What does Hebrew sound like to you?

[ModernMaskil]

In light of a thread discussing which language (Farsi or Hebrew) sounds closer to Arabic and a recent thread by CrazyDaisy showing a video of people guessing the origin of the language - I'd like to ask what does Hebrew sound like to you? More European? More Semitic? Somewhere in between? Something entirely indescribable?

Here are some good examples of everyday Hebrew:

Ignore the guys behind the camera, heavy accents - https://youtu.be/Qv2tabjFvEs

Another - https://youtu.be/J-71b-8ADBc

And lastly - https://youtu.be/60ZrkEQasaY

Skip over anybody in the first 2 videos over the age of 60 or so, they don't represent modern pronounciation.

[Kamal900]

If I didn't knew it was Hebrew, I would say that it was some broken German or something. Doesn't sound like Arabic much to me.

[ModernMaskil]

If I didn't knew it was Hebrew, I would say that it was some broken German or something. Doesn't sound like Arabic much to me.

Arabic speakers tend to say that because German is the closest sounding language and obviously it won't sound like Arabic to them (just as Germans will probably say it doesn't sound anything like German).

I'm also interested in non-arabic speakers opinions. Anyone else?

[Tauromachos]

Reasonably similar to Arabic

Maybe like a mix of Arabic and Aramaic a bit

[Marolinepint]

French + Arabic

[CrazyDaisy]

When I first listened to it a while ago it sounded middle eastern, but it started sounding more German to me with more exposure for some reason.

[CrazyDaisy]

I think here it sounds more middle eastern: https://www.teachmehebrew.com/500-ba...rew-words.html

But in this video it sounds more German.

[ModernMaskil]

I think here it sounds more middle eastern: https://www.teachmehebrew.com/500-ba...rew-words.html

But in this video it sounds more German.

The reason it sounds more German there is News reporters always speak in a very gross accent but what is also considered "correct". Maybe it's a remenant from the old Ashkenazi elite days. A lot of throat and very clipped. Day to day speech from regular people is more flowing and less harsh, which maybe doesn't make it sound more like Arabic but definitely less like German. You can this in the clips I posted.

[CrazyDaisy]

The reason it sounds more German there is News reporters always speak in a very gross accent but what is also considered "correct". Maybe it's a remenant from the old Ashkenazi elite days. A lot of throat and very clipped. Day to day speech from regular people is more flowing and less harsh, which maybe doesn't make it sound more like Arabic but definitely less like German. You can this in the clips I posted.

I don’t mind the way German sounds. I think the guy who actually interacts with Borat sounds more normal.

[Methuselah]

Beautiful sounding language. Hard to compare. I remember one member posting similar sounding language actually, would be interesting to hear your opinion if it shares any similarities with Hebrew.

https://www.theapricity.com/forum/sh...66#post5289966