When we underestimate someone, we see their value (or esteem) as less than it really is.

In Hebrew, to underestimate is להמעיט בערכו של

– literally, to minimize one’s value.

For example:

הם המעיטו בערכו של האירוע החמור ולא התקשרו למשטרה בזמן.

They underestimated the seriousness of the event and didn’t call the police in time.

להמעיט

takes the word מעט

– little – and plugs it into the הפעיל verb form.

בערכו של

, broken down, means literally “in his value of him.” It sounds convoluted in English, but this is a common structure originating in Rabbinic Hebrew.

For variations of בערכו של

beyond “his” value, watch today’s video.