Hebrew phrases – Here you will find the most common phrases in Hebrew with translation. | Free & useful
Hebrew phrases are short expressions or idioms often used in speech to be polite, express gratitude, greet or say goodbye or simply to have a pleasant conversation.
They are an important part of Hebrew culture and can be useful in different situations, both in private and business life.
Hebrew phrases you should know
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Greet someone in Hebrew
If you want to greet someone in Hebrew, it’s actually quite easy:
| English | Hebrew | Phonetic (IPA) |
|---|---|---|
| Welcome! in Hebrew | ברוך הבא | /baˈʁuχ haˈba/ |
| Good day to you! in Hebrew | יום טוב לך | /jom tov leˈxa/ (to a male), /jom tov laˈχ/ (to a female) |
| Good morning to you! in Hebrew | בוקר טוב לך | /ˈbokeʁ tov leˈxa/ (to a male), /ˈbokeʁ tov laˈχ/ (to a female) |
| Good evening! in Hebrew | ערב טוב | /ˈeʁev tov/ |
| Good to see you. in Hebrew | טוב לראות אותך | /tov liʁˈʔot otˈxa/ (to a male), /tov liʁˈʔot otˈax/ (to a female) |
| I’m glad to see you. in Hebrew | אני שמח לראות אותך | /aˈni saˈme.aχ liʁˈʔot otˈxa/ (male speaker), /aˈni sʃmeˈχa liʁˈʔot otˈxa/ (female speaker) |
If you are greeted in Hebrew, the best way to respond is as follows:
| English | Hebrew | Phonetic (IPA) |
|---|---|---|
| Have a nice day too! in Hebrew | גם לך יום נעים | /gam leˈxa jom naˈʔim/ (to a male), /gam laˈχ jom naˈʔim/ (to a female) |
| Thanks, it’s nice to see you too. in Hebrew | תודה, נעים לראות אותך גם | /toˈda naˈʔim liʁˈʔot otˈxa gam/ (to a male), /toˈda naˈʔim liʁˈʔot otˈax gam/ (to a female) |
How is my dialogue partner?
As in any other country, it is polite to start by asking where the person you are talking to is located. Here’s how you do it:
| English | Hebrew | Phonetic (IPA) |
|---|---|---|
| How are you doing? in Hebrew | מה שלומך? | /ma ʃloˈmex/ (to a female), /ma ʃloˈmexɑ/ or /ma ʃloˈmexʲa/ (to a male) |
| Are you doing well? in Hebrew | אתה מרגיש טוב? / את מרגישה טוב? | /aˈta maʁˈgiʃ tov/ (to a male), /at maʁɡiˈʃa tov/ (to a female) |
If you are asked how you feel, you can answer with the following phrases:
| English | Hebrew | Phonetic (IPA) |
|---|---|---|
| Thank you for asking, I am fine. | תודה ששאלת, אני בסדר | /toˈda ʃeʃaˈʔalta, aˈni beˈsedeʁ/ (to a male), /toˈda ʃeʃaˈʔalt, aˈni beˈsedeʁ/ (to a female) |
| Thank you, I am fine. | תודה, אני בסדר | /toˈda, aˈni beˈsedeʁ/ |
| Thank you, I am not doing so well. | תודה, אני לא כל כך מרגיש טוב | /toˈda, aˈni lo kol kaχ maʁˈgiʃ tov/ (male), /toˈda, aˈni lo kol kaχ maʁɡiˈʃa tov/ (female) |
| Thanks, I’m fine. How are you doing? | תודה, אני בסדר. מה שלומך? | /toˈda, aˈni beˈsedeʁ. ma ʃloˈmex/ (to a female), /toˈda, aˈni beˈsedeʁ. ma ʃloˈmeχa/ (to a male) |
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How do I say goodbye to someone in Hebrew?
Saying goodbye to a friend or stranger in Hebrew is not that difficult. Just use the following phrases:
| English | Hebrew | Phonetic (IPA) |
|---|---|---|
| Goodbye! in Hebrew | להתראות! | /lehitʔaˈʁot/ |
| Take care of yourself! in Hebrew | תשמור על עצמך / תשמרי על עצמך | /tiʃˈmoʁ al atˈsmeχa/ (to a male), /tiʃˈmeʁi al atˈmeχ/ (to a female) |
| Goodbye in Hebrew | להתראות | /lehitʔaˈʁot/ |
| See you tomorrow in Hebrew | נתראה מחר | /nitʁaˈe maˈχaʁ/ |
| See you soon in Hebrew | נתראה בקרוב | /nitʁaˈe bekaˈʁov/ |
| See you later in Hebrew | נתראה אחר כך | /nitʁaˈe aˈχaʁ kaχ/ |
| Good night in Hebrew | לילה טוב | /ˈlaila tov/ |
| Sleep well in Hebrew | שינה נעימה | /ʃeˈna neʔiˈma/ |
| Talk to you later. in Hebrew | נדבר אחר כך | /nedaˈbeʁ aˈχaʁ kaχ/ |
| Nice to have met you! in Hebrew | נעים להכיר! | /naˈʔim leʔaˈkiʁ/ |
How do I introduce myself in Hebrew?
When travelling in Israel, sooner or later you will come into contact with local people. Naturally, you’ll want to introduce yourself in Hebrew and know who you’re talking to.
| English | Hebrew | Phonetic (IPA) |
|---|---|---|
| My name is Jonas. | קוראים לי יונס | /koʁˈʔim li ˈjonas/ |
| What is your name? | איך קוראים לך? | /eχ koʁˈʔim leˈxa/ (to a male), /eχ koʁˈʔim laˈχ/ (to a female) |
| What is your surname? | מה שם המשפחה שלך? | /ma ʃem haˌmiʃpaˈχa ʃelˈxa/ (to a male), /ma ʃem haˌmiʃpaˈχa ʃelˈaχ/ (to a female) |
| What is your first name? | מה שמך הפרטי? | /ma ʃimˈxa haˌpʁaˈti/ (to a male), /ma ʃmeχ haˌpʁaˈti/ (to a female) |
| What is your surname? | מה שם המשפחה שלך? | /ma ʃem haˌmiʃpaˈχa ʃelˈxa/ (to a male), /ma ʃem haˌmiʃpaˈχa ʃelˈaχ/ (to a female) |
If you want to tell people where you come from, the following sentences are useful:
| English | Hebrew | Phonetic (IPA) |
|---|---|---|
| Where do you come from? | מאיפה אתה? / מאיפה את? | /meˈefo aˈta/ (to a male), /meˈefo at/ (to a female) |
| I am from London. | אני מלונדון | /aˈni miˈlondon/ |
| Are you from Birmingham? | אתה מבירמינגהם? / את מבירמינגהם? | /aˈta miˈbiʁmingem/ (to a male), /at miˈbiʁmingem/ (to a female) |
| No, I’m from Madrid. | לא, אני ממדריד | /lo, aˈni miˈmadʁid/ |
| Great, I’m from Madrid too. | מעולה, גם אני ממדריד | /meʔuˈle, gam aˈni miˈmadʁid/ |
| Where do you live? | איפה אתה גר? / איפה את גרה? | /ˈefo aˈta ɡaʁ/ (to a male), /ˈefo at ˈɡaʁa/ (to a female) |
| I live in Berlin. | אני גר בברלין / אני גרה בברלין | /aˈni ɡaʁ beˈbeʁlin/ (male), /aˈni ˈɡaʁa beˈbeʁlin/ (female) |
If you have problems with your Hebrew, it is good to know which languages are still spoken:
| English | Hebrew | Phonetic (IPA) |
|---|---|---|
| Do you speak English? | אתה מדבר אנגלית? / את מדברת אנגלית? | /aˈta medaˈbeʁ anˈɡlit/ (to a male), /at medaˈbeʁet anˈɡlit/ (to a female) |
| Yes, I speak English. | כן, אני מדבר אנגלית / כן, אני מדברת אנגלית | /ken, aˈni medaˈbeʁ anˈɡlit/ (male), /ken, aˈni medaˈbeʁet anˈɡlit/ (female) |
| Yes, I speak some English. | כן, אני מדבר קצת אנגלית / כן, אני מדברת קצת אנגלית | /ken, aˈni medaˈbeʁ kt͡sat anˈɡlit/ (male), /ken, aˈni medaˈbeʁet kt͡sat anˈɡlit/ (female) |
| No, I do not speak any English. | לא, אני לא מדבר אנגלית / לא, אני לא מדברת אנגלית | /lo, aˈni lo medaˈbeʁ anˈɡlit/ (male), /lo, aˈni lo medaˈbeʁet anˈɡlit/ (female) |
| I only speak English. | אני מדבר רק אנגלית / אני מדברת רק אנגלית | /aˈni medaˈbeʁ ʁak anˈɡlit/ (male), /aˈni medaˈbeʁet ʁak anˈɡlit/ (female) |
| I understand some Hebrew. | אני מבין קצת עברית / אני מבינה קצת עברית | /aˈni meˈvin kt͡sat ivˈʁit/ (male), /aˈni meviˈna kt͡sat ivˈʁit/ (female) |
Useful sentences with ‘I am…’
The following sentences will help you orientate yourself in Hebrew and express your wishes and concerns:
| English | Hebrew | Phonetic (IPA) |
|---|---|---|
| I am English. in Hebrew | אני אנגלי / אני אנגליה | /aˈni anˈɡli/ (male), /aˈni anɡliˈja/ (female) |
| I am injured. in Hebrew | אני פצוע / אני פצועה | /aˈni paˈt͡su.a/ (male), /aˈni pat͡suˈʔa/ (female) |
| I am here. in Hebrew | אני כאן | /aˈni kan/ |
| I am hungry. in Hebrew | אני רעב / אני רעבה | /aˈni ʁaˈev/ (male), /aˈni ʁe.eˈva/ (female) |
| I am thirsty. in Hebrew | אני צמא / אני צמאה | /aˈni tsaˈme/ (male), /aˈni t͡smeˈʔa/ (female) |
| I am a single person. in Hebrew | אני רווק / אני רווקה | /aˈni ʁaˈvak/ (male), /aˈni ʁavaˈka/ (female) |
| I need help! in Hebrew | אני צריך עזרה! / אני צריכה עזרה! | /aˈni tsaˈʁiχ ezˈʁa/ (male), /aˈni tsʁiˈχa ezˈʁa/ (female) |
| I am tired. in Hebrew | אני עייף / אני עייפה | /aˈni aˈjef/ (male), /aˈni a.jeˈfa/ (female) |
| I am happy. in Hebrew | אני שמח / אני שמחה | /aˈni saˈme.aχ/ (male), /aˈni smeˈχa/ (female) |
| I am sad. in Hebrew | אני עצוב / אני עצובה | /aˈni aˈt͡suv/ (male), /aˈni at͡suˈva/ (female) |
| I am in love. in Hebrew | אני מאוהב / אני מאוהבת | /aˈni meʔoˈhav/ (male), /aˈni meʔoˈhevet/ (female) |
| I am ill. in Hebrew | אני חולה | /aˈni χoˈle/ (male), /aˈni χoˈla/ (female) |
| I am ready. in Hebrew | אני מוכן / אני מוכנה | /aˈni muˈχan/ (male), /aˈni muχaˈna/ (female) |
| I am busy. in Hebrew | אני עסוק / אני עסוקה | /aˈni aˈsuk/ (male), /aˈni asuˈka/ (female) |
| I am lost. in Hebrew | אני אבוד / אני אבודה | /aˈni aˈvud/ (male), /aˈni avuˈda/ (female) |
| I am a tourist. in Hebrew | אני תייר / אני תיירת | /aˈni taˈjaʁ/ (male), /aˈni taˈjeʁet/ (female) |
| I am new here. in Hebrew | אני חדש פה / אני חדשה פה | /aˈni χaˈdaʃ po/ (male), /aˈni χadaˈʃa po/ (female) |
| I am confident. in Hebrew | אני בטוח / אני בטוחה | /aˈni baˈtu.aχ/ (male), /aˈni betuˈχa/ (female) |
| I am proud. in Hebrew | אני גאה | /aˈni ɡeˈʔe/ (male & female) |
| I am a teacher. in Hebrew | אני מורה | /aˈni moˈʁe/ (male), /aˈni moˈʁa/ (female) |
| I am late. in Hebrew | אני מאחר / אני מאחרת | /aˈni meʔaˈχeʁ/ (male), /aˈni meʔaˈχeʁet/ (female) |
| I am 30 years old. in Hebrew | אני בן שלושים / אני בת שלושים | /aˈni ben ʃloˈʃim/ (male), /aˈni bat ʃloˈʃim/ (female) |
| I am in a hurry. in Hebrew | אני ממהר / אני ממהרת | /aˈni mimaˈheʁ/ (male), /aˈni mimaˈheʁet/ (female) |
| I am happy. in Hebrew | אני שמח / אני שמחה | /aˈni saˈme.aχ/ (male), /aˈni smeˈχa/ (female) |
| I am surprised. in Hebrew | אני מופתע / אני מופתעת | /aˈni mufˈta/ (male), /aˈni muftaˈʔat/ (female) |
| I am angry. in Hebrew | אני כועס / אני כועסת | /aˈni koˈʔes/ (male), /aˈni koʔeˈset/ (female) |
Apologising in Hebrew
Here’s how to apologise to a Hebrew speaker:
| English | Hebrew | Phonetic (IPA) |
|---|---|---|
| I apologise. | אני מתנצל / אני מתנצלת | /aˈni mitnaˈt͡sel/ (male), /aˈni mitnaˈt͡selet/ (female) |
| Sorry, that was not the intention. | סליחה, זאת לא הייתה הכוונה | /sliˈχa, zot lo haˈjta ha.kavaˈna/ |
| Sorry, I did not do it on purpose. | סליחה, לא עשיתי את זה בכוונה | /sliˈχa, lo aˈsiti et ze be.kavaˈna/ |
| Sorry, that was very clumsy of me. | סליחה, זה היה ממש מגושם מצדי | /sliˈχa, ze haˈja maˈmaʃ meɡuˈʃam mi.t͡siˈdi/ |
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Useful signs and notices in Hebrew
Useful signs and messages in Hebrew that you will often see.
| English | Hebrew | Phonetic (IPA) |
|---|---|---|
| Entrance in Hebrew | כניסה | /kniˈsa/ |
| Toilet in Hebrew | שירותים | /ʃeʁuˈtim/ |
| Exit in Hebrew | יציאה | /jetsiˈʔa/ |
| Attention! in Hebrew | שים לב! / שימי לב! | /sim lev/ (to a male), /simi lev/ (to a female) |
| Police in Hebrew | משטרה | /miʃtaˈʁa/ |
| Emergency services in Hebrew | שירותי חירום | /ʃeʁuˈte χeˈʁum/ |
| Fire brigade in Hebrew | מכבי אש | /maˈkaːbi eʃ/ |
| Passage forbidden. in Hebrew | המעבר אסור | /ha.ma.aˈvaʁ aˈsuʁ/ |
| Caution! in Hebrew | זהירות! | /ze.iˈʁut/ |
| This building is under video surveillance. in Hebrew | הבניין נמצא תחת מעקב וידאו | /ha.binˈjan nimˈtsa ˈtaχat ma.aˈkav ˈvid.e.o/ |
Numbers to 25 in Hebrew
Counting in Hebrew is not that difficult. Here are the numbers in Hebrew from 1 to 25.
| English | Hebrew | Phonetic (IPA) |
|---|---|---|
| 1 in Hebrew | אחד | /eˈχad/ |
| 2 in Hebrew | שניים | /ʃnaˈim/ |
| 3 in Hebrew | שלושה | /ʃloˈʃa/ |
| 4 in Hebrew | ארבעה | /arbaˈa/ |
| 5 in Hebrew | חמישה | /χamiˈʃa/ |
| 6 in Hebrew | שישה | /ʃiˈʃa/ |
| 7 in Hebrew | שבעה | /ʃivˈa/ |
| 8 in Hebrew | שמונה | /ʃmoˈne/ |
| 9 in Hebrew | תשעה | /tiʃˈa/ |
| 10 in Hebrew | עשרה | /aˈsaʁa/ |
| 11 in Hebrew | אחד עשר | /eˈχad asˈaʁ/ |
| 12 in Hebrew | שניים עשר | /ʃnaˈim asˈaʁ/ |
| 13 in Hebrew | שלושה עשר | /ʃloˈʃa asˈaʁ/ |
| 14 in Hebrew | ארבעה עשר | /arbaˈa asˈaʁ/ |
| 15 in Hebrew | חמישה עשר | /χamiˈʃa asˈaʁ/ |
| 16 in Hebrew | שישה עשר | /ʃiˈʃa asˈaʁ/ |
| 17 in Hebrew | שבעה עשר | /ʃivˈa asˈaʁ/ |
| 18 in Hebrew | שמונה עשר | /ʃmoˈne asˈaʁ/ |
| 19 in Hebrew | תשעה עשר | /tiʃˈa asˈaʁ/ |
| 20 in Hebrew | עשרים | /esˈʁim/ |
| 21 in Hebrew | עשרים ואחד | /esˈʁim ve.eˈχad/ |
| 22 in Hebrew | עשרים ושניים | /esˈʁim uʃnaˈim/ |
| 23 in Hebrew | עשרים ושלושה | /esˈʁim uʃloˈʃa/ |
| 24 in Hebrew | עשרים וארבעה | /esˈʁim vaʁbaˈa/ |
| 25 in Hebrew | עשרים וחמישה | /esˈʁim vaχamiˈʃa/ |
The colours in Hebrew
The most common colours in Hebrew with phonetic transcription for pronunciation.
| English | Hebrew | Phonetic (IPA) |
|---|---|---|
| Red in Hebrew | אדום | /aˈdom/ |
| Blue in Hebrew | כחול | /kaˈχol/ |
| Yellow in Hebrew | צהוב | /tsaˈhov/ |
| Green in Hebrew | ירוק | /jaˈʁok/ |
| Orange in Hebrew | כתום | /kaˈtom/ |
| Purple in Hebrew | סגול | /saˈɡol/ |
| Pink in Hebrew | ורוד | /vaˈʁod/ |
| Black in Hebrew | שחור | /ʃaˈχoʁ/ |
| White in Hebrew | לבן | /laˈvan/ |
| Brown in Hebrew | חום | /χum/ |
Days of the week, months and seasons in Hebrew
Of course, you will also need the days of the week in Hebrew and the pronunciation of the months and seasons in dialogues and daily communication in Hebrew.
| English | Hebrew | Phonetic (IPA) |
|---|---|---|
| Days of the Week | ||
| Sunday in Hebrew | יום ראשון | /ˈjom ʁiˈʃon/ |
| Monday in Hebrew | יום שני | /ˈjom ʃeˈni/ |
| Tuesday in Hebrew | יום שלישי | /ˈjom ʃliˈʃi/ |
| Wednesday in Hebrew | יום רביעי | /ˈjom ʁeviˈʔi/ |
| Thursday in Hebrew | יום חמישי | /ˈjom χamiˈʃi/ |
| Friday in Hebrew | יום שישי | /ˈjom ʃiˈʃi/ |
| Saturday in Hebrew | שבת | /ʃaˈbat/ |
| Months | ||
| January in Hebrew | ינואר | /ˈjanu.aʁ/ |
| February in Hebrew | פברואר | /ˈfebʁuaʁ/ |
| March in Hebrew | מרץ | /meʁt͡s/ |
| April in Hebrew | אפריל | /aˈpʁil/ |
| May in Hebrew | מאי | /maj/ |
| June in Hebrew | יוני | /ˈjuni/ |
| July in Hebrew | יולי | /ˈjuli/ |
| August in Hebrew | אוגוסט | /ˈoɡust/ |
| September in Hebrew | ספטמבר | /sepˈtembeʁ/ |
| October in Hebrew | אוקטובר | /okˈtobeʁ/ |
| November in Hebrew | נובמבר | /noˈvembeʁ/ |
| December in Hebrew | דצמבר | /deˈtsembeʁ/ |
| Seasons | ||
| Spring in Hebrew | אביב | /aˈviv/ |
| Summer in Hebrew | קיץ | /ˈkajits/ |
| Autumn in Hebrew | סתיו | /stav/ |
| Winter in Hebrew | חורף | /ˈχoʁef/ |
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Additional links
- Learn Hebrew with Mondly
- The different ways of learning languages
- Learning vocabulary successfully
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- It is so easy to train your understanding of a language at the same time
- Learning languages quickly? – Is it possible?
- The different types of learners when learning languages
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