What does “mehamem” mean in Hebrew?
קסם בצנצנת: בובה מהממת יוצאת מהמים
A2 Hebrew listening practice · Standard Hebrew · Picked for people who know a little
Kids shake a jar until a toy “doll” magically swells out of the water, and the reaction is pure Israeli enthusiasm: «איזה מהממת!» (“how stunning!”). מהמם (mehamem, feminine מהממת) means “stunning, gorgeous, amazing.”
It’s one of Israel’s favorite superlatives, applied to a sunset, an outfit, a meal, or a person with equal ease: “את נראית מהמם” (“you look stunning”). It comes from the root for a blow or daze (הלם, “shock”), so something mehamem quite literally bowls you over. High praise, and Israelis hand it out generously.
How common are the words?
How common are the words in this A2 Hebrew listening practice video?
How common in written Hebrew
How common in spoken Hebrew
Harder words in this video
These words are harder than A2. Here is what they mean.
Source: wordfreq 3.1.1 (general) · OpenSubtitles 2018 (HermitDave) (spoken). These numbers are close, not perfect.
- ▸From Israelis admiring a view, an outfit, or a plate of food.
- ▸In Israeli fashion, beauty, and lifestyle content.
- ▸On Israeli reality and talent shows reacting to a reveal.
- ▸Everyday Hebrew enthusiasm, beside מושלם (“perfect”).