קל ומהיר
kal ve-mahir
The English phrase "easy fast" is translated into Hebrew as קל ומהיר (kal ve-mahir).
Used to describe a task or process that requires little effort and takes a short amount of time.
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase is composed of the adjective קל (easy) and the conjunction ו- (and) joined to the adjective מהיר (fast).
How does it change in a sentence?
If the noun being described is feminine, both adjectives must take the feminine suffix '-ה' (e.g., קלה ומהירה).
How do you pronounce it?
kal ve-mahir
Did you know?
- The word קל shares an ancestral root with the Arabic word for 'few' or 'little', suggesting that in ancient thought, something easy was also something small or light.
- In Hebrew, the word for 'easy' is the exact same word used for 'light' in terms of physical weight. This connects the concept of effortless tasks directly to the feeling of something being weightless.
- While מהיר means 'fast', Hebrew uses a different root for 'quick' when referring to a person's wit or temper, showing that 'fast' is not always interchangeable with 'quick'.
Examples in context
- זה נראה לי קל ומהיר.ze nir'eh li kal ve'mahir.It looks easy and fast to me.
- התיקון הזה יהיה קל ומהיר.hatikun haze yehiye kal ve'mahir.This repair will be easy and fast.
- אני מחפש תהליך קל ומהיר.ani mekhapes tahalikh kal ve'mahir.I am looking for an easy and fast process.
Example conversation
Noa and Ido are deciding what to cook for dinner.
- נועה Noaעידו, מה נבשל להערב?Ido, ma nevashel la-erev?Ido, what shall we cook for tonight?
- עידו Idoבואי נכין פסטה, זה קל ומהיר.Bo-i nachin pasta, ze kal ve-mahir.Let's make pasta, it's easy and fast.
- נועה Noaזה נשמע כמו רעיון מצוין.Ze nishma kmo ra'ayon metzuyan.That sounds like a great idea.
- עידו Idoאז אני מתחיל להכין את המים.Az ani matchil le-hachin et ha-mayim.Then I'll start preparing the water.
Sources
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries קל, CC BY-SA 4.0.
