Traveling to Israel and don't know Hebrew? Don't panic! These 50 words and phrases cover 90% of tourist situations: from ordering in a cafe to calling a taxi.
Bookmark this article! It will become your mobile phrasebook in Israel. All words with transcription and usage examples.
Practical tip: Learn at least greetings and "thank you" - Israelis really appreciate attempts to speak Hebrew and become 10 times friendlier!
Greetings and Politeness (essential minimum)
1. 砖诇讜诐 (Shalom) - Hello/Goodbye/Peace
Pronunciation: sha-LOM
Usage: Universal greeting, works always
Examples:
- Met an acquaintance: "砖诇讜诐!"
- Entered a store: "砖诇讜诐!"
- Saying goodbye: "砖诇讜诐!"
Tip: This is the first word you need to learn. Israelis will appreciate it!
2. 转讜讚讛 (Toda) - Thank you
Pronunciation: to-DA (stress on last syllable)
Variations:
- 转讜讚讛 专讘讛 (toda raba) - Thank you very much (to-DA ra-BA)
- 转讜讚讛 专讘讛 专讘讛 (toda raba raba) - Thanks a lot
When to use: After every service - in cafe, taxi, store
3. 讘讘拽砖讛 (Bevakasha) - Please
Pronunciation: be-va-ka-SHA
Meanings:
- "Please" (when asking)
- "You're welcome" (responding to "thank you")
- "Here you go" (when giving something)
Example dialogue:
- You: "拽驻讛, 讘讘拽砖讛" (Coffee, please)
- Waiter gives coffee: "讘讘拽砖讛" (Here you go)
- You: "转讜讚讛" (Thank you)
- Waiter: "讘讘拽砖讛" (You're welcome)
4. 住诇讬讞讛 (Slicha) - Excuse me
Pronunciation: sli-HA
Usage:
- Apologizing
- Getting attention ("Excuse me, can you tell me...")
- Asking to pass in a crowd
Phrase: "住诇讬讞讛, 讗讬驻讛...?" (Slicha, eifo...?) - "Excuse me, where...?"
5. 讻谉 / 诇讗 (Ken / Lo) - Yes / No
Pronunciation:
- 讻谉 (Ken) - KEN
- 诇讗 (Lo) - LO
Important: Universal answers, work in all situations
6. 讘讜拽专 讟讜讘 (Boker tov) - Good morning
Pronunciation: BO-ker TOV
When: Until 12:00
7. 注专讘 讟讜讘 (Erev tov) - Good evening
Pronunciation: E-rev TOV
When: After 16:00-17:00
8. 诇讬诇讛 讟讜讘 (Laila tov) - Good night
Pronunciation: LAI-la TOV
When: Before sleep or leaving late evening
In Restaurant and Cafe
9. 诪讬诐 (Mayim) - Water
Pronunciation: MA-im
Phrase: "诪讬诐, 讘讘拽砖讛" - "Water, please"
Important: In Israel water in cafes is often not free! Ask: "诪讬诐 讘讞讬谞诐?" (Mayim be-chinam?) - "Is water free?"
10. 拽驻讛 (Cafe) - Coffee
Pronunciation: ka-FE
Types of coffee:
- 拽驻讛 砖讞讜专 (cafe shahor) - black coffee
- 拽驻讛 讛驻讜讱 (cafe hafuch) - cappuccino (literally "upside down")
- 讗住驻专住讜 (espresso) - espresso
11. 转讛 (Te) - Tea
Pronunciation: TE
Types:
- 转讛 砖讞讜专 (te shahor) - black tea
- 转讛 讬专讜拽 (te yarok) - green tea
- 转讛 爪诪讞讬诐 (te tsmachim) - herbal tea
12. 讞砖讘讜谉 (Cheshbon) - Check/Bill
Pronunciation: khesh-BON
Phrase: "讞砖讘讜谉, 讘讘拽砖讛" - "Check, please"
Tip: In Israel you often need to ask for the check, they don't bring it automatically
13. 讻诪讛 讝讛 注讜诇讛? (Kama ze ole?) - How much does this cost?
Pronunciation: KA-ma ZE O-le?
Alternative: "讻诪讛?" (Kama?) - just "How much?"
14. 讬拽专 (Yakar) - Expensive
Pronunciation: ya-KAR (m.) / 讬拽专讛 (yekara) ya-ka-RA (f.)
Bargaining phrase: "讬拽专 诪讚讬!" (Yakar miday!) - "Too expensive!"
15. 讟注讬诐 (Taim) - Tasty
Pronunciation: ta-IM
After meal: "讛讬讛 讟注讬诐 诪讗讜讚!" (Haya taim meod!) - "It was very tasty!"
Navigating the City
16. 讗讬驻讛 (Eifo) - Where
Pronunciation: Ei-FO
Basic phrase: "住诇讬讞讛, 讗讬驻讛...?" - "Excuse me, where...?"
17. 砖讬专讜转讬诐 (Sherutim) - Restroom
Pronunciation: she-ru-TIM
Important phrase: "讗讬驻讛 讛砖讬专讜转讬诐?" (Eifo ha-sherutim?) - "Where's the restroom?"
18. 讬诪讬谉 / 砖诪讗诇 (Yamin / Smol) - Right / Left
Pronunciation:
- 讬诪讬谉 (Yamin) - ya-MIN
- 砖诪讗诇 (Smol) - SMOL
19. 讬砖专 (Yashar) - Straight
Pronunciation: ya-SHAR
Directions: "讬砖专, 讗讞专 讻讱 讬诪讬谉" - "Straight, then right"
20. 专讞讜拽 / 拽专讜讘 (Rachok / Karov) - Far / Near
Pronunciation:
- 专讞讜拽 (Rachok) - ra-KHOK
- 拽专讜讘 (Karov) - ka-ROV
Question: "讝讛 专讞讜拽?" (Ze rachok?) - "Is it far?"
21. 诪专讻讝 讛注讬专 (Merkaz ha-ir) - City center
Pronunciation: mer-KAZ ha-IR
Question: "讗讬讱 诪讙讬注讬诐 诇诪专讻讝 讛注讬专?" (Eich magi'im le-merkaz ha-ir?) - "How to get to the center?"
22. 讗讜讟讜讘讜住 (Otobus) - Bus
Pronunciation: o-to-BUS
Phrase: "讗讬驻讛 转讞谞转 讛讗讜讟讜讘讜住?" - "Where's the bus stop?"
23. 诪讜谞讬转 (Monit) - Taxi
Pronunciation: mo-NIT
Important: "诪讜谞讬转 砖讬专讜转" (monit sherut) - shared taxi (cheaper than regular taxi)
24. 专讻讘转 (Rakevet) - Train
Pronunciation: ra-KE-vet
Phrase: "讗讬驻讛 转讞谞转 讛专讻讘转?" - "Where's the train station?"
In the Store
25. 讻诪讛 注讜诇讛 讝讛? (Kama ole ze?) - How much does this cost?
Pronunciation: KA-ma O-le ZE?
Shorter: "讻诪讛?" (Kama?)
26. 讗谞讬 专讜爪讛 (Ani rotse/rotsa) - I want
Pronunciation:
- 讗谞讬 专讜爪讛 (Ani rotse) - ANI ro-TSE (male)
- 讗谞讬 专讜爪讛 (Ani rotsa) - ANI ro-TSA (female)
Example: "讗谞讬 专讜爪讛 诪讬诐" - "I want water"
27. 讬砖 诇讻诐...? (Yesh lachem...?) - Do you have...?
Pronunciation: YESH la-KHEM?
Example: "讬砖 诇讻诐 诪驻讛?" (Yesh lachem mapa?) - "Do you have a map?"
28. 讛谞讞讛 (Hanacha) - Discount
Pronunciation: ha-na-KHA
For bargaining: "讬砖 讛谞讞讛?" (Yesh hanacha?) - "Is there a discount?"
29. 讻专讟讬住 讗砖专讗讬 (Kartis ashray) - Credit card
Pronunciation: kar-TIS ash-RAI
Question: "讗驻砖专 诇砖诇诐 讘讻专讟讬住?" (Efshar leshalem be-kartis?) - "Can I pay by card?"
30. 诪讝讜诪谉 (Mezuman) - Cash
Pronunciation: me-zu-MAN
Phrase: "专拽 诪讝讜诪谉" (Rak mezuman) - "Cash only"
Numbers (basic)
31-40. Numbers 1-10
Masculine (for masculine objects):
- 1 - 讗讞讚 (Echad) - e-KHAD
- 2 - 砖谞讬讬诐 (Shnayim) - shna-IM
- 3 - 砖诇讜砖讛 (Shlosha) - shlo-SHA
- 4 - 讗专讘注讛 (Arba'a) - ar-ba-A
- 5 - 讞诪讬砖讛 (Chamisha) - kha-mi-SHA
- 6 - 砖讬砖讛 (Shisha) - shi-SHA
- 7 - 砖讘注讛 (Shiv'a) - shiv-A
- 8 - 砖诪讜谞讛 (Shmona) - shmo-NA
- 9 - 转砖注讛 (Tish'a) - tish-A
- 10 - 注砖专讛 (Asara) - a-sa-RA
How to use:
- "讗谞讬 专讜爪讛 砖转讬讬诐" (Ani rotse shtayim) - "I want two" (e.g., tickets)
Time and Days of Week
41. 诪转讬 (Matay) - When
Pronunciation: ma-TAI
Question: "诪转讬 讛讗讜讟讜讘讜住?" (Matay ha-otobus?) - "When's the bus?"
42. 注讻砖讬讜 (Achshav) - Now
Pronunciation: akh-SHAV
Phrase: "讗谞讬 专讜爪讛 诇砖诇诐 注讻砖讬讜" - "I want to pay now"
43. 诪讞专 (Machar) - Tomorrow
Pronunciation: ma-KHAR
44. 讛讬讜诐 (Ha-yom) - Today
Pronunciation: ha-YOM
45. 砖注讛 (Sha'a) - Hour
Pronunciation: sha-A
Question: "讻诪讛 讛砖注讛?" (Kama ha-sha'a?) - "What time is it?"
Emergency Situations
46. 注讝专讛 (Ezra) - Help
Pronunciation: ez-RA
Cry for help: "注讝专讛!" (Ezra!) - "Help!"
47. 诪砖讟专讛 (Mishtara) - Police
Pronunciation: mish-ta-RA
Phrase: "转转拽砖专 诇诪砖讟专讛!" (Titkasher la-mishtara!) - "Call the police!"
48. 专讜驻讗 (Rofe) - Doctor
Pronunciation: ro-FE
Phrase: "讗谞讬 爪专讬讱 专讜驻讗" (Ani tsarich rofe) - "I need a doctor"
49. 讞讜诇讛 (Chole) - Sick
Pronunciation: kho-LE
Phrase: "讗谞讬 讞讜诇讛" (Ani chole) - "I'm sick"
50. 讘讬转 讞讜诇讬诐 (Beit cholim) - Hospital
Pronunciation: BEIT kho-LIM
Question: "讗讬驻讛 讘讬转 讞讜诇讬诐?" (Eifo beit cholim?) - "Where's the hospital?"
Bonus Phrases (very useful!)
51. 讗谞讬 诪讚讘专 专拽 讗谞讙诇讬转 (Ani medaber rak anglit) - I only speak English
Pronunciation: ANI me-da-BER RAK ang-LIT (male)
Female: 讗谞讬 诪讚讘专转 专拽 讗谞讙诇讬转 (Ani medaberet rak anglit)
When: If someone starts speaking to you quickly in Hebrew
52. 讗转讛 诪讚讘专 讗谞讙诇讬转? (Ata medaber anglit?) - Do you speak English?
Pronunciation: a-TA me-da-BER ang-LIT?
Tip: Most Israelis speak English, especially in tourist areas
53. 住讙讜专 / 驻转讜讞 (Sagur / Patuach) - Closed / Open
Pronunciation:
- 住讙讜专 (Sagur) - sa-GUR
- 驻转讜讞 (Patuach) - pa-TU-akh
Question: "讛讗诐 讝讛 驻转讜讞?" (Ha'im ze patuach?) - "Is this open?"
54. 讗住讜专 (Asur) - Forbidden
Pronunciation: a-SUR
On signs: You'll see it often, means "not allowed"
55. 诪讜转专 (Mutar) - Allowed
Pronunciation: mu-TAR
Question: "诪讜转专 诇注砖谉?" (Mutar le-ashen?) - "Can I smoke?"
How to Quickly Learn These 50 Words
Method 1: Flashcards (Anki)
Day 1-2: Greetings (words 1-8)
Day 3-4: Restaurant (words 9-15)
Day 5-6: Navigation (words 16-24)
Day 7-8: Store (words 25-30)
Day 9-10: Numbers and time (words 31-45)
Day 11-12: Emergency + bonus (words 46-55)
Result: All 55 words in 12 days at 15 minutes/day
Method 2: Contextual Learning
Learn words in groups by situation:
Situation 1: Arrived at airport
- 砖诇讜诐, 转讜讚讛, 讘讘拽砖讛, 讗讬驻讛, 诪讜谞讬转
Situation 2: Checked into hotel
- 诪驻转讞 (key), 砖讬专讜转讬诐, 讗专讜讞转 讘讜拽专 (breakfast), 诪讬诐
Situation 3: First dinner at restaurant
- 拽驻讛, 诪讬诐, 讞砖讘讜谉, 讻诪讛 讝讛 注讜诇讛, 讟注讬诐
Method 3: Audio Repetition
- Download Google Translate
- Enter word in Hebrew
- Press "speak" icon
- Repeat aloud 5 times
On the go: Repeat words in taxi, bus, lines
Useful Conversational Combinations
Combo 1: In Cafe
"砖诇讜诐! 拽驻讛 讜讻专讬讱, 讘讘拽砖讛. 讻诪讛 讝讛 注讜诇讛? 转讜讚讛 专讘讛!"
(Shalom! Cafe ve-karich, bevakasha. Kama ze ole? Toda raba!)
"Hello! Coffee and sandwich, please. How much is it? Thank you very much!"
Combo 2: Asking Directions
"住诇讬讞讛, 讗讬驻讛 讛讻讜转诇 讛诪注专讘讬? 专讞讜拽? 转讜讚讛!"
(Slicha, eifo ha-Kotel ha-Ma'aravi? Rachok? Toda!)
"Excuse me, where's the Western Wall? Far? Thank you!"
Combo 3: In Store
"砖诇讜诐, 讻诪讛 注讜诇讛 讝讛? 讬砖 讛谞讞讛? 讗谞讬 专讜爪讛 砖转讬讬诐. 转讜讚讛!"
(Shalom, kama ole ze? Yesh hanacha? Ani rotse shtayim. Toda!)
"Hello, how much is this? Any discount? I want two. Thank you!"
Combo 4: Emergency
"住诇讬讞讛, 讗谞讬 爪专讬讱 注讝专讛. 讗转讛 诪讚讘专 讗谞讙诇讬转?"
(Slicha, ani tsarich ezra. Ata medaber anglit?)
"Excuse me, I need help. Do you speak English?"
Pronunciation: Important Nuances
Sounds Not in English
1. "Kh" Sound (讞 and 讻)
- 讞讻诐 (chacham) - wise
- Pronounced like Scottish "loch" or German "ch"
- Practice: exhale air from throat
2. "`" Sound (注)
- 注专讘 (erev) - evening
- Guttural stop (like choking)
- Many Israelis don't pronounce it clearly themselves
3. "R" Sound (专)
- 专讞讜讘 (rechov) - street
- Guttural r (like French)
- But regular English r will also be understood
Stress
Rule: In most words stress is on the last syllable!
- 转讜讚讛 (toda) - to-DA (not TO-da!)
- 拽驻讛 (cafe) - ka-FE (not KA-fe!)
Exceptions: Some loanwords and short words
Cultural Features
"Shabbat Shalom" on Fridays
Phrase: 砖讘转 砖诇讜诐 (Shabbat shalom)
Pronunciation: sha-BAT sha-LOM
When: Friday evening and Saturday
Meaning: "Peaceful Sabbath"
Response: "砖讘转 砖诇讜诐" (same)
"Bli ayin ha-ra" - Against Evil Eye
Phrase: 讘诇讬 注讬谉 讛专注 (Bli ayin ha-ra)
Pronunciation: BLI a-IN ha-RA
When: After a compliment or something good
Meaning: "Without evil eye" (like English "knock on wood")
Israeli Directness
Don't be offended: Israelis may seem blunt
- This is cultural norm, not personal
- "讬讗诇诇讛" (Yalla) - "Come on!" (may seem rude, but just means "hurry up")
Helper Apps for Travel
Google Translate
Functions:
- Camera: point at sign - translates
- Voice input: speak - translates
- Offline mode: download Hebrew beforehand
Gboard (Google keyboard)
Why: Install Hebrew keyboard
- Type addresses in maps
- Communicate in messengers
Moovit
For: Public transportation in Israel
- Bus and train routes
- Real-time schedule
- In English
Regional Features
In Jerusalem
Religious context:
- Modest clothing in Old City
- On Shabbat (Saturday) much is closed
Additional phrases:
- "讞讙 砖诪讞" (Chag sameach) - "Happy holiday" (during Jewish holidays)
In Tel Aviv
Secular city:
- More relaxed atmosphere
- English understood everywhere
- Open on Shabbat
Beach phrases:
- 讞讜祝 (Chof) - beach
- 讬诐 (Yam) - sea
In Eilat
Resort area:
- Many Russian tourists and sellers
- Can get by with Russian/English
Where to Practice Before Trip
Online Resources
- Study these 50 words with examples
- Listen to pronunciation
- Do exercises
YouTube:
- "Hebrew for tourists" - short videos
- Listen to native pronunciation
In Your Country Before Trip
Jewish cultural centers:
- Conversation clubs
- Hebrew events
Israeli cafes and restaurants:
- Practice ordering in Hebrew
- Staff usually speaks Hebrew
Print and Take With You
Save this cheat sheet on phone or print:
Top-10 must-know:
- 砖诇讜诐 (Shalom) - Hello
- 转讜讚讛 (Toda) - Thank you
- 讘讘拽砖讛 (Bevakasha) - Please
- 住诇讬讞讛 (Slicha) - Excuse me
- 讗讬驻讛 (Eifo) - Where
- 讻诪讛 (Kama) - How much
- 诪讬诐 (Mayim) - Water
- 讞砖讘讜谉 (Cheshbon) - Check
- 砖讬专讜转讬诐 (Sherutim) - Restroom
- 注讝专讛 (Ezra) - Help
With these 10 words you'll survive any situation!
After the Trip: Deepening
Enjoyed using Hebrew? Continue learning:
For deepening:
- HebrewGlot lessons - from scratch to conversational
- Binyan system - understanding verb logic
- Trainer - practice
Goal: Next trip speak more freely!
Pre-Trip Checklist
- Learned top-10 words by heart
- Downloaded Google Translate offline for Hebrew
- Installed Hebrew keyboard
- Saved this article in bookmarks
- Practiced pronunciation
- Learned phrases for my situations (restaurant/store/directions)
- Listened to Israeli podcasts to get used to sound
Conclusion
50 words and phrases from this article cover 90% of tourist situations in Israel. Learn at least the top-10 - and your trip will be much more comfortable!
Remember:
- Israelis appreciate attempts to speak Hebrew
- Even 3-5 words will improve their attitude toward you
- Don't be afraid of mistakes - you'll be understood!
Enjoy your trip! 馃嚠馃嚤
Want to learn more after the trip? Start with HebrewGlot lesson 1 - it's free!
Article updated: October 28, 2025
Save in bookmarks before your trip!