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Jessi: Hello, and welcome to Hebrew Survival Phrases, brought to you by HebrewPod101.com. This course is designed to equip you with the language skills and knowledge to enable you to get the most out of your visit to Israel. You'll be surprised at how far a little Hebrew will go. Now, before we jump in, remember to stop by HebrewPod101.com and there you'll find the accompanying PDF and additional info in the post. If you stop by, be sure to leave us a comment!
Survival Phrases Lesson 20 - Currency
In Israel, the currency is the שֶׁקֶל, Shekel. At the time of writing this, the exchange rate is roughly 4 shekels to the US dollar and 0.25 US dollars to 1 שֶׁקֶל, Shekel. Currently, it is 5.7 Shekels to the British Pound, and 0.17 British Pounds to 1 שֶׁקֶל, Shekel. The currency includes 20, 50, 100, and 200 שֶׁקֶל, Shekel bills, 5, 10, and 50 אֲגוֹרוֹת, Agorot, and 1, 2, 5, and 10 Shekel coins. There are one hundred אֲגוֹרוֹת, Agorot in one שֶׁקֶל, Shekel.
Let's try to say prices in Hebrew. Let's start with 28.52 Shekels. The long way is עֶשְׂרִים וּשְּמוֹנָה שְׁקָלִים וֶחֲמִשִּׁים וּשְׁתַּיִם אֲגוֹרוֹת, Esrim veshmona shekalim vekhamishim veshtaim agorot. This is very straightforward. First, we say the number of Shekels, then the word שְׁקָלִים, Shekalim. Secondly, note that the two numbers are separated by the conjunction וֶ, Ve, which means "and." Therefore, before Ve, you always have the שְׁקָלִים, Shekalim, and after the וֶ, Ve, you have the אֲגוֹרוֹת, Agorot. Next, we say the number of אֲגוֹרוֹת, Agorot and finally the word אֲגוֹרוֹת, Agorot. שֶׁקֶל, Shekel and אֲגוֹרָה, Agora are the singular words for the Israeli currency and שְׁקָלִים, Shekalim and אֲגוֹרוֹת, Agorot are the plural.
Saying שְׁקָלִים, Shekalim and אֲגוֹרוֹת, Agorot is not much common in Israel, so let's learn the easiest and local way of saying your prices. The short way is עֶשְׂרִים וּשְּמוֹנֶה, חֲמִשִּׁים וּשְׁתַּיִם, Esrim veshmona, khamishim veshtaim. In this case, it might not be immediately clear which number is שְׁקָלִים, Shekalim and which is אֲגוֹרוֹת, Agorot, but remember that there is a pause after the שְׁקָלִים, Shekalim. So עֶשְׂרִים וּשְּמוֹנֶה, חֲמִשִּׁים וּשְׁתַּיִם, Esrim veshmona, khamishim veshtaim is the equivalent of saying "twenty-eight fifty-two."
Let's have one more example. "4.99 שְׁקָלִים, Shekalim" in Hebrew short version is אַרְבַּע תִּשְׁעִים וְתֵּשַׁע, Arba tishim vetesha, and the long version is אַרְבָּעָה שְׁקָלִים וְתִּשְׁעִים וְתֵּשַׁע אֲגוֹרוֹת, Arba'a Shekalim vetishim vetesha Agorot.
Ok, to close out today's lesson, we would like you to practice what you have just learned. I'll provide you with the English equivalent of the phrase and you're responsible for shouting it out loud. You'll have a few seconds before I give you the answer, so !בְּהַצְלָחָה, Behatzlacha! which means "Good luck!" in Hebrew.
"Twenty-eight NIS and fifty-two Agorot." - עֶשְׂרִים וּשְּמוֹנָה שְׁקָלִים וֶחֲמִשִּׁים וּשְׁתַּיִם אֲגוֹרוֹת, Esrim u-shmona shekalim ve-khamishim u-shtaim agorot.
"Twenty-eight fifty-two." - עֶשְׂרִים וּשְּמוֹנֶה, חֲמִשִּׁים וּשְׁתַּיִם, Esrim veshmone, khamishim u-shtaim.
"Four NIS and ninety-nine Agorot." - אַרְבָּעָה שְׁקָלִים וְתִּשְׁעִים וְתֵּשַׁע אֲגוֹרוֹת, Arba'a Shekalim vetishim vetesha Agorot.
"Four ninety-nine." - אַרְבַּע תִּשְׁעִים וְתֵּשַׁע, Arba tishim vetesha.
Jessi: Alright! That's going to do it for today. Remember to stop by HebrewPod101.com and pick up the accompanying PDF. If you stop by, be sure to leave us a comment!

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