Hebrew Texting: Abbreviations and WhatsApp Slang
Welcome to the real Hebrewโthe one Israelis actually use when texting, messaging, and communicating online. While textbooks teach you formal Hebrew, this guide reveals the shortcuts, abbreviations, and digital slang that dominate Israeli WhatsApp groups, Instagram DMs, and text messages.
From essential abbreviations like "ืื"ื" to emoji combinations with hidden meanings, you'll learn to text like a native Israeli and finally understand what your Israeli friends are really saying online.
Quick Note
This guide focuses on digital Hebrew. For spoken slang, check our Modern Israeli Slang guide.
Why Hebrew Texting is Different
Digital Communication in Israel
Key characteristics:
- ๐ฑ WhatsApp dominates - Primary communication platform
- โก Speed is key - Abbreviations everywhere
- ๐บ๐ธ English influence - Code-switching common
- ๐ Hebrew keyboard - Different typing patterns
- ๐ Emoji culture - Heavy emoji use
What makes Hebrew texting unique:
- Right-to-left text + left-to-right English/numbers
- Consonant-focused abbreviations
- Context-dependent meanings
- Heavy use of vowel omission
Essential Hebrew Texting Abbreviations
Top 20 Must-Know Abbreviations
1. ืื"ื (BeDeCh)
Full: ืืืจื ืืื (Bederech klal)
Meaning: Usually, generally, typically
"ืื ื ืื"ื ืื ืขืื ื ืืืจื 22:00"
(I usually don't answer after 10 PM)
2. ืืื / ืื"ื (AchaKa)
Full: ืืืจ ืื (Achar kach)
Meaning: Later, afterwards
"ื ืืืจ ืืื"
(Let's talk later)
3. ืืก"ื (BeSeDe)
Full: ืืกืืจ ืืืืจ (Beseder gamur)
Meaning: Totally fine, perfect
"ืืืื ื-18:00" "ืืก"ื!"
(Come at 18:00. Perfect!)
4. ืื "ืฉ (AnaSh)
Full: ืื ืฉืื (Anashim)
Meaning: People, guys
"ืืฉ ืื "ืฉ?"
(Anyone there? / Any people?)
5. ืช"ื (TaMa)
Full: ืชืืื ืืจืืฉ (Toda merosh)
Meaning: Thanks in advance
"ืชืืื ืืฉืืื ืื? ืช"ื"
(Can you send it to me? Thanks in advance)
6. ืื (KaKa)
Full: ืื ืื (Kol kach)
Meaning: So much, so very
"ืื ืขืืืฃ"
(So tired)
"ืื ื ืื ืืืื ืืช ืื"
(I love this so much)
7. ืื / ืืืจ (MaCha)
Full: ืืืจ (Machar)
Meaning: Tomorrow
"ื ืชืจืื ืื"
(See you tomorrow)
8. ืืจ"ืข (BeRaA)
Full: ืืจืื ืจืขื (Baruch ra'acha) Meaning: Bless you (after sneezing)
Note: Less common in digital, but good to know.
9. ืช"ืจ (TaRa)
Full: ืชืืื ืจืื (Toda raba)
Meaning: Thanks a lot
"ืช"ืจ ืขื ืืขืืจื!"
(Thanks a lot for the help!)
10. ืืค / ืืคื ื (LiFnei)
Full: ืืคื ื (Lifnei)
Meaning: Before
"ืืื ืืค ืฉืืื ื"
(Come before eight)
Time-Related Abbreviations
ืืืงืจ โ ืื (BaBa) - In the morning
ืืขืจื โ ืืข (BaE) - In the evening
ืืืืื โ ืื (BaLa) - At night
ืืฉืืืข โ ืืฉ (BaSha) - This week
ืืกืืค"ืฉ โ ืืกืืคืฉ (BeSofSh) - On the weekend
Examples:
"ื ืืืจ ืื"
(Let's talk in the morning)
"ืคืืืฉื ืืข"
(Meeting in the evening)
Response Abbreviations
ืื โ ื (Ken โ K) - Yes
ืื โ ื (Lo โ L) - No
ืืืงื โ ืืง / OK - Okay
ืืกืืจ โ ืืก (Beseder โ BeS) - Okay/Fine
ืืขืืื โ ืืข (Meule โ Me) - Excellent
Usage:
"ืืืขืช?" "ื"
(Did you arrive? Yes)
"ืจืืฆื ืืืื?" "ื"
(Want to come? No)
WhatsApp-Specific Hebrew
Status Updates
Available/ืืืกื - Available
Busy/ืขืกืืง - Busy
At work/ืืขืืืื - At work
Battery about to die/ืืกืืืื ืืืกืกืช - Battery dying
Can't talk/ืื ืืืื ืืืืจ - Can't talk
Group Chat Phrases
?ืื ืืคื ืื
(Mi bifnim?) - Who's in? (asking who's interested)
ืืืื ืคื?
(Kulam po?) - Everyone here?
ืืขื ื ืฉื...
(Gang shel...) - Gang of... (group of friends)
ื ืงืืข ืืื?
(Nikba yom?) - Should we set a date?
ืื ืื?
(Mi ba?) - Who's coming?
Voice Message Culture
Common phrases about voice messages:
ืฉืื/ื ืืงืืื
(Shlach/Shlachi haklata) - Send a voice message
ืืจืื ืืื ืืืชืื
(Aroch miday lichtov) - Too long to type
ืื ื ืืืจื, ืืฉืื ืืงืืื
(Ani baderech, eshlach haklata) - I'm on the way, I'll send a voice message
Cultural note: Israelis LOVE voice messages. Don't be surprised by 3-minute audio messages!
Vowel Omission Patterns
How It Works
Hebrew texting often omits vowels (just like ancient Hebrew!):
ืื ืงืืจื โ ืืงืืจ / ืืง (Ma kore โ MaKor / MaK)
ืื ื ืฉืืข โ ืื ืฉื / ืื (Ma nishma โ MaNishMa / MaN)
ืชืืื โ ืชื (Toda โ TaD)
ืฉืืื โ ืฉืื (Shalom โ ShaLoM)
Common Vowel-Omitted Words
ืืืื โ ืื (Bo'u โ Bo)
ืจืืฆื โ ืจืืฆ (Rotze โ RotZ)
ืืชื โ ืืช (Matai โ MaT)
ืืืคื โ ืืืค (Eifo โ EiF)
ืืื โ ืื (Lama โ LaM)
Example conversation:
Person A: "ืืช ืื?"
(MaT Ba? = When are you coming?)
Person B: "ืื ืจืืข"
(Bo Rega = Coming in a moment)
English-Hebrew Texting Mix
Code-Switching Patterns
Israelis frequently mix English and Hebrew in texts:
ืืืืื let's go!
OK ืชืืื
Sorry ืขื ืืืืืืจ
Perfect! ืืชืืื ืื
OMG ืื ืงืจื?
English Words in Hebrew Script
ืื (Hi) - Hi
ืืื (Bye) - Bye
ืืืงื (Okay) - Okay
ืกืืจื (Sorry) - Sorry
ืชื ืงืก (Thanks) - Thanks
ืงืื (Cool) - Cool
ืืืื (Wow) - Wow
Transliterated Slang
LOL โ ืืื (ChaChaChaCha - laughter)
ROFL โ ืืช ืืฆืืืง (Met mitzchok - dying from laughter)
OMG โ ืืืืืื ืืืืจืื / ืืืืื
WTF โ ืื ืื (Ma ze)
Emoji Culture in Hebrew Texting
Common Emoji Meanings
๐ (Face with Tears of Joy)
Used for: Anything funny, not necessarily laughing out loud
Hebrew equivalent: ืืื (ChaChaChaCha)
"ืจืืืช ืื ืืื ืืืจ? ๐๐"
(Did you see what he said?)
๐ (Folded Hands)
Multiple meanings:
- Please (ืืืงืฉื)
- Thank you (ืชืืื)
- I'm begging you (ืื ื ืืชืื ื)
"ืชืืื ืืขืืืจ ืื? ๐"
(Can you help me?)
๐ช (Flexed Bicep)
Meanings:
- Strong/Powerful (ืืืง)
- You got this (ืืฉ ืื)
- Well done (ืื ืืืืื)
"ืกืืืืช ืืช ืืคืจืืืงื! ๐ช"
(You finished the project!)
โค๏ธ (Red Heart)
Usage:
- Love (ืืืื)
- Used liberally between friends
- Not necessarily romantic
"ืชืืื ืืืจื ืฉืื โค๏ธ"
(Thanks my friend)
Israeli Emoji Combinations
๐คฆโโ๏ธ + ๐ = "ืืืื ืืืืืื" (What an idiot - about yourself)
๐ฏ + ๐ฅ = "ืืืฉืื" (Perfect/Fire)
๐
+ ๐ = "ืกืืืื ืืืงืฉื" (Sorry please)
๐ + ๐ = "ืชืืื" (Thanks acknowledged)
Numbers in Hebrew Texting
Using Numbers for Letters
Some letters are replaced with similar-looking numbers:
5 = ื (Chet)
7 = ื (Zayin)
3 = ื (Gimel)
9 = ื (Tet)
Examples:
5ะฑะธะฑ (Chaviv) - Cute/Dear
7ืืจ ืื (Zachar li) - Remind me
3ืืืจ (Gomor) - Finish
Note: This is less common in Hebrew than in Arabic texting.
Context-Dependent Abbreviations
Situational Meanings
ืืฉ (Yesh)
Full meaning: There is/There are
In texting can mean:
- "I have" (ืืฉ ืื)
- "Count me in" (yes, I'm coming)
- "Agreed" (approval)
"ืื ืื ืืืกืืื?" "ืืฉ!"
(Who's coming to the party? I'm in!)
ืืื (Bo)
Full meaning: Come (male singular)
In texting:
- Let's go
- Let's do it
- Come on
"ืืื ื ืชืืื"
(Let's start)
"ืืื ื ืื"
(Let's go)
Texting Mistakes to Avoid
Common Errors
1. Over-Formal Language
โ Wrong: "ืฉืืื ืจื, ืื ื ืืืงืฉ ืืื..."
โ
Right: "ืืื, ืืคืฉืจ..."
(Don't use overly formal language in casual texts)
2. Missing Context Clues
โ Wrong: Just "ื" (Yes) without any explanation
โ
Right: "ื, ืื ื ืื ืืฉืืื ื" (Yes, I'm coming at eight)
(Provide context, don't just say yes/no)
3. Too Many Abbreviations
โ Wrong: "ืืื ืืื ืืข ื ืคืืฉ ืืกื"
โ
Right: Mix abbreviations with full words for clarity
(Don't abbreviate everythingโit becomes unreadable)
4. Ignoring Emojis
โ Wrong: Pure text without any emojis (seems cold)
โ
Right: Add appropriate emojis to show tone
(Israelis use lots of emojis; pure text can seem unfriendly)
Advanced Texting Patterns
Repetition for Emphasis
ืืืืืืืืืืื (ChChChChCh) - Really funny
ืืืืืืืืืื (Woooooow) - Very impressed
ืืืืืืืืื (Yaaaaaalla) - Come onnnn
ืืืืืืืืื (Yessssss) - Emphatic yes
Letter Doubling
ืืืงืืืื (Okayyyy) - Okayyyy
ืืืืืืื (Heyyyy) - Heyyy
ืืืืืืื (Byeeee) - Byeee
Industry-Specific Texting
Tech/Startup Texting
ืืคืืื ืืืื (Deploy hayom) - Deploy today
PR ืจืื (PR ready) - PR ready
ืืื ืงืจืืื (Bug kriti) - Critical bug
ืืจื' ืขืืฉืื (Merge achshav) - Merge now
Military Texting
ืืฉืืืจืจ (Meshuchrรกr) - Released (from service/duty)
ื.ื (M.N.) - ืืื ื ืื (Protective gear)
ื.ื (Ch.G.) - ืื (Holiday/day off)
Regional Variations
Tel Aviv vs. Jerusalem
Tel Aviv style:
- More English mixing
- More casual/slang
- Faster, shorter
Jerusalem style:
- More traditional abbreviations
- Religious references
- Slightly more formal
Generation Differences
Gen Z Hebrew Texting
Characteristics:
- Heavy emoji use
- English dominance
- Voice messages
- GIF reactions
- TikTok references
Examples:
"ืืืืื ืื vibe ๐ฏ๐ฅ"
"slay queen ๐โจ"
"ืื ืืืฉ cringe ๐ฌ"
Millennial Hebrew Texting
Characteristics:
- Balanced Hebrew-English
- Abbreviation-heavy
- Less emoji
- More text
Practice Exercise
Translate These Real Texts
Exercise 1:
"ืืื! ืืง? ืจืืฆื ืืฆืืช ืืขืจื? ืชืืื"
Exercise 2:
"ืกืืจื ืขื ืืืืืืจ. ืืื ืื ื ืืืืข ืืืื. ืืื ืืขืื 10 ืืง"
Exercise 3:
"ืื ืืื! ืืก"ื! ื ืชืจืื ืื ืืข ๐"
Your 14-Day Texting Challenge
Week 1: Understanding
Days 1-3: Learn top 20 abbreviations
Days 4-5: Study emoji meanings
Days 6-7: Join Hebrew WhatsApp groups (passive observation)
Week 2: Active Use
Days 8-10: Use 3 new abbreviations daily
Days 11-12: Text Israeli friends in Hebrew
Days 13-14: Full Hebrew texting day (challenge yourself!)
Resources for Practice
Where to Practice
WhatsApp Groups:
- Hebrew learner groups
- Israeli interest groups
- Local community groups
Social Media:
- Instagram (Israeli accounts)
- Twitter/X (Israeli trends)
- Reddit (r/hebrew, r/israel)
Apps:
- Tandem (language exchange)
- HelloTalk (Hebrew chat)
- Discord Hebrew servers
FAQs
Q: Is it rude to abbreviate everything?
A: No! Abbreviations are standard in Israeli texting. Just don't overdo it to incomprehensibility.
Q: Should I use emojis with older Israelis?
A: Yes, but moderately. Israeli boomers use emojis too, just fewer.
Q: Is it okay to mix English and Hebrew?
A: Absolutely! Code-switching is completely normal and accepted.
Q: Why do Israelis send so many voice messages?
A: Cultural preference + Hebrew keyboard can be slow. Voice is faster for complex messages.
Q: Do grammar mistakes matter in texting?
A: Not really. Native speakers make mistakes too. Communication > perfection.
Final Thoughts
Hebrew texting is its own languageโfast, efficient, and constantly evolving. Understanding abbreviations, emoji culture, and digital slang transforms you from a formal learner into someone who actually communicates like an Israeli.
Remember:
- ๐ฑ Start with top abbreviations - Learn the most common first
- ๐ Embrace emoji culture - Israelis use them liberally
- ๐ฃ๏ธ Mix languages freely - English-Hebrew code-switching is normal
- โก Speed over perfection - Communication beats grammar
- ๐ง Use voice messages - When in doubt, record it
Next Steps:
Master digital Hebrew:
๐ฃ๏ธ Modern slang: Israeli slang 2025
๐ฌ Conversation: 100 everyday phrases
๐ผ Professional: Business Hebrew guide
๐ Complete study: 6-month plan
ืืืืื ืืื! ๐๐ (Yalla bye!)
Now go text your Israeli friends and impress them with your digital Hebrew skills!
Last updated: November 2025
Reviewed by: Israeli Gen Z and millennial native speakers
Next update: February 2026 with new texting trends