Two comments: /hištagel/ is still in use, or at least would be recognised by speakers of modern Hebrew - it is possible to say "šigalti ota" - my best guess of an English equivalent in tone would perhaps be "I ravished her". It's difficult, though, to use a somewhat archaic word in a swearing context - possibly as words obsolesce, they lose their taboo value (I can't back that up?) which is essential to swearing.
Also, /zyn/ still retains its original meaning of "sword" (or more broadly, "weapon") in such uses as "šod m'zuyan" = "armed robbery" (as opposed to being an expression of the opinion of the victim of aforesaid crime).
Oh, and in terms of forming imperatives. I think it always works in Modern Hebrew to put the word into second person future. But, as Simon says, dropping the second person future prefix for a more punchy imperative only works some of the time.
![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
timeasmymeasure
Re: Ah, swearing in Hebrew...
Date: 2006-09-29 09:21 pm (UTC)Also, /zyn/ still retains its original meaning of "sword" (or more broadly, "weapon") in such uses as "šod m'zuyan" = "armed robbery" (as opposed to being an expression of the opinion of the victim of aforesaid crime).
Oh, and in terms of forming imperatives. I think it always works in Modern Hebrew to put the word into second person future. But, as Simon says, dropping the second person future prefix for a more punchy imperative only works some of the time.