LOVE IN THE EARLY DAYS OF ISRAEL
In the 1940's and 1950's, while spoken Hebrew was in the process of formation, some romantic expressions were borrowed from different languages introducing new concepts to the Israeli culture. That is how 'flirt' became a noun פְלִירְט (flirt), a non-committed relationship. Derived from this word are the verb לפלרטט (leflartet) “to flirt” and the adjective פְלַרְטְטָן (flartetan) “flirtatious”. The Spanish seducer, “דוֹן ז'וּאן” “Don Juan”, has also visited the Holy Land and has an ironic version: “דון ז'וּאן דֶלָה שְׁמָאטֶה” “Don Juan de la Schmatte”, meaning a suitor in rags.
THE LOVE OF FRIENDSHIP
Some of the best Hebrew love phrases were invented in the 1960s: “התחיל אִתה” (hitkhil ita) “he started with her”, meaning he initiated contact, or “חברוּת” (khaverut) “friendship” – a permanent and binding connection, usually leading to marriage. Hence the phrase הציע חברות (hitzia khaverut) , “he requested friendship”. Another term is יוצאים (yotzim) “going out”, to be involved a romantic relationship, which is borrowed from English. When you finally find someone to love you say: I love you "אני אוהב אותך"(ani ohev otakh) for male and “אני אוהבת אותך” (ani ohevet otkha) for female.
FALL IN LOVE WITH HEBREW
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