Business Hebrew: Meetings, Emails, and Negotiations

My first day at an Israeli tech startup: I walked in wearing a suit. A SUIT. In Tel Aviv. In August.

Everyone else? Shorts and flip-flops. The CEO was in a tank top. I looked like I'd wandered in from a 1990s Wall Street movie.

But here's the real culture shock: During my first meeting, a junior developer straight-up told the VP of Product that his idea was "לא טוב" (not good). No sugar-coating. No "well, actually..." No "with all due respect..." Just: your idea sucks.

And the VP? He laughed and said "אתה צודק" (you're right).

Welcome to Israeli business culture, where formality goes to die and directness is not just accepted—it's expected. This guide will teach you the Hebrew you need to survive (and thrive) in Israel's wild, brilliant, occasionally insane workplace culture.

Quick Start
New to Hebrew? Start with our beginner course and conversational phrases before diving into business language.

Why Business Hebrew is Different

Israeli Workplace Culture

Understanding Hebrew business language requires understanding Israeli professional culture:

Key characteristics:

🗣️ Direct communication - Israelis value frankness over politeness
⚡ Fast-paced - Quick decisions, immediate responses expected
👔 Informal - Casual dress, first names, relaxed hierarchy
🤝 Relationship-focused - Personal connections matter in business
💡 Innovation-driven - Emphasis on creativity and problem-solving

What this means for language:

Formal Hebrew is less common than you'd expect
Slang appears in professional settings
Directness that seems rude in English is normal
Building rapport involves casual conversation

Essential Business Vocabulary

Core Professional Terms

Office & Workplace

משרד (misrad) - Office
חברה (chevra) - Company
מקום עבודה (makom avoda) - Workplace
צוות (tzevet) - Team
מנהל (menahel) - Manager (male)
מנהלת (menahelet) - Manager (female)
עמית (amit) - Colleague (male)
עמיתה (amita) - Colleague (female)

Positions & Roles

מנכ"ל (mankal) - CEO [Menahel Klali]
סמנכ"ל (samankal) - VP [Sgan Menahel Klali]
ראש צוות (rosh tzevet) - Team Lead
מפתח (mefatteach) - Developer
מעצב (me'atzev) - Designer
שיווקאי (shivuki) - Marketing professional
מנהל פרויקט (menahel proyekt) - Project Manager

Time & Scheduling

פגישה (pgisha) - Meeting
שיחה (sicha) - Call, conversation
ועידה (ve'ida) - Conference
מצגת (matzéget) - Presentation
דדליין (dedlain) - Deadline
לוח זמנים (luach zmanim) - Schedule, timeline

Documents & Communication

מייל (mail) - Email
דוח (do'ach) - Report
מסמך (mismach) - Document
חוזה (choze) - Contract
הצעה (hatza'a) - Proposal
הסכם (heskem) - Agreement

Email Communication in Hebrew

Email Structure

Israeli business emails tend to be shorter and more direct than American/British equivalents.

Formal Email Template

נושא: [Subject]
Subject: [Clear, direct subject line]

שלום [שם],
Hello [Name],

תודה על המייל.
Thank you for the email.

[Main message - direct and concise]

נשמח לשמוע ממך.
We'd be happy to hear from you.

בברכה,
Best regards,
[Your name]

Semi-Formal Email Template

היי [שם],
Hey [Name],

מצרף את המסמך שביקשת.
Attaching the document you requested.

[Main message]

תודה!
Thanks!
[Your name]

Common Email Phrases

Opening Lines

Formal:

שלום רב, (Shalom rav) - Dear Sir/Madam
הנדון: (Handon:) - RE: / Subject:
בהמשך לשיחתנו, (Behemshech lesichatenu) - Following our conversation,
אנו פונים אליך בנושא... (Anu ponim elecha benose...) - We're contacting you regarding...

Semi-Formal:

שלום [שם], (Shalom [name]) - Hello [name],
מקווה שהכל בסדר (Mekave she'hakol beseder) - Hope all is well
תודה על התשובה המהירה (Toda al hatshhuva hamehira) - Thanks for the quick response

Informal:

היי (Hey) - Hey
מה קורה? (Ma kore?) - What's up?
הכל טוב? (Hakol tov?) - Everything good?

Requesting Information

אשמח לקבל מידע על... (Esmach lekabel meida al...) - I'd be happy to receive information about...
האם תוכל לשלוח לי...? (Ha'im tuchal lisloach li...?) - Could you send me...?
מתי נוכל לקבל...? (Matai nuchal lekabel...?) - When can we receive...?
אנא פרט/י לגבי... (Ana paret/i legabei...) - Please provide details about...

Providing Information

מצורף המסמך (Metzuraf hamismach) - The document is attached
להלן הפרטים (Lehallan hapartim) - Below are the details
כפי שביקשת (Kfi shebekashta) - As you requested
בהתאם לשיחתנו (Behatam lesichatenu) - According to our conversation

Follow-Up

האם קיבלת את המייל? (Ha'im kibalat et hamail?) - Did you receive the email?
מחכה לתשובתך (Mechake litshuvtecha) - Waiting for your response
נשמח לעדכון (Nismach le'idkun) - We'd appreciate an update
מה הסטטוס? (Ma hastatus?) - What's the status?

Closing Phrases

Formal:

בכבוד רב, (Bichvod rav) - With great respect, (very formal)
בברכה, (Bebracha) - Best regards,
בידידות, (Beydidut) - Friendly regards,

Semi-Formal:

תודה רבה, (Toda raba) - Thanks a lot,
בהצלחה, (Behatzlacha) - Good luck / Best wishes,

Informal:

תודה! (Toda!) - Thanks!
יאללה, (Yalla) - Let's go / Talk soon,
שבת שלום, (Shabbat shalom) - [if Friday] Good Sabbath,

Meeting Language

Before the Meeting

Scheduling

מתי אתה/את פנוי/ה? (Matai ata/at panui/panuya?) - When are you free?
בוא נקבע פגישה (Bo nikba pgisha) - Let's schedule a meeting
האם יום שני בשעה 10:00 מתאים? (Ha'im yom sheni besha'a 10:00 mat'im?) - Does Monday at 10:00 suit you?
מה שנוח לך (Ma sheno'ach lecha) - Whatever's convenient for you

Confirming

מאשר/ת את הפגישה (Me'asher/et et hapgisha) - Confirming the meeting
נתראה ביום... בשעה... (Nitera beyom... besha'a...) - See you on [day] at [time]
תזכורת לפגישה מחר (Tazkeret lapgisha machar) - Reminder for tomorrow's meeting

During the Meeting

Starting the Meeting

בוקר טוב/צהריים טובים (Boker tov/tzohorayim tovim) - Good morning/afternoon
תודה שבאתם (Toda shebachem) - Thank you for coming
בואו נתחיל (Bo'u natchil) - Let's begin
נדבר על... (Nedaber al...) - Let's talk about...
יש לי כמה נקודות (Yesh li kama nekudot) - I have several points

Presenting Ideas

לדעתי... (Leda'ati...) - In my opinion...
אני חושב/ת ש... (Ani choshev/et she...) - I think that...
ההצעה שלי היא... (Hahatza'a sheli hi...) - My proposal is...
אפשר לראות את זה ככה... (Efshar lirot et ze kacha...) - You can see it like this...
הנקודה המרכזית היא... (Hanekuda hamerkazit hi...) - The main point is...

Asking Questions

יש לי שאלה (Yesh li she'ela) - I have a question
אפשר לבהיר...? (Efshar levahir...?) - Could you clarify...?
מה הכוונה? (Ma hakavana?) - What's the meaning?
איך זה עובד? (Eich ze oved?) - How does it work?
מה היתרונות? (Ma hayetronot?) - What are the advantages?

Agreeing

אני מסכים/ה (Ani maskim/masima) - I agree
נכון (Nachon) - Correct
בדיוק (Bidyuk) - Exactly
זה הגיוני (Ze higyoni) - That makes sense
אין לי בעיה עם זה (Ein li be'aya im ze) - I have no problem with that

Disagreeing (Politely)

אני לא בטוח/ה (Ani lo batuach/betucha) - I'm not sure
יש לי דעה קצת שונה (Yesh li de'a ktzat shona) - I have a slightly different opinion
אולי כדאי לשקול... (Ulai kaday lishkol...) - Maybe we should consider...
הבעיה היא ש... (Habe'aya hi she...) - The problem is that...
זה לא יעבוד כי... (Ze lo ya'avod ki...) - This won't work because...

Cultural note: Israelis are direct. "לא, זה לא טוב" (No, that's not good) is acceptable and not considered rude.

Wrapping Up

בסדר, אז סיכמנו (Beseder, az sikamnu) - Okay, so we've concluded
מה הצעדים הבאים? (Ma hatze'adim haba'im?) - What are the next steps?
מי אחראי על...? (Mi achrai al...?) - Who's responsible for...?
תודה רבה על הזמן (Toda raba al hazman) - Thank you very much for your time
נעדכן בהמשך (Ne'adken behemshech) - We'll update later

Negotiation Hebrew

Making Offers

אנחנו יכולים להציע... (Anachnu yecholim lehatzir...) - We can offer...
המחיר שלנו הוא... (Hamechir shelanu hu...) - Our price is...
נכונים להתפשר על... (Nechonim lehitpasher al...) - We're willing to compromise on...
זה המקסימום שאנחנו יכולים לעשות (Ze hamaksimum she'anachnu yecholim la'asot) - This is the maximum we can do

Bargaining

זה יקר מדי (Ze yakar miday) - That's too expensive
אפשר הנחה? (Efshar hanacha?) - Is a discount possible?
מה התנאים הטובים ביותר שלך? (Ma hatna'im hatovim beyoter shelcha?) - What are your best terms?
נצטרך לשקול את זה (Nitztarech lishkol et ze) - We'll need to consider this

Accepting/Rejecting

Accepting:

זה מקובל עלינו (Ze mekubal aleinu) - This is acceptable to us
עסקה! (Eska!) - Deal!
אנחנו מסכימים (Anachnu maskim) - We agree
בואו נחתום (Bo'u nachtom) - Let's sign

Rejecting:

לא נוכל לעבוד עם המחיר הזה (Lo nuchal la'avod im hamechir haze) - We can't work with this price
זה לא עומד בציפיות שלנו (Ze lo omed betzipiyot shelanu) - This doesn't meet our expectations
נאלצים לסרב (Ne'eltzim lesarev) - We're forced to decline
תודה, אבל לא הפעם (Toda, aval lo hapa'am) - Thanks, but not this time

Phone Conversations

Answering

Professional:

שלום, [שם], איך אפשר לעזור? (Shalom, [name], eich efshar la'azor?) - Hello, [name], how can I help?
חברת [שם], בוקר טוב (Chevrat [name], boker tov) - [Company name], good morning

Casual:

הלו? (Halo?) - Hello?
שלום (Shalom) - Hello
כן? (Ken?) - Yes?

Identifying Yourself

שלום, אני [שם] מחברת [שם] (Shalom, ani [name] mechevrat [name]) - Hello, I'm [name] from [company]
מדברים מ... (Medabrim mi...) - Calling from...

Asking to Speak to Someone

אפשר לדבר עם [שם]? (Efshar ledaber im [name]?) - Can I speak with [name]?
האם [שם] נמצא/ת? (Ha'im [name] nimtza/nimt'et?) - Is [name] available?
אני מחפש/ת את [שם] (Ani mechapes/mechapeset et [name]) - I'm looking for [name]

Leaving a Message

אפשר להשאיר הודעה? (Efshar leha'shir hoda'a?) - Can I leave a message?
אמור/י לו/ה שהתקשרתי (Emor/imri lo/la sheitkasharti) - Tell him/her I called
בקשה שיחזור/תחזור אלי (Bakasha sheyachzor/tachzor elay) - Please have them call me back

Ending the Call

תודה על הזמן (Toda al hazman) - Thanks for your time
נדבר בקרוב (Nedaber bekarov) - We'll talk soon
יום טוב (Yom tov) - Have a good day
להתראות (Lehitra'ot) - Goodbye

Presentations

Opening

שלום לכולם (Shalom lekulam) - Hello everyone
תודה שבאתם (Toda shebachem) - Thank you for coming
היום נדבר על... (Hayom nedaber al...) - Today we'll discuss...
המטרה שלנו היא... (Hamatara shelanu hi...) - Our goal is...

Structuring

ראשית, (Reshit) - First,
שנית, (Shnit) - Second,
לבסוף, (Lesof) - Finally,
בנוסף, (Benosaf) - Additionally,
מצד שני, (Mitzad sheni) - On the other hand,

Highlighting

הנקודה החשובה ביותר (Hanekuda hachasuva beyoter) - The most important point
שימו לב ל... (Simu lev le...) - Pay attention to...
זה קריטי (Ze kriti) - This is critical
אל תשכחו ש... (Al tishkechu she...) - Don't forget that...

Visual Aids

כפי שרואים בשקף (Kfi shero'im bashakef) - As seen on the slide
התרשים מראה (Hatarshim maré) - The chart shows
לפי הנתונים (Lefi hanattunim) - According to the data

Q&A

יש שאלות? (Yesh she'elot?) - Any questions?
שאלה מצוינת (She'ela metzuyenet) - Excellent question
אשמח לענות (Esmach la'anot) - I'd be happy to answer
זה נושא מעניין (Ze nose me'anyen) - That's an interesting topic

Closing

לסיכום, (Lesikum) - In summary,
תודה רבה על הקשב (Toda raba al hakeshev) - Thank you for your attention
אם יש שאלות נוספות... (Im yesh she'elot nosfot...) - If there are additional questions...

Common Business Acronyms

Israeli business communication is full of acronyms:

מנכ"ל (Mankal) - CEO [Menahel Klali]
סמנכ"ל (Samankal) - VP [Sgan Menahel Klali]
ח.פ (C.P.) - Company registration number
ע.מ (A.M.) - Ltd. [Amuta Mugbelet]
בע"מ (Be'am) - Private Ltd [Ba'alut Megubelet]
מע"מ (Ma'am) - VAT [Mas Erech Musaf]
ת.ז (T.Z.) - ID number [Teudat Zehut]

Pro tip: Israelis say these acronyms as words, not letter-by-letter. "מנכ"ל" is pronounced "mankal," not "mem-nun-kaf-lamed."

Israeli Business Etiquette

Communication Style

Direct = Respectful

In Israeli culture, being direct is a sign of respect—it shows you value the other person's time.

❌ Don't: "I hate to bother you, but if it's not too much trouble, perhaps we could consider..."
✅ Do: "אני צריך את זה עד יום שלישי" (I need this by Tuesday)

Informal ≠ Unprofessional

Casual language and first names don't mean lack of professionalism.

✅ Using first names immediately
✅ Casual dress in tech companies
✅ Saying "יאללה" (yalla) in work contexts
❌ Excessive small talk before business

Meeting Culture

Time:

⏰ Meetings often start late - "אקדמיה רבעון" (akademya revon) - "Academic quarter" (15 minutes late is common)
⏰ End times flexible - Discussions continue until resolved
📅 Expect last-minute changes

Participation:

🗣️ Interruptions are normal - Not considered rude
💬 Everyone speaks up - Flat hierarchy
🤔 Questions welcomed - Even challenging ones
👥 Informal discussions matter - Coffee breaks are important

Decision-Making:

⚡ Fast-paced - Decisions made quickly
🔄 Flexible - Can change rapidly
💡 Innovation-focused - Creativity valued over tradition

Email Etiquette

Length:

✅ Short and direct - Israelis prefer brevity
❌ Long pleasantries - Get to the point

Response time:

⏱️ Quick responses expected - Within hours, not days
📱 Often respond via WhatsApp - Even for business

Formality:

📧 Less formal than US/UK - "שלום" (shalom) is standard
👋 First names immediately - Even with CEOs

Industry-Specific Vocabulary

Tech/Startups

הייטק (Hi-tech) - High-tech industry
סטארטאפ (Startup) - Startup
יזם (Yazam) - Entrepreneur
משקיע (Mashki'a) - Investor
גיוס (Giyus) - Funding round
פיבוט (Pivot) - Pivot
סקייל (Scale) - To scale
MVP (MVP) - Minimum viable product
פיצ'ר (Feature) - Feature
באג (Bug) - Bug
רליז (Release) - Release

Finance

תזרים מזומנים (Tezrim mezumanim) - Cash flow
רווח (Revach) - Profit
הפסד (Hefsed) - Loss
תקציב (Taktziv) - Budget
השקעה (Hashka'a) - Investment
הלוואה (Halva'a) - Loan
ריבית (Ribit) - Interest
מס (Mas) - Tax

Marketing

קמפיין (Kampein) - Campaign
מיתוג (Mitug) - Branding
קהל יעד (Kahal ya'ad) - Target audience
תוכן (Tochen) - Content
SEO (SEO) - SEO
רשתות חברתיות (Reshatot chevratiyot) - Social media
המרה (Hamara) - Conversion

Real Business Scenarios

Scenario 1: Job Interview

Interviewer:

שלום, תספר/י לי קצת על עצמך
(Shalom, tesaper/sapri li ktsat al atzmech)
Hello, tell me a bit about yourself

You:

שלום, אני [שם]. עבדתי ב[חברה] בתור [תפקיד] במשך [זמן].
החוזקות שלי הן [מיומנות] ו[מיומנות].
אני מחפש/ת אתגר חדש בתחום [תחום].

(Shalom, ani [name]. Avadti be[company] betor [position] bemeshech [time].
Hachozakot sheli hen [skill] ve[skill].
Ani mechapes/mechapeset etgar chadash betachum [field].)

Hello, I'm [name]. I worked at [company] as [position] for [time].
My strengths are [skill] and [skill].
I'm looking for a new challenge in [field].

Scenario 2: Negotiating Salary

Employer:

נוכל להציע משכורת של [סכום] בחודש
(Nuchal lehatzir maskoret shel [amount] bachodesh)
We can offer a salary of [amount] per month

You (if too low):

אני מעריך/ה את ההצעה, אבל בהתחשב בניסיון שלי,
חשבתי על משהו יותר בסביבות [סכום גבוה יותר].

(Ani ma'arich/ma'aricha et hahatza'a, aval behitchasbev banisayon sheli,
chashavti al mashehu yoter besevivot [higher amount].)

I appreciate the offer, but considering my experience,
I was thinking of something more around [higher amount].

Scenario 3: Client Meeting

You:

תודה שנפגשנו היום. הבנתי שאתם מחפשים פתרון ל[בעיה].
החברה שלנו מתמחה ב[תחום] ויש לנו ניסיון של [X] שנים.

(Toda shenifgashnu hayom. Havanti she'atem mechapsim pitaron le[problem].
Hachevra shelanu mitamachat be[area] veyesh lanu nisayon shel [X] shanim.)

Thanks for meeting today. I understand you're looking for a solution to [problem].
Our company specializes in [area] and we have [X] years of experience.

Client:

מה ההצעה שלכם? מה העלות?
(Ma hahatza'a shelachem? Ma ha'alut?)
What's your proposal? What's the cost?

Scenario 4: Asking for a Raise

[שם מנהל], אשמח לדבר איתך על משכורת.
עבדתי פה [זמן] והשגתי [הישגים].
אשמח אם נוכל לשקול העלאה.

([Manager name], esmach ledaber itcha al maskoret.
Avadti po [time] vehisagti [achievements].
Esmach im nuchal lishkol ha'ala'a.)

[Manager], I'd like to talk to you about salary.
I've worked here [time] and achieved [achievements].
I'd appreciate if we could consider a raise.

Your 60-Day Business Hebrew Plan

Week 1-2: Foundation

Goal: Master basic business vocabulary

✅ Learn 50 essential business terms
✅ Practice email greetings and closings
✅ Memorize common meeting phrases
✅ Study our business Hebrew basics

Week 3-4: Email Mastery

Goal: Write professional emails

✅ Write 5 practice emails daily
✅ Study real Israeli business emails
✅ Learn formal vs. informal registers
✅ Practice with native speakers

Week 5-6: Meeting Confidence

Goal: Participate in meetings

✅ Role-play meeting scenarios
✅ Learn to present ideas
✅ Practice agreeing/disagreeing
✅ Record and review yourself

Week 7-8: Real-World Application

Goal: Use Hebrew at work

✅ Send actual business emails
✅ Attend Hebrew meetings
✅ Make phone calls in Hebrew
✅ Network with Israeli professionals

Common Mistakes to Avoid

1. Being Too Formal

❌ Wrong: "אדוני הנכבד, ברצוני להודיע..." (My esteemed sir, I wish to inform...)
✅ Right: "היי, רציתי לעדכן..." (Hey, wanted to update...)

Why: Israeli business culture is casual. Excessive formality seems stiff.

2. Taking Directness Personally

❌ Wrong interpretation: "He said 'no' immediately—he hates my idea!"
✅ Right interpretation: "He disagreed directly—this is normal Israeli communication."

Why: Directness is efficiency, not rudeness.

3. Expecting English Norms

❌ Wrong: Writing long, polite emails with extensive pleasantries
✅ Right: Short, direct emails that get to the point

Why: Israeli business moves fast. Brevity is valued.

4. Avoiding Casual Language

❌ Wrong: Never using slang or informal expressions
✅ Right: Using "יאללה" (yalla), "סבבה" (sababa) appropriately

Why: Professional doesn't mean formal in Israel.

5. Not Following Up

❌ Wrong: Waiting politely for a response
✅ Right: Following up after 1-2 days

Why: People are busy. Reminders aren't rude.

Resources for Continued Learning

Practice Tools

🎯 Our trainers:

Interactive vocabulary trainer - Business terms
Conversation practice - Meeting scenarios

📚 Related articles:

Modern Hebrew slang - Casual workplace language
100 everyday phrases - Foundation

Real-World Practice

LinkedIn:

Connect with Israeli professionals
Join Hebrew business groups
Read Israeli company posts

Israeli Business News:

TheMarker (business section)
Calcalist
Globes

Podcasts:

Israeli business podcasts
Tech industry discussions
Interview shows

FAQs

Q: Do I need perfect Hebrew for Israeli business?
A: No. Many Israeli companies use English. But Hebrew helps with integration, relationships, and cultural understanding.

Q: How long until I can use business Hebrew confidently?
A: With daily practice: 3-6 months for basic business communication, 12+ months for full fluency.

Q: Is business Hebrew very different from casual Hebrew?
A: Less than you'd think! Israeli workplaces are informal. The main difference is specific vocabulary.

Q: Should I use formal "אתה" or informal language?
A: Always "אתה" (you). Hebrew doesn't have formal "you" like French/German. Formality comes from word choice, not pronouns.

Q: What if I make mistakes in important business situations?
A: Israelis appreciate effort. They'll help correct you and usually find language mistakes endearing, not offensive.

Final Thoughts

Mastering business Hebrew opens doors in one of the world's most innovative economies. Israeli startup culture values directness, creativity, and relationship-building—qualities reflected in the language itself.

Remember:

🎯 Start with essentials - Master key vocabulary first
📧 Practice writing - Emails build confidence
🗣️ Embrace directness - It's cultural, not personal
🤝 Build relationships - Business is personal in Israel
💪 Keep practicing - Real-world use accelerates learning

Next Steps:

Ready to level up your Hebrew?

🚀 Start learning: Complete Hebrew course
💬 Practice conversation: Interactive trainer
📖 Expand vocabulary: Hebrew idioms guide
🎯 Plan your study: 6-month Hebrew plan

בהצלחה! (Behatzlacha - Good luck!) 🇮🇱

May your business ventures in Israel be successful and your Hebrew fluency grow with every meeting, email, and negotiation!

Last updated: November 2025
Reviewed by: Israeli business professionals and Hebrew linguists
Next update: February 2026 with new industry trends