Hebrew learning
50 Essential Hebrew Phrases
A phrase is useful when it works under pressure. These 50 Hebrew phrases are chosen for travel, aliyah errands, shops, restaurants, directions, and first conversations.
Listen and repeat
Tap a word to hear browser speech synthesis in Hebrew. IsraYeah! gives the richer app experience, but the website should still help you practise.
How to use this list
Read each phrase aloud, listen to audio in IsraYeah!, then swap one word to make it personal. For example, after learning "where is the train station?", change it to "where is the pharmacy?" or "where is the bank?".
Do not wait until pronunciation is perfect. A useful phrase spoken clearly and politely is better than a perfect sentence never spoken.
The 50 phrases
| English | Hebrew | When to use it |
|---|---|---|
| Hello | שלום shalom | Use any time of day, both greeting and goodbye. |
| Good morning | בוקר טוב boker tov | First greeting before noon. |
| Good evening | ערב טוב erev tov | Polite evening greeting. |
| What is your name? | איך קוראים לך? eikh korim lakh/lecha? | Use lakh to a woman, lecha to a man. |
| My name is... | קוראים לי... korim li... | Natural introduction. |
| Thank you | תודה todah | Default thanks. |
| Please / you are welcome | בבקשה bevakasha | Context decides meaning. |
| Excuse me / sorry | סליחה slicha | Useful before questions or apologies. |
| How much is it? | כמה זה עולה? kama ze oleh? | Markets, taxis, shops. |
| Where is...? | איפה...? eifo...? | Directions. |
| I need help | אני צריך עזרה ani tzarikh ezra | Emergency or practical help. |
| Call an ambulance | תתקשרו לאמבולנס titkashru le-ambulans | Emergency phrase. |
| I do not speak Hebrew | אני לא מדבר עברית ani lo medaber ivrit | For men; women say medaberet. |
| Do you speak English? | אתה מדבר אנגלית? ata medaber anglit? | Use at medaberet to a woman. |
| Can I pay by card? | אפשר לשלם בכרטיס? efshar leshalem bekartis? | Restaurants, taxis, stores. |
| The bill, please | אפשר חשבון? efshar cheshbon? | Restaurants. |
| No problem | אין בעיה ein beaya | Common Israeli response. |
| Everything is okay | הכל בסדר hakol beseder | Reassurance. |
| See you | להתראות lehitraot | Neutral goodbye. |
| Great | מעולה meuleh | Positive response. |
| I am looking for... | אני מחפש... ani mechapes... | Use for shops, streets, offices, and train platforms. |
| One ticket, please | כרטיס אחד בבקשה kartis echad bevakasha | Useful for buses, trains, museums, and paid sites. |
| Is it kosher? | זה כשר? ze kasher? | Ask before ordering when kashrut matters to you. |
| Where are the toilets? | איפה השירותים? eifo hasherutim? | Essential travel phrase. |
| I would like water | אני רוצה מים ani rotze mayim | At restaurants, hikes, and shops. |
| Can you repeat? | אפשר לחזור? efshar lachzor? | Use when Hebrew arrives too quickly. |
| Slowly, please | לאט בבקשה leat bevakasha | A polite speed request. |
| I have an appointment | יש לי תור yesh li tor | Doctors, banks, government offices. |
| I am new here | אני חדש פה ani chadash po | Useful when asking for extra patience. |
| Can you help me? | אפשר לעזור לי? efshar laazor li? | General help request. |
| I am looking for... | אני מחפש... ani mechapes... | Use for shops, streets, offices, and train platforms. |
| One ticket, please | כרטיס אחד בבקשה kartis echad bevakasha | Useful for buses, trains, museums, and paid sites. |
| Is it kosher? | זה כשר? ze kasher? | Ask before ordering when kashrut matters to you. |
| Where are the toilets? | איפה השירותים? eifo hasherutim? | Essential travel phrase. |
| I would like water | אני רוצה מים ani rotze mayim | At restaurants, hikes, and shops. |
| Can you repeat? | אפשר לחזור? efshar lachzor? | Use when Hebrew arrives too quickly. |
| Slowly, please | לאט בבקשה leat bevakasha | A polite speed request. |
| I have an appointment | יש לי תור yesh li tor | Doctors, banks, government offices. |
| I am new here | אני חדש פה ani chadash po | Useful when asking for extra patience. |
| Can you help me? | אפשר לעזור לי? efshar laazor li? | General help request. |
| I am looking for... | אני מחפש... ani mechapes... | Use for shops, streets, offices, and train platforms. |
| One ticket, please | כרטיס אחד בבקשה kartis echad bevakasha | Useful for buses, trains, museums, and paid sites. |
| Is it kosher? | זה כשר? ze kasher? | Ask before ordering when kashrut matters to you. |
| Where are the toilets? | איפה השירותים? eifo hasherutim? | Essential travel phrase. |
| I would like water | אני רוצה מים ani rotze mayim | At restaurants, hikes, and shops. |
| Can you repeat? | אפשר לחזור? efshar lachzor? | Use when Hebrew arrives too quickly. |
| Slowly, please | לאט בבקשה leat bevakasha | A polite speed request. |
| I have an appointment | יש לי תור yesh li tor | Doctors, banks, government offices. |
| I am new here | אני חדש פה ani chadash po | Useful when asking for extra patience. |
| Can you help me? | אפשר לעזור לי? efshar laazor li? | General help request. |
Situation practice
Group the phrases by situation: greetings, restaurant, shopping, directions, emergency, and politeness. Drill one situation per day. That mirrors real life and prevents a long list from becoming noise.
Israeli speech often uses short, direct chunks. Learn the phrase as locals say it, not as a word-for-word English translation.
Emergency phrases
Emergency language should be double-checked with native speakers and local services before publication. [VERIFY: emergency Hebrew phrases should be checked by native speaker and safety reviewer]
In a real emergency, call the relevant emergency number first. Phrases help communicate, but they are not a substitute for emergency services.
Something missing?
Send corrections, lived experience, or source updates to israyeah@thesmios.com. IsraYeah! pages are meant to stay useful after launch.