Shoshana Kordova

A word for your unmentionables gets plenty of mention when you add in alternate vowels.

Likud-Yisrael Beinteinu may be a slam dunk to win the upcoming elections, but every party seems to have its own 'Dream Team.'

The 'Nanachim,' those exuberant followers of Rabbi Nachman of Bratslav, are perhaps best known for their sidewalk dancing. Now they're looking to bring the party to the halls of the Knesset.

On Hanukkah, we light the skinniest of candles, as this word explains, but eat the fattiest of foods. Oh the irony!

If you're grubbing on the go, it's good to know this word for a snack. Just be careful of the noun form, which can mean something altogether different.

Whether they’re on a bomb or in a lake, literal or figurative, red lines are a prominent part of Israeli discourse - especially during the winter rainy season.

When much of the population of Israel tends to the 'dark and mysterious' type, anyone else easily stands out – especially the fiery redheads. And like one of the Spice Girls, they're identified with a certain zesty root.

An Hebrew sneeze has a sound all of its own, and a name to match.

To bring a guy to his knees in English, you'd kick him in the groin and watch him cry. In Hebrew, that sensitive zone is more like a nest. But instead of the female standing watch, it's the man protecting his eggs.

Last week, the UN upgraded the status of Palestine to nonmember observer state. The Hebrew word for 'member' is also the one used for 'girlfriend,' which certainly puts a new spin on diplomatic relationships.

If something sounds too good to be true, it probably is. And if you fall for it, you've been had or, in Hebrew terms, they've worked one over you. Not easy to see when the wool is has been pulled over your eyes, is it?

If you ask an Israeli to repeat herself, she might ask you to leave.

A bright smile or a refreshing facial are always welcome on the face. But in Hebrew, when things are a bit messed up, they can be found on the face, too.

Should you run into a friend frequently within a short time span, you could employ this phrase for a good laugh. Or, if you wanted to be German about it, you could insist she pay up with an ice cream.

This word refers to two different warm and fuzzy items, which can lead to some confusion.

Though Americans are wary of referencing religion in daily speech, the phrase 'bless you' slips under the radar. The Hebrew word for blessing is similarly welcome, and widely used, in the public sphere.

In Israel, more often than not, it's all about who you know.

Across the United States today, families will be consuming a bird of many national origins. Though deemed 'turkey' in English, a reference to the country, in Hebrew the same bird is more at home in India.

It's not enough to just say you want something now. In Hebrew, Yiddish, and South African slang, you really have to emphasize the point. And this word in particular helps you shift into high gear.

When things explode, Israelis love to make us of this evocative onomatopoeia.

If you’re seeking shelter when the siren shrieks, a mamad is the place to go. But afterward, if what you really need is a prayer, well, the other kind of mamad will also do the job.

Spelled with aleph, it's an exclamation of frustration. But it sounds just like "oof" spelled with ayin, meaning "fly," and that isn't the end of the potential confusion.

The guy and gal next door may be perfect for each other and so too are the pages of your brilliant writing. But both need a strong bond to stay together and Hebrew has the answer.

You have 10,000 spoons. You want a knife. What do you say?

With a meaning that means 'no meaning,' stam is the perfect expression to show how nonchalant you are.