Hebrew expressions and idioms
Short phrases Israelis say a dozen times a day, and what they really mean.
akharei hakhagim(acharei hachagim)אחרי החגים
after the holidays (Israel's universal deferral phrase)
יאללה, בוא נקבע קפה, אבל באמת אחרי החגים, לא כמו בשנה שעברה.
“Come on, let's set up a coffee, but really after the holidays this time, not like last year.”
ya'ani(yani)יַעְנִי
supposedly, so-called (spoken air quotes)
הוא בא יעני לעזור, ובסוף ישב על הספה כל הערב.
“He supposedly came to help, and ended up sitting on the couch all evening.”
Ba'asa(basa)בָּאסה
Bummer / What a drag
אוי, נגמרה לי הסוללה בטלפון. איזו באסה!
“Oh, my phone battery died. What a bummer!”
davka(dafka)דווקא
specifically, of all things, spitefully / precisely
דווקא היום, כשאין לי זמן, כולם מתקשרים אליי.
“Of all days, today, when I have no time, everyone calls me.”
kapara(kaparah)כַּפָּרָה
sweetheart, darling (literally: atonement)
כפרה, תעני לי כבר בהודעה, אני מחכה מאתמול בערב.
“Sweetheart, answer my message already, I've been waiting since last night.”
sakhtein(sahten)סחתיין
respect; nicely done
סחתיין עליך שסידרת את כל העניין בטלפון אחד, אני הייתי מתעסק עם זה שבוע שלם.
“Respect for sorting the whole thing out with one phone call, I'd have been fiddling with it for a week.”
khaval al hazman(chaval al hazman)חבל על הזמן
literally "a shame about the time" — used for both amazing and terrible things
האוכל במסעדה הזאת — חבל על הזמן!
“The food at this restaurant — khaval al hazman (it's incredible)!”
Yaacov, native Jerusalemite
Want to go further with a teacher?
A real 30-minute lesson, one to one — Modern Hebrew, Biblical Hebrew, Yiddish or Aramaic. No card required.
Study 1-on-1 with YaacovPrefer a small group? Eight-week groups
More Modern Hebrew words by topic
Israeli slang wordsIsraeli army slangHebrew words for peopleHebrew words for feelings and moodsHebrew words for everyday life in IsraelHebrew words for money and dealsHebrew words for talking and complainingHebrew words that came from YiddishHebrew slang that came from Arabic