יַעְנִיya'ani meaning in Hebrew
supposedly, so-called (spoken air quotes) · adverb / discourse particle (slang, from Arabic)
Also spelled in English: yani, yaani
Two syllables that cancel whatever word comes after them. Say יעני before "doctor" or "diet" and everyone at the table knows exactly what you think.
הוא בא יעני לעזור, ובסוף ישב על הספה כל הערב.
“He supposedly came to help, and ended up sitting on the couch all evening.”
Put ya'ani directly in front of someone's job title or habit and notice how the whole sentence turns into a sneer.
Israeli slang wordsHebrew expressions and idiomsHebrew slang that came from Arabic