Passing Phrase - www.learnhebrew.org.il

Shetehiyeh Li Bari

Literally: You should be for me healthy
Idiomatically: You should only have good health

How this phrase is interpreted can depend on the situation and your tone of voice: It can a phrase of encouragement or of exasperation especially if there is there is an "Oy" or "Oish" before it or if it's flavored with a touch of disappointment. One of the definitions of "Bari" and the one we are using means healthy (Shabbat 14:3). There are other definitions of this word including being heavily overweight (Judges 3:17), but we won't go there.

On the face of it you are wishing someone well or health - yes it is a bit convoluted when it denotes disappointment or exasperation. This phrase may have its root in Yiddish: Sometimes when I was underfoot or dropped a bowl of cereal, my grandmother would shake her head and mutter "Zei Mir Gezunt!" which can also be a blessing, or in my case more likely a moan.

שתהיה לי בריא... איך שכחת לעשות טסט לאוטו?

"Shetehiyeh li bari… aich shachacta la'asot test la'auto?"

You should only have good health… how did you forget to do the licensing test for the car?


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