עצלן במשרד מקבל מכתב פיטורים מפתיע

What does “atzlan” mean in Hebrew?

Hebrew’s -an suffix is a tiny machine for turning traits into people. Atzel means “lazy”; עצלן (atzlan) is “a lazy person.” The same suffix gives daygan (worrier), kameitzan (penny-pincher), azvani (an abandoner), ravchan (a profiteer). Most of the resulting nouns are mildly insulting because the trait being labelled is rarely flattering. Hebrew speakers feel the -an sting the way English feels the -aholic glow.

In this Nirve Gali office-comedy sketch, every coworker calls Tzachi an עצלן for refusing to refill the watercooler, swap the printer paper, deliver mail. He stays seated. The reveal is in the printout: it’s his own pink slip, and the whole bit lands on one trait label.