Greetings and politeness in Hebrew
Hello, please, thank you, sorry: the ten openers everything else builds on. Play the ten Hebrew words against the clock, with a note on how locals really use each one after every answer. All ten are written out below.
All 11 Hebrew phrases in this lesson
- ืฉืืืsha-LOM
- Hello
- ืืืงืจ ืืืBO-ker TOV
- Good morning
- ืขืจื ืืืE-rev TOV
- Good evening
- ืืืชืจืืืชleh-hit-ra-OT
- Goodbye
- ื ืชืจืืnit-ra-EH
- See you
- ืืืงืฉืbeh-va-ka-SHA
- Please
- ืชืืืto-DA
- Thank you
- ืืื ืืขื ืืein be-AD MA
- You're welcome
- ืื ื ืืฆืืขืจa-NEE mits-ta-ER
- Sorry
- ืกืืืืslee-KHA
- Excuse me
- ื ืขืื ืืืืna-EEM me-OD
- Nice to meet you
The workhorse greeting and goodbye both. Literally "peace". In Israeli speech it covers hello, hi, bye, and sometimes see you.
Literally "good morning". Mostly heard in formal settings like shops or hotels. Friends and family usually stick to shalom or hai.
Said arriving anywhere in the evening. Shalom works at any hour.
Literally "to see each other again". More formal than shalom, used in business or when you really mean goodbye. Most Israelis just say shalom twice for warmth.
Literally "we'll see each other". Friends also just say ืืื (bye). ืืืชืจืืืช (le-hit-ra-OT) is the standard goodbye.
Same word as "you're welcome". Context decides. When ordering in a cafe, "cafรฉ, bevakasha" sounds natural and warm.
The basic gratitude, used constantly. Israelis thank waiters, shopkeepers, and other people they pass, so this word carries weight in daily life.
Literally "there's nothing for which", the reply to thanks. ืืืงืฉื (beh-va-ka-SHA) also works, but it is already please.
A woman says ืืฆืืขืจืช (mits-ta-E-ret). For a small bump, ืกืืืื (slee-KHA) is enough.
To get attention, squeeze past, or for a small apology. Short and direct, the Israeli way.
Literally "very pleasant".