שכחתי
shakhahti
In Hebrew, "I forgot" is said as שכחתי (shakhahti).
שכחתי is a phrase used to state that you are unable to remember a piece of information or a task.
Which one should you use?
In English, the word "forgot" can sometimes cover various nuances, but in Hebrew, שכחתי is strictly the past tense. To express the habitual action "I forget" (as in, "I forget things often"), you would instead use the present tense שוכח (shokhe'ach).
How does it change in a sentence?
שכחתי is the first-person singular past tense of the verb לשכוח (to forget).
How do you pronounce it?
shakhahti
Did you know?
- In biblical texts, the idea of 'forgetting' is used as a metaphor for God's mercy, meaning He chooses not to hold a grievance.
- Because Hebrew is a highly gendered language, you must change the pronunciation of the verb if you are speaking in a different tense, but the past tense שכחתי (shakhat'ti) is unique because it remains the same for both men and women.
- In Hebrew, the verb root ש-כ-ח (sh-k-ch) is used not only for forgetting information but also for the concept of being 'forgotten' by history or God, carrying a much heavier emotional weight than the English 'forgot'.
Examples in context
- שכחתי מי אמר זאת.I forgot who said that.This sentence shows how to use שכחתי to indicate forgetting a person's identity or statement.Tatoeba #723512 by Eldad, translation #723517 by Eldad
- לרגע שכחתי מה שמה.For a moment I forgot what her name was.This sentence demonstrates using שכחתי regarding a forgotten name.Tatoeba #586813 by Eldad, translation #533771 by tomkun01
- שכחתי את הכל עליך.I forgot all about you.This sentence uses שכחתי to express forgetting someone entirely.Tatoeba #5475184 by fekundulo, translation #3921056 by CK
- אני מצטער, שָׁכַחְתִּי להביא את המסמך ששלחת.I'm sorry, I forgot to bring the document you sent.
- 87 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Daniel and Agur are talking about a planned meeting.
- דניאל Danielמתי אנחנו נפגשים מחר?Matai anachnu nifgashim machar?When are we meeting tomorrow?
- עגור Adiאוי, שכחתי להגיד לך.Oy, shachachti lehagid lecha.Oh, I forgot to tell you.
- דניאל Danielזה לא נורא, תבדקי ביומן.Ze lo nora, tivdeki bayoman.It's okay, check the calendar.
- עגור Adiהשעה היא ארבע בצהריים.Hasha hi arba batzoharaim.The time is four in the afternoon.
Sources
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
