Hebrew travel phrases

Essentials

• Yes

  כן

  Ken

  KEHN

• No

  לא

  Lo

  LOH

• Please

  בבקשה

  Bevakasha

  beh-vah-kah-SHAH

  Also means "you're welcome" and "here you are".

• Thank you

  תודה

  Toda

  toh-DAH

  "תודה רבה" (toda raba) means "thank you very much".

• Do you speak English?

  מדברים אנגלית?

  Medabrim anglit?

  meh-dah-BREEM ahn-GLEET

  Neutral, so it works with a man or a woman.

• I don't understand

  לא הבנתי

  Lo hevanti

  loh heh-VAHN-tee

  Literally: “I didn't understand”

• Please speak slowly

  אפשר לדבר יותר לאט, בבקשה?

  Efshar ledaber yoter le'at, bevakasha?

  ehf-SHAHR leh-dah-BEHR yoh-TEHR leh-AHT, beh-vah-kah-SHAH

• How much does it cost?

  כמה זה עולה?

  Kama ze ole?

  KAH-mah zeh oh-LEH

• Where is the bathroom?

  איפה השירותים?

  Eifo ha-sherutim?

  AY-foh hah-sheh-roo-TEEM

Greetings

• Hello

  שלום

  Shalom

  shah-LOHM

• Good morning

  בוקר טוב

  Boker tov

  BOH-kehr tohv

  A common reply is "בוקר אור" (boker or).

• Goodbye

  להתראות

  Lehitra'ot

  leh-heet-rah-OHT

  "שלום" (shalom) also works as a goodbye.

• How are you?

  מה נשמע?

  Ma nishma?

  mah neesh-MAH

  Informal

  Casual and very common, and the same whoever you ask.

• Nice to meet you

  נעים מאוד

  Na'im me'od

  nah-EEM meh-OHD

  Literally: “Very pleasant”

Courtesy

• Excuse me

  סליחה

  Slikha

  SLEE-khah

  Also the everyday word for "sorry".

• I'm sorry

  אני מצטער

  Ani mitsta'er

  ah-NEE meets-tah-EHR

  Men say "אני מצטער" (ani mitsta'er); women say "אני מצטערת" (ani mitsta'eret, ah-NEE meets-tah-EH-reht). For small things, like bumping into someone, "סליחה" (slikha) is enough.

• You're welcome.

  בבקשה.

  Bevakasha.

  beh-vah-kah-SHAH

  You will also hear "אין בעד מה" (ein be'ad ma) and, casually, "בכיף" (bekef).

• Cheers!

  לחיים!

  Lekhayim!

  leh-khah-YEEM

Restaurants

• A table for two, please.

  שולחן לשניים, בבקשה.

  Shulkhan li-shnayim, bevakasha.

  shool-KHAHN lee-SHNAH-yeem, beh-vah-kah-SHAH

• Do you have a menu in English?

  יש לכם תפריט באנגלית?

  Yesh lakhem tafrit be-anglit?

  yehsh lah-KHEHM tahf-REET beh-ahn-GLEET

• I'll have this, please.

  אני אקח את זה, בבקשה.

  Ani ekakh et ze, bevakasha.

  ah-NEE eh-KAHKH eht zeh, beh-vah-kah-SHAH

• Water, please

  אפשר מים, בבקשה?

  Efshar mayim, bevakasha?

  ehf-SHAHR MAH-yeem, beh-vah-kah-SHAH

  For a jug of tap water, ask for "קנקן מים" (kankan mayim).

• The check, please

  אפשר את החשבון, בבקשה?

  Efshar et ha-kheshbon, bevakasha?

  ehf-SHAHR eht hah-khehsh-BOHN, beh-vah-kah-SHAH

• Can I pay by card?

  אפשר לשלם באשראי?

  Efshar leshalem be-ashrai?

  ehf-SHAHR leh-shah-LEHM beh-ahsh-RAI

  "אשראי" (ashrai), credit, is the everyday word for paying by any card.

Directions

• How do I get to the station?

  איך מגיעים לתחנת הרכבת?

  Eikh magi'im le-takhanat ha-rakevet?

  aykh mah-gee-EEM leh-tah-khah-NAHT hah-rah-KEH-veht

• Is it far from here?

  זה רחוק מפה?

  Ze rakhok mi-po?

  zeh rah-KHOHK mee-POH

• Can I walk there?

  אפשר ללכת לשם ברגל?

  Efshar lalekhet le-sham ba-regel?

  ehf-SHAHR lah-LEH-kheht leh-SHAHM bah-REH-gehl

Getting Understood

• I only speak a little.

  העברית שלי בסיסית.

  Ha-ivrit sheli basisit.

  hah-eev-REET sheh-LEE bah-see-SEET

  Literally: “My Hebrew is basic.”

• Could you say that again, please?

  אפשר לחזור על זה, בבקשה?

  Efshar lakhzor al ze, bevakasha?

  ehf-SHAHR lahkh-ZOHR ahl zeh, beh-vah-kah-SHAH

• Could you write it down, please?

  אפשר לכתוב לי את זה, בבקשה?

  Efshar likhtov li et ze, bevakasha?

  ehf-SHAHR leekh-TOHV lee eht zeh, beh-vah-kah-SHAH

Time & Opening Hours

• What time do you open?

  באיזו שעה אתם פותחים?

  Be-eizo sha'a atem potkhim?

  beh-AY-zoh shah-AH ah-TEHM poht-KHEEM

• What time do you close?

  באיזו שעה אתם סוגרים?

  Be-eizo sha'a atem sogrim?

  beh-AY-zoh shah-AH ah-TEHM sohg-REEM

Transport & Tickets

• One ticket, please.

  כרטיס אחד, בבקשה.

  Kartis ekhad, bevakasha.

  kahr-TEES eh-KHAHD, beh-vah-kah-SHAH

• Which platform?

  מאיזה רציף?

  Me-eize ratsif?

  meh-AY-zeh rah-TSEEF

• Does this go to the airport?

  זה נוסע לשדה התעופה?

  Ze nose'a li-sde ha-te'ufa?

  zeh noh-SEH-ah lee-SDEH hah-teh-oo-FAH

  Israelis often call Ben Gurion Airport "נתב״ג" (natbag).

• Stop here, please.

  אפשר לעצור פה, בבקשה?

  Efshar la'atsor po, bevakasha?

  ehf-SHAHR lah-ah-TSOHR poh, beh-vah-kah-SHAH

Hotels & Lodging

• I have a reservation.

  יש לי הזמנה.

  Yesh li hazmana.

  yehsh lee hahz-mah-NAH

  To give the name, add "על שם" (al shem) and then your name.

• What time is check-out?

  עד איזו שעה צריך לפנות את החדר?

  Ad eizo sha'a tsarikh lefanot et ha-kheder?

  ahd AY-zoh shah-AH tsah-REEKH leh-fah-NOHT eht hah-KHEH-dehr

  Hotel staff often just say "צ׳ק-אאוט" (chek-aut).

  Literally: “Until what time do I need to leave the room?”

• Could I leave my bags here?

  אפשר להשאיר פה את המזוודות?

  Efshar lehashir po et ha-mizvadot?

  ehf-SHAHR leh-hahsh-EER poh eht hah-meez-vah-DOHT

Airport & Border

• I'm here on holiday.

  אני פה בחופשה.

  Ani po be-khufsha.

  ah-NEE poh beh-khoof-SHAH

  At the border, "תיירות" (tayarut), tourism, also works as a one-word answer.

• Where is baggage claim?

  איפה איסוף המזוודות?

  Eifo isuf ha-mizvadot?

  AY-foh ee-SOOF hah-meez-vah-DOHT

Shopping & Money

• I'm just looking, thank you.

  רק מסתכלים, תודה.

  Rak mistaklim, toda.

  rahk mees-tahk-LEEM, toh-DAH

  Literally: “Just looking, thanks.”

• That's too expensive.

  זה יקר מדי.

  Ze yakar midai.

  zeh yah-KAHR mee-DAI

• Could I have a receipt, please?

  אפשר קבלה, בבקשה?

  Efshar kabala, bevakasha?

  ehf-SHAHR kah-bah-LAH, beh-vah-kah-SHAH

Wi-Fi & Phone

• Is there Wi-Fi here?

  יש פה וויי-פיי?

  Yesh po wai-fai?

  yehsh poh WAI-fai

• I'd like a SIM card with data.

  אפשר כרטיס סים עם גלישה?

  Efshar kartis sim im glisha?

  ehf-SHAHR kahr-TEES seem eem glee-SHAH

  Mobile data is "גלישה" (glisha), and a data plan is "חבילת גלישה" (khavilat glisha).

Meeting People

• My name is…

  קוראים לי…

  Korim li…

  koh-REEM lee …

  Literally: “They call me…”

• Where are you from?

  מאיפה אתה?

  Me-eifo ata?

  meh-AY-foh ah-TAH

  To a man. To a woman, say "מאיפה את?" (me-eifo at?, meh-AY-foh aht).

What you'll hear

Questions and answers people are likely to say to you. You only need to recognize them.

• Passport, please.

  דרכון, בבקשה.

  Darkon, bevakasha.

  dahr-KOHN, beh-vah-kah-SHAH

• How long will you be staying?

  לכמה זמן הביקור?

  Le-kama zman ha-bikur?

  leh-KAH-mah zmahn hah-bee-KOOR

  You may also hear "כמה זמן תהיה בארץ?" (kama zman tihye ba-arets?), or "תהיי" (tihyi) to a woman.

  Literally: “For how long is the visit?”

• For how many people?

  לכמה אנשים?

  Le-kama anashim?

  leh-KAH-mah ah-nah-SHEEM

  You may also hear "כמה אתם?" (kama atem?), meaning "how many are you".

• Are you ready to order?

  מוכנים להזמין?

  Mukhanim lehazmin?

  moo-khah-NEEM leh-hahz-MEEN

• Cash or card?

  מזומן או אשראי?

  Mezuman o ashrai?

  meh-zoo-MAHN oh ahsh-RAI

• Go straight ahead.

  ממשיכים ישר.

  Mamshikhim yashar.

  mahm-shee-KHEEM yah-SHAHR

  Directions often use this impersonal form. You may also hear "תמשיך ישר" (tamshikh yashar), or "תמשיכי ישר" (tamshikhi yashar) to a woman.

• Turn left.

  פונים שמאלה.

  Ponim smola.

  poh-NEEM SMOH-lah

• Turn right.

  פונים ימינה.

  Ponim yamina.

  poh-NEEM yah-MEE-nah