Hebrew phrases for travelling in Israel, with pronunciation you can copy
Almost everyone in Israeli tourism speaks English, so these phrases are not about survival — they are about the reaction you get. Open with Hebrew in a Jerusalem market or a Tel Aviv cafe and the conversation changes tone immediately. Learn the twenty in bold first; the rest you can read off your phone.
Greetings and courtesy
Shalom works for hello and goodbye, morning to night. Israelis switch easily to English, so answering the follow-up is optional.
- shalom — hello / goodbye / peace
- boker tov — good morning
- erev tov — good evening
- lyla tov — good night
- ma nishma? — how's it going? (literally: what is heard?)
- hakol beseder — everything's fine
- toda / toda raba — thank you / thank you very much
- bevakasha — please, and also here you go
- slicha — excuse me / sorry (also to get attention)
- lehitraot — see you later
Getting around
Say the destination, then the phrase. Drivers and bus stations move fast; short is better than grammatical.
- eifo...? — where is...?
- eifo hatachana? — where is the station?
- kama ze oleh? — how much does it cost?
- ani rotze / rotza lin'soa le... — I want to travel to... (m/f)
- yamina / smola / yashar — right / left / straight
- atzor kan, bevakasha — stop here, please
- monit — taxi
- rakevet / otobus — train / bus
Food, cafes and markets
The shuk is where Hebrew pays off fastest. Vendors will quote you prices in Hebrew if you open in Hebrew.
- ani rotze/rotza... — I would like...
- yesh...? — do you have...?
- mayim, bevakasha — water, please
- kafe hafuch — the standard Israeli latte (literally: upside-down coffee)
- ze taim! — this is delicious!
- heshbon, bevakasha — the bill, please
- kasher / lo kasher — kosher / not kosher
- tzimchoni / tivoni — vegetarian / vegan
- yoter midai yakar — too expensive
When something goes wrong
Keep these three where you can find them. Emergency number in Israel: 100 police, 101 ambulance, 102 fire.
- ani lo mevin / mevina — I don't understand (m/f)
- ata medaber anglit? — do you speak English?
- ani tzarich ezra — I need help
- beit cholim — hospital
- avadeti et... — I lost my...
Learn them the way they are actually said
Written transliteration only gets you halfway — Hebrew stress and vowel length matter. The cheapest fix is to hear the words inside music: many of these travel words show up in Israeli songs (bayit, derekh, or, mayim, lev), which is why learners who sing pick up natural rhythm faster than learners who read lists.
On Shir-ly you can hear each of these words in context inside real Israeli songs, with nikud, transliteration and English translation, and drill them in short games before your trip.
Frequently asked questions
Do I need Hebrew to travel in Israel?
No — English is widely spoken in cities and tourist areas. A handful of Hebrew phrases mainly changes how warmly people respond to you.
What are the most useful Hebrew words for a tourist?
Shalom, toda, bevakasha, slicha, kama ze oleh (how much), eifo (where) and yesh (is there). Those seven cover most short exchanges.
Is Hebrew or Arabic more useful in Israel?
Hebrew is the main working language countrywide. Arabic is valuable in Arabic-speaking towns and neighbourhoods and in East Jerusalem.