Modern Hebrew (Ivrit) is the official language of Israel, spoken by approximately nine million people. A Semitic language revived at the end of the 19th century, it is one of the most extraordinary linguistic resurrections in history. With this kit, you have the bare minimum to get by in Tel Aviv, Jerusalem and Haifa.
Modern Hebrew, or Ivrit, is the official language of Israel and has about nine million speakers, including nearly all of Israel's population and part of the Jewish diasporas. It is one of humanity's most extraordinary linguistic stories: a biblical language over three thousand years old, Hebrew stopped being spoken daily around the 3rd century AD, surviving only in liturgy. At the end of the 19th century, Eliezer Ben Yehuda orchestrated its revival, coining neologisms to adapt a sacred language to modernity.
Hebrew is a Semitic language, cousin to Arabic and Aramaic, with a right-to-left script using a twenty-two-consonant alphabet. Short vowels (niqud) are only marked in religious books and for children. Grammar relies on a rich system of triconsonantal roots, where each root generates related verbs, nouns and adjectives. This Semitic logic rewards regular learning with increasing understanding of word families.
Beyond the language, Israel imposes a particular rhythm: Shabbat from Friday evening to Saturday evening, Jewish holidays in autumn (Rosh Hashanah, Yom Kippur, Sukkot) and spring (Passover), plural cuisine from the diasporas, direct and warm communication. Knowing a few words like "Shalom" (hello) or "Toda" (thank you) instantly opens the doors of daily life.
This kit gathers the bare essentials to handle an arrival at Ben Gurion, a taxi ride to Tel Aviv or Jerusalem, a shakshuka order at a restaurant, a medical emergency and a warm departure. You will find indispensable greetings, survival phrases, key words for eating and sleeping, as well as cultural tips to respect local customs. Memorize these expressions before leaving and you will gain confidence from the very first hours on site.
Here is how these phrases play out in real life. Each scene sets the stage and gathers the useful expressions.
You land at Ben Gurion Airport in the early morning. An agent welcomes you with the famous "Shalom" then "Boker tov" (good morning). Later "Erev tov" then "Layla tov" will pace the day with your hosts.
The taxi driver asks for your destination in Tel Aviv. You give him the house where you are staying (bayit), the school you plan to visit (beit sefer), the Hebrew University (oniversita) and the Carmel shuk for your shopping.
You sit down in an Israeli café to taste a shakshuka. You order lechem (bread), water (mayim), a little chalav (milk) for the coffee and basar (meat) with the salads of the day.
You feel unwell and need to quickly explain where it hurts. You point to the affected area using key body words: head (rosh), eye (ayin), ear (ozen), nose (af).
On the morning of departure, you take leave of your hosts with a "Lehitraot" (goodbye, see you) or a more informal "Bye". You warmly thank them with a sincere "Toda" or a heartfelt "Toda raba" (thank you very much).
What you need to know before travelling to a hébreu-speaking country.
Hebrew is a Semitic language, cousin to Arabic and Aramaic. Its script runs from right to left with an alphabet of twenty-two consonants. Short vowels (niqud) are only marked in religious texts or for children.
Modern Hebrew is the unique successful example of a fully resurrected language. Eliezer Ben Yehuda brought it back from sacred liturgy to daily use at the end of the 19th century, coining thousands of neologisms.
The word "Shalom" means hello, goodbye and peace at the same time. It is the universal greeting, versatile and always appropriate, at any time of day or night.
Shabbat (from Friday evening to Saturday evening) considerably slows down public life: public transport stops, shops close except in Tel Aviv and non-religious areas. Plan your travel accordingly.
The greeting "Shabbat shalom" replaces "Shalom" from Friday evening to Saturday evening. It is a much appreciated practice, even from foreigners, that marks respect for the Jewish holy day.
Israeli cuisine blends Ashkenazi (European), Sephardic (Mediterranean) and Mizrahi (Middle Eastern) traditions: hummus, falafel, shakshuka, sabich. Mahane Yehuda market in Jerusalem is its living showcase.
Kashrut governs observant eating: no meat/milk mixing, certain foods forbidden. Kosher restaurants are identified by a certificate. Tel Aviv is more liberal, Jerusalem stricter.
Israel is a direct country in communication: people get to the point, say what they think. This can surprise European visitors used to indirect forms. Don't mistake it for rudeness.
Preview. The full glossary (30 words) and all the phrases are in the PDF.
בבקשה
please / you're welcome
סליחה
sorry / excuse me
מה שלומך
how are you
הכל טוב
all good
נעים מאוד
nice to meet you
שבת שלום
Shabbat shalom (good Sabbath)
ברוך הבא
welcome
אני
I / me
אתה
you (masculine sg)
את
you (feminine sg)
A hundred words, thirty key phrases, as a printable PDF. Instant download, also sent by e-mail.
No credit card. One-click unsubscribe. GDPR compliant.
Every translation is cross-checked against at least two concordant sources among the references below.
All Targumi resources for this language.
Assess your CEFR level in 5 minutes.
Films, music, traditions. How well do you know?
Guides, methods and tips to progress.
Essential words and phrases organised by themes.
Films, series, podcasts and music to immerse yourself.
Live classes with a bilingual native teacher. First lessons free.
The kit is just the start. To really speak the language, join a live class with a native teacher. Small groups, real feedback, fast progress.
30-day money-back guarantee, native teachers