This post features some Hebrew vocabulary. Partly, common words/ phrases and partly words that are based off/ are the same as English words.

Schedule- לוז

Urgent (as you can see from this word, very often Israelis repeat the last letter of a word to emphasize and be dramatic – דחוףףףף

A siren (this word is not so commonly used, but the past week it has been used a lot because there are sirens on both Yom Hazikaron יום הזיכרון which was last week and on YomHashoah יום השואה which was two weeks ago – צפירה

A ceremony (Israelis love their טקס’s) – טקס

I am tired (for a girl is with a ה, for a boy is not). This is how I feel all the time – עייפה/ עייף

I forgot (if you want to be Israeli, this is what you say when the teacher asks about your homework) – שכחתי

This is not fair/not fair – לא פייר/ לא הוגן

This is not working/ it doesn’t work/ it won’t work (this phrase is used very often in the times of corona because there are always problems with online school) – לא עובד

Ice coffee (but not like a normal ice coffee. It is like a slushy. There is more ice and sugar than coffee) – אייס קפה

What’s happening? Anything important? – ?מה קרא? היה משהו חשוב. This is probably the phrase I have said the most all year.

אההה – Ahhh

אוקיי – Ok

אמממממ – Ummmmm

אופס – Oops

יאמי – Yummy

יאיי – Yay

ווהוו – Woohoo

Literally means ‘dear mommy’ and it is like saying, ‘oh, dear mommy’. It is normally said when someone is shocked, scared, or surprised – אמאלה

הולי פאקינג שיט – Holy f***ing shit

יוטיוב – YouTube

יוגה – Yoga

סלפי – Selfie

הולישיט – Holy shit

I learned a really fun new word last week. פשפשים – random stuff

There are many Hebrew words that are just English words spelled in Hebrew letters, so a bunch of these words mean exactly what they sound like.

When Israelis want to say yummy, they normally say טעים and not יאמי, but I have heard people say yummy both ways.

Many Hebrew swear words are English swear words, but when Israelis swear, it is not usually as big of a deal.

I hope everyone learns some new Hebrew words or phrases.

– Naomi