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):