you coming across cursive, well, it is indeed not that common around the web.

As for your story, bear in mind the persons who'll read it. Try even, if you have time, to adapt your stories to the learners in this forum, depending on their level. You see that I'll do just fine with trying to read single words, not whole stories yet.

I'll do that. for the tips!

And hey, you got *my* feedback.

And did you see Omri? I got to insert the links correctly, finally. :--)

See, it wasn't THAT hard.