For Rosh Hashana – the Jewish New Year – I recorded a special podcast episode about Hebrew expressions that use the word “Rosh” (meaning head, or sometimes beginning, like in Rosh Hashana – the “head” of the year).
My podcast is only in Hebrew and is meant for advanced learners. If you can follow a full episode in Hebrew – the link is attached here below.
And for everyone else – here’s the list of the same expressions in Hebrew / transliteration / English 🙂
Expressions with “Rosh”:
- שנהיה לראש ולא לזנב
Shenihiye le-rosh ve-lo le-zanav – “May we be the head and not the tail.” A traditional blessing for Rosh Hashana that is blessing everyone with success, initiative, and independence. - להיות זנב לאריות ולא ראש לשועלים
Lihyot zanav la-aryot ve-lo rosh la-shualim – “Better to be a tail to lions than a head to foxes.” From rabbinic literature; better to follow the strong than to lead the weak, or – better be a peart of a “good” group, rather than leading a bad one. - ראש גדול
Rosh gadol – “Big head.” Someone responsible, proactive, who takes initiative. - ראש קטן
Rosh katan – “Small head.” The opposite: someone who avoids responsibility and only does the minimum. - ראש כרוב / ראש בטטה
Rosh kruv / rosh batata – “Cabbage head / sweet potato head.” A silly or not-so-bright person. - ראש פתוח
Rosh patuach – “An open head.” Someone open-minded and creative. - לנקות את הראש
Lenakot et ha-rosh – “To clean the head.” To take a break, relax, clear your mind. - כאב ראש
Ke’ev rosh – “Headache.” Both literal and figurative – something very annoying or complicated that you don’t feel like doing. - להיות באותו ראש
Lihyot be-oto rosh – “To be on the same head.” To think alike, to share the same vibe or mindset. - אין לי ראש לזה
Ein li rosh le-ze – “I don’t have a head for this.” I can’t deal with it right now; no energy or mental space. - ראש בראש
Rosh be-rosh – “Head to head.” A direct clash, face-to-face competition. - לתת בראש
Latet ba-rosh – Literally “to give in the head.” Colloquial: to do something strongly or impressively. It is a positive slang expression, like “rock it”. - עסוק מעל הראש
Asuk me-al ha-rosh – “Busy above the head.” Completely overwhelmed with work or commitments. - מראש
Me-rosh – “From the head / beforehand.” Meaning in advance, ahead of time.
🎧 Listen to the full podcast episode (in Hebrew, advanced level):
