This expression is commonly used in Israel as a sign of impatience, when more time is needed (as to bus drivers who zoom away before passengers are completely inside or seated). The Hebrew root r-g-’ basically means “to relax, to calm down” and is a cognate of the Arabic r-j-’ which means “to return, go back (to one’s “normal” situation, to repose after wandering in mind and body).” Hence, rega’ means “a respite, a (calm) moment.”
Some common related expressions: nirga’, which means “calm down (oneself)”; hirgiya’ “to calm others down”;* trufot arga’ah “tranquilizers”; arga’ah “quieting, all clear” (after az’aqah “sounding of an alarm”).
*In Israel today, many use targiya’ “Take it easy!” instead of the standard teraga’. It probably began with Targiya’, the Hebrew name for Larry David’s TV show: “Curb Your Enthusiasm.”
Yona Sabar is a professor of Hebrew and Aramaic in the department of Near Eastern Languages & Cultures at UCLA.
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