Grandpa Itzhak
A short text in Hebrew at level A2. The translation sits next to it: reading with a dictionary is still too early at this level, and without support it will not happen at all. Grandpa Itzhak is eighty years old, and he is slim and handsome. His hair is gray, his beard white, and his head bald.…
Text
- לסבא יצחק שמונים שנה, והוא חטוב ויפה. השיער שלו אפור, הזקן לבן, והראש קירח. על המצח יש קמטים גדולים, ועל הלחי שומה קטנה. סבא נדיב: כל שבת הוא קונה לנכדים גלידה ועוגיות. יש לו חוש הומור גדול, ובבית שלו תמיד צוחקים.ле-саба Ицхак шмоним шана, ве-у хатув ве-яфе. ха-шеяр шельо афор, ха-закан лаван, ве-ха-рош киреах. аль ха-мах йеш кметим гдолим, ве-аль ха-лехей шума катана. саба надив: коль шабат у конэ ле-нехадим глида ве-угийот. йеш ло хуш гумор гадоль, ве-ба-байт шельо тамид цохаким.Grandpa Itzhak is eighty years old, and he is slim and handsome. His hair is gray, his beard white, and his head bald. On his forehead there are big wrinkles, and on his cheek a small birthmark. Grandpa is generous: every Saturday he buys the grandchildren ice cream and cookies. He has a great sense of humor, and there is always laughter in his house.
Comprehension questions
The questions are asked in Russian on purpose: we test your understanding of the text, not your ability to read the question.
- How old is grandpa?
- What color is his beard?
- What does he buy the grandchildren every Saturday?
- What kind of person is he?
Frequently asked
What level do you need to read this text in Hebrew?
A2. That means: you know the letters and have a stock of everyday words — about two or three hundred.
How to read a text in an unfamiliar language usefully?
First all the way through without peeking at the translation — just to catch the familiar words. Then with the translation. Then all the way through again: the second pass brings noticeably more, and that feeling matters more than any rule.