Difference between revisions of "Hebrew phrasebook"

Revision as of 18:10, 13 January 2011

Modern Hebrew is spoken as a daily language in Israel and in parts of the Palestinian Territories. Biblical Hebrew is used as a religious language by Jews worldwide. It is written with a different alphabet than European languages, and is written from right to left.

Pronunciation guide

The Hebrew alphabet consists entirely of consonants, though some can function as vowels. Vowels are indicated with a system of dots and dashes next to the letters, but these are normally omitted except in Bibles and children's books. It is common for words, especially foreign words, to be spelled in more than one way; the Abu-l`afia Synagogue has five different spellings of its name on its signs.

The accent is usually on the last syllable; most of the exceptions are segolates (words in which segol, the e-sound, was inserted after the accent), such as elef "thousand". Some words have a diphthong "ua" or "ia" which is one syllable but sounds like two, like English "oil". This is called pattah g-nuva "stolen a-sound" and occurs in שבוע shavua[`] "week", which is accented on the -u-.

In conversational Hebrew, only three (בכפ) are pronounced differently when they contain a dot in the center called a daghesh.

Five letters (מנצפכ) have a different form at the end of a word (םןץףך, respectively). These are named by adding סופית (so-FEET) "final" to the name of the letter, e.g. נון סופית (noon so-feet)

The letter shin is pronounced differently according to the position of the dot over it.

א alef (', a)

glottal-stop (IPA: /ʔ/) or silent (sometimes used as the letter a when rendering English in Hebrew)

ב בּ bet, vet (b, v)

with a dot like big; without a dot like move

ג gimel (g) 

like go

ד dalet (d) 

like dark

ה he (h) 

like he; silent at the end of a word with a preceding -a or -e, unless it has a dot in it

ו vav (v, o, u) 

like violin; some dialects pronounce as week; also or or moon when used as a vowel

ז zayin (z) 

like zoo

ח het (h) 

Normally as Scottish ch in loch and as German Bach (IPA: /χ/). Some people pronounce it as the Arabic ح (IPA: [ħ])

ט tet (t) 

as t in stick

י yud (y, e, i) 

like yet; also say or honey when used as a vowel

כ כּ ך kaf, khaf (k, kh) 

with a dot like skip; without a dot like the Scottish ch in loch and as German Bach (IPA: /χ/)

ל lamed (l) 

like leave, pronounced more forward in the mouth.

מ ם mem (m) 

like mother

נ ן nun (n) 

like never

ס samekh (s) 

like some

ע `ayin (`) 

similar to Cockney pronunciation of water (IPA: /ʔ/) and sometimes silent. Some people pronounce it as a constriction of the throat as in the Arabic ع (IPA: /ʕ/)

פ פּ ף peh, feh (p, f) 

with a dot like upon; without a dot off

צ ץ tsadi (ts) 

as boots

ק qof (q) 

As in skip

ר resh (r) 

pronounced as the French r (IPA: [ʁ]). Some pronounce it rolled as in Spanish burro (IPA: [r])

שׁ שׂ sin, shin (sh, s) 

with a right-hand dot like shoot (IPA: [ʃ]), or with a left-hand dot like see

ת tav (t) 

as t in stick

Adding an apostrophe (geresh) to some letters may change their sounds.

ג'   

as j in jam (IPA: [dʒ])

ז'   

as s in pleasure (IPA: [ʒ])

צ' ץ'   (tsh) 

as ch in chat (IPA: [tʃ])

Phrase list

Hebrew verbs conjugate according to the gender of the sentence's subject: different verb forms must thus be used when referring to men and women. These have been noted below when appropriate.

Basics

Hello. (Peace) 

.שלום (shalom - shah-LOHM)
The Hebrew greeting, literally "peace." The English "Hi" is also used.

Bye. (Peace) 

.שלום (shalom - shah-LOHM)
Yes, the greeting is the same for the start and end of conversation. See also "See you later".

See you later. 

.להתראות (lehitra'ot - leh-hit-rah-'OHT)
The most common farewell greeting, besides the English "Bye". Again, the English "Bye" is also used.

Good morning. 

.בוקר טוב (boker tov - BOH-ker TOHV)

Good afternoon. 

.צהריים טובים (tsohorayim tovim - tsoh-hoh-RAH-yeem toh-VEEM) (literally: "good noon", afternoon is אחר-צהריים - ahar tsohorayim tovim - aKHAR tsoh-hoh-RAH-yeem toh-VEEM)

Good evening. 

.ערב טוב (`erev tov - EH-rev TOHV)

Good night. 

.לילה טוב (laylah tov - LIGH-lah TOHV)

How are you? (What's your wellbeing/peace?)- addressing to a man. 

‫מה שלומך?‬ (mah shlomkha? - mah shlom-KHAH)

How are you? (What's your wellbeing/peace?)- addressing to a woman. 

‫מה שלומך?‬ (mah shlomekh? - mah shloh-MEKH)

How are you? (What's being heard?). 

‫מה נשמע?‬ (mah nishma[`]? - mah nish-MAH)

What's up? (What's happening?).  

 ?מה קורה (mah kore? - mah kor-EH)

Thank you. 

.תודה (todah - toh-DAH)

Please/ You're welcome. 

.בבקשה (bevakashah - be-vah-kuh-SHAH)

Excuse me. 

.סליחה (slihah - slee-KHAH)

I don't understand. (said by a man). 

.אני לא מבין (ani lo mevin - ahni loh meh-VEEN)

I don't understand. (said by a woman). 

.אני לא מבינה (ani lo mevinah - ahni loh meh-VEENA)

What is your name? (said to a man). 

 ?מה שמך (ma shimkha)

What is your name? (said to a woman). 

 ?מה שמך (ma shmekh)

My name is... 

שמי ("shmi")

Pronouns (כינויי גוף kinuye guf)

I 

אני (ani - ah-NEE)

You (singular, masc.) 

אתה (atah - ah-TAH)

You (singular, fem.) 

את (at - aht)

He 

הוא (hu - hoo)

She 

היא (hi - hee)

We 

אנחנו (anahnu - ah-NAKH-noo)

You (plural, masc.) 

אתם (atem - ah-TEM)

You (plural, fem.) 

אתן (aten - ah-TEN)

They (plural, masc.) 

הם (hem - hem)

They (plural, fem.) 

הן (hen - hen)

Asking Questions (שאלות she'elot)

Who? 

‫מי?‬ (mi? - mee)

What? 

‫מה?‬ (mah? - mah)

Where is ...? 

‫איפה?‬ (eyfoh? - EY-foh)

Where to? 

‫לאן?‬ (le'an? - leh-AH-n)

Where from? 

‫מאיפה\מאין?‬ (me'eifoh?/me'ayn? - meh-EY-foh/meh-Ah-een)

When? 

‫מתי?‬ (matai? - mah-TIGH)

Why? 

‫למה?‬ (lamah? - LAH-mah), ‫מדוע?‬ (madua[`]? - mah-DOOah)

How much? (also "how many") 

‫כמה?‬ (kamah? - KAH-mah)

Where are you from?

When speaking to a male: ‫מאיפה אתה?‬ (me'eifoh atah? - meh-EY-foh ah-TAH)

When speaking to a female: ‫מאיפה את?‬ (me'eifoh at? - meh-EY-foh aht)

Do you speak English?

When speaking to a male: ‫אתה מדבר אנגלית?‬ (atah medaber anglit? - ah-TAH meh-dah-BEHR ahn-GLEET?)

When speaking to a female: ‫את מדברת אנגלית?‬ (at medaberet anglit? - aht meh-dah-BEH-ret ahn-GLEET?)

Numbers (מספרים misparim)

0 

אפס (efes - EH-fess)

1 

אחת (ahat - ah-KHAT)

2 

שתיים (shtayim - SHTAH-yeem)

3 

שלש (shalosh - shah-LOSH)

4 

ארבע (arba[`] - AHR-bah)

5 

חמש (hamesh - khah-MESH)

6 

שש (shesh - shesh)

7 

שבע (sheva[`] - SHEH-vah)

8 

שמונה (shmoneh - shmo-NEH)

9 

תשע (tesha[`] - TEY-shah)

10 

עשר ('eser - EH-sehr)

11 

אחת עשרה (ahat-`esreh - ah-khat es-REH)

12 

שתים עשרה (shtem-`esreh - shtem es-REH)

13 

שלוש עשרה (shlosh-`esreh - shlosh es-REH)

14 

ארבע עשרה (arba'-`esreh - ar-bah es-REH)

15 

חמש עשרה (hamesh-'esreh - kha-mesh es-REH)

16 

שש עשרה (shesh-`esreh - shesh es-REH)

17 

שבע עשרה (shva[`]-`esreh - shva es-REH)

18 

שמונה עשרה (shmonah-`esreh - shmo-nah es-REH)

19 

תשע עשרה (tshah-'esreh - tshah es-REH)

20 

עשרים (`esrim - es-REEM)

25 

עשרים וחמש (`esrim vehamesh - es-REEM ve-khah-MESH)

30 

שלשים (shloshim - shlo-SHEEM)

40 

ארבעים (arba`im - ar-bah-EEM)

50 

חמשים (hamishim - khah-mee-SHEEM)

60 

ששים (shishim - shee-SHEEM)

70 

שבעים (shiv`im - shiv-EEM)

80 

שמונים (shmonim - shmo-NEEM)

90 

תשעים (tish`im - tish-EEM)

100 

מאה (me'ah - MEH-'ah)

200 

מאתיים (matayim - m'ah-TAH-yeem)

300 

שלש מאות (shlosh-me'ot - sh-LOSH meh-'OHT)

1000 

אלף (elef - EH-lef)

1% 

אחוז (ahuz - ah-KHOOZ ah-KHAD)

5% 

חמישה אחוזים (hamishah ahuzim - kha-misha ah-KHOOZIM)

100% 

מאה אחוז (me'ah ahuz - MEH-'ah ah-KHOOZ)

Half 

חצי (hetsi - KHE-tsee)

Quarter 

רבע (reva[`] - REH-vah)

More 

יותר (yoter - yoh-TEHR)

Less 

פחות (pahot - pah-KHOHT)

Time (זמן zman)

Today 

היום (hayom - hah-YOHM)

Yesterday 

אתמול (etmol - et-MOHL)

Tomorrow 

מחר (mahar - mah-KHAHR)

The day before yesterday 

שלשום (shilshom - shil-SHOHM)

The day after tomorrow 

מחרתיים (mahratayim - makh-rah-TAH-yeem)

Days of the week (ימי השבוע yame hashavua[`])

Except for Shabbat, these are ordinal numbers. But both these and the names of the first 6 letters in the Hebrew Alfa-Beit are used.

Sunday 

יום ראשון (yom rishon - yohm ree-SHOHN)

Monday 

יום שני (yom sheni - yohm shey-NEE)

Tuesday 

יום שלישי (yom shlishi - yohm shlee-SHEE)

Wednesday 

יום רביעי (yom revi`i - yohm rvee-EE)

Thursday 

יום חמישי (yom hamishi - yohm khah-mee-SHEE)

Friday 

יום ששי (yom shishi - yohm shee-SHEE)

Saturday 

שבת (shabat - shah-BAHT)

Months (חודשים hodashim)

In everyday life, most Israelis use the Gregorian Calendar. The month names pronunciation resembles Central-European (e.g. German) pronunciation.

January 

ינואר ("Yanuar")

February 

פברואר ("Februar")

March 

מרץ ("Merts")

April 

אפריל ("April")

May 

מאי ("May - Mah-ee)

June 

יוני ("Yuni - Yuh-nee")

July 

יולי ("Yuli - Yuh-lee")

August 

אוגוסט ("Ogust - O-guh-st")

September 

ספטמבר ("September")

October 

אוקטובר ("October")

November 

נובמבר ("November")

December 

דצמבר ("Detsember")

For holidays and events, Israeli Jews and Jews worldwide use a lunisolar calendar, in which the month begins at the new moon and a thirteenth month is added every few years. The months start with Tishrei (Sept.-Oct.) and run through Elul (August-September); thus Elul 5760 is followed by Tishrei 5761. "Aviv," the word for "spring," is sometimes substituted for "Nisan" and is also the name of a stage that the growth of barley reaches at that time.

Tishrei 

תשרי (tishrey - tish-REY)

Heshvan 

חשון (heshvan - ḥesh-VAN)

Kislev 

כסלו (kislev - kis-LEV)

Tevet 

טבת (tevet - tey-VET)

Shevat 

שבט (shevat - shuh-VAT)

Adar 

אדר (adar - ah-DAR)

Second Adar (the leap month) 

אדר שני (adar sheni - ah-DAR shey-NEE) or אדר ב (adar beth - ah-DAR beth)

Nisan 

ניסן (nisan - nee-SAHN)

Iyar 

אייר (iyar - ee-YAHR)

Sivan 

סיון (sivan - see-VAHN)

Tammuz 

תמוז (tamuz - tah-MOOZ)

Av 

אב (av - ahv)

Elul 

אלול (elul - eh-LOOL)

Duration (משך meshekh)

Day 

יום (yom - yom)

Week 

שבוע (shavua[`] - shah-VOOah)

Month 

חודש (hodesh - KHO-desh)

Year 

שנה (shanah - shah-NAH)

Hour 

שעה (sha`ah - shah-AH)

Minute 

דקה (daqah - dah-KAH)

Second 

שניה (shniyah - shnee-YAH)

Time 

זמן (zman - zmahn)

Seasons (עונות `onot)

Spring 

אביב (aviv - ah-VEEV)

Summer 

קיץ (kayits - KAH-yits)

Autumn 

סתיו (stav - stahv)

Winter 

חורף (horef - KHO-ref)

What time is it? 

מה השעה? (mah hasha`ah? - mah hah-shah-AH?)

Colors (צבעים tsva`im)

black 

שחור (shahor - sha-KHOR)

white 

לבן (lavan - la-VAN)

gray 

אפור (afor - a-FOR)

red 

אדום (adom - a-DOM)

blue 

כחול (kahol - ka-KHOL)

yellow 

צהוב (tsahov - tza-HOV)

green 

ירוק (yaroq - ya-ROK)

orange 

כתום (katom - ka-TOM)

purple 

סגול (sagol - sa-GOL)

brown 

חום (hum - khum)

Transportation (תחבורה tahburah)

Bus and train (אוטובוס ורכבת otobus verakevet)

How much is a ticket to _____? 

כמה עולה כרטיס ל (kamah `ole kartis le___? - KA-ma `oLE karTIS le___?)

One ticket to _____, please. 

כרטיס אחד ל___, בבקשה (kartis ehad le___, bevakashah - karTIS eKHAD le___, bevakaSHA)

Where does this train/bus go? 

 ?לאן הרכבת הזאת נוסעת?/לאן האוטובוס הזה נוסע (le'an harakevet hazot nosa`at?/le'an ha'otobus haze nosea[`]? - le'anleAN haraKEvet haZOT noSA`at?/leAN haOtobus haZE noSEa?)

Where is the train/bus to _____? 

 ?___איפה הרכבת ל___?/איפה האוטובוס ל (eifoh harakevet le___?/eifoh ha'otobus le___? - EIfo haraKEvet le___?/EIfo haOtobus le___?)

Does this train/bus stop in _____? 

הרכבת הזאת עוצרת ב___?/האוטובוס הזה עוצר ב(harakevet hazot `otseret be___?/ha'otobus haze `otser be___? - haraKEvet haZOT oTZEret be___?/haOtobus haZE oTZER be___?)

When does the train/bus for _____ leave? 

מתי יוצאת הרכבת ל___?/מתי יוצא האוטובוס ל (matai yotset harakevet le___?/matai yotse ha'otobus le___? - maTAI yoTZET haraKEvet le___?/maTAI yoTZE haOtobus le___?)

When will this train/bus arrive in _____? 

מתי הרכבת הזאת מגיעה ל___?/מתי האוטובוס הזה מגיע ל (matai harakevet hazot magi`ah le___? matai ha'otobus haze magia[`] le___? - maTAI haraKEvet haZOT magi`A le___?/maTAI haOtobus haZE magi`A le___?)

Directions (כיוונים kivunim)

How do I get to _____ ? 

איך אני מגיע/ה ל (eikh ani magia[`]/magi`ah le___? - eikh aNI maGI`a/magi`A(f) le___?)

...the train station? 

תחנת הרכבת (...tahanat harakevet? - takhaNAT haraKEvet)

...the bus station? 

תחנת האוטובוס (...tahanat ha'otobus? - takhaNAT haOtobus)

...the airport? 

שדה התעופה (...sde hate`ufah? - sde hateuFA)

...downtown? 

מרכז העיר (...merkaz ha`ir? - merKAZ ha`IR)

...the youth hostel? 

אכסניית נוער (...akhsaniyat no`ar? - akhsaniYAT NO`ar)

...the _____ hotel? 

מלון (...malon ___? - maLON ___?)

...the American/British/French/Chinese/Indian/Russian/Polish consulate? 

הקונסוליה ה אמריקאית/בריטית/צרפתית/סינית/הודית/רוסית/פולנית (konsuliyah ha'amerikait/habritit/hatsarfatit/hasinit/hahodit/harusit/hapolanit? - HaKonSULia ha ahmehriKAHit/BRItit/tsorfaTIT/SInit/HOdit/ruSIT/polaNIT?)

Where are there a lot of... 

איפה יש הרבה (eifoh yesh harbeh... - EIfo yesh harBE...)

...hotels? 

מלונות (...melonot? - meloNOT)

...restaurants? 

מסעדות (...mis`adot? - mis`aDOT)

...bars? 

ברים (...barim? - BArim)

...things to see? 

דברים לראות (...dvarim lir'ot? - dvaRIM lirOT)

Can you show me on the map? 

אפשר להראות לי במפה (efshar lehar'ot li bamapah? - efSHAR leharOT li bamaPA)

street 

רחוב (rehov - reKHOV)

Go left. 

לך שמאלה (lekh smolah - lekh SMOla)

GO right. 

לך ימינה (lekh yeminah - lekh yaMIna)

left 

שמאל (smol - smol)

right 

ימין (yamin - yaMIN)

straight ahead 

ישר (yashar - yaSHAR)

towards the _____ 

לכיוון (lekivun ___ - lekiVUN)

past the _____ 

אחרי ה (ahrey ha___ - akhaREY)

before the _____ 

לפני ה (lifney ha___ - lifNEY)

Watch for the _____. 

חפש את ה (hapes et ha___ - khaPES et ha___)

intersection 

צומת (tsomet - TZOmet)

north 

צפון (tsafon - tzaFON)

south 

דרום (darom - daROM)

east 

מזרח (mizrah - mizRAKH)

west 

מערב (ma`arav - ma`aRAV)

uphill 

במעלה ההר (b-ma`aleh ha-har - b`ma`aLEH ha`HAR)

downhill 

במורד ההר (b`morad ha`har - b`moRAD ha`HAR)

Taxi (מונית monit)

Taxi! 

מונית (monit! - moNIT!)

Take me to _____, please. 

קח אותי ל____, בבקשה (qah oti le___, bevakashah - kakh oTI le___, bevakaSHA)

How much does it cost to get to _____? 

כמה זה עולה עד ל (kamah ze `oleh li `ad le___? - KAma ze `oLE `ad le___)

Take me there, please. 

קח אותי לשם בבקשה (qah oti lesham, bevakashah - kakh oTI leSHAM, bevakaSHA)

Could you use a counter/taximeter, please? 

תוכל להשתמש במונה בבקשה? (tukhal lehishtamesh bemoneh bevakasha? - tuKHAL le-hish-ta-MESH be-moNEH be-va-ka-SHA?). A counter/taximeter (מונה - moneh) gives the price based on certain factors such as travel time and distance (plus initial price), rather than a fixed overprice. Luggage costs extra in either case.

Eating

In Israel, many restaurants and eating places are kosher meaning that they observe the Jewish dietary laws of kashrut. For a restaurant to be officially kosher and have a Kosher Certificate, in addition to serving only correctly prepared kosher food, it must also not open on the Shabbat - from sundown on Friday through sundown on Saturday.

In many places in Israel such as Tel Aviv, there are non-kosher restaurants that will open on Shabbat and will serve non-kosher food (e.g. the restaurant serves both meat and milk dishes). Comparatively few places serve non-kosher food items like pork.

In some religious villages and small towns there are very few if any places that open on Shabbat.

A table for one person/two people, please. 

בבקשה, שולחן לאחד /לשניים (b-vakasha shulhan l'ehad/ lishnayim b'vakaSHA, shulKHAN l'ekhAD/ lishnAIYM)

Can I look at the menu, please? 

אפשר תפריט בבקשה (Efshar tafrit, b'vakasha?)

I'm a vegetarian. 

אני צמחוני /אני צמחונית (Ani tsimhoni (masc)/ Ani tsimhonit (fem))

I don't eat beef. 

אני לא אוכל/ אני לא אוכלת בקר (Ani lo okhel bakar (masc)/ Ani lo okhelet bakar(fem))

I only eat kosher food. 

אני אוכל /אוכלת רק אוכל כשר (Ani okhel (masc)/okhelet (fem) raq okhel kasher)

Can you make it "lite", please? (less oil/butter/lard) 

אפשר עם פחות שמן בבקשה (Efshar `im pahot shemen bevakashah)

breakfast 

ארוחת בוקר (Aruhat boqer)

lunch 

ארוחת צהריים (Aruhat tsohorayim)

supper 

ארוחת ערב (Aruhat `erev)

I want _____. 

אני רוצה _____. (Ani rotseh (masc); Ani rotsah (fem))

I would like to eat _____. 

אני רוצה לאכול _____. (Ani rotseh/ rotsah le'ekhol)

chicken 

עוף (`Off)

beef 

בקר (Baqar)

fish 

דג (Dag)

cheese 

גבינה (Gvinah)

eggs 

ביצה (Beitsah)

salad 

סלט (Salat)

(fresh) vegetables 

ירקות (Y-raqot)

(fresh) fruit 

פירות (Peirot)

bread 

לחם (Lehem)

toast 

טוסט (Tost)

noodles 

נודלז (Nudelz)

pasta 

פסטה (Pastah)

rice 

אורז (Orez)

chickpeas

חומוס (humus)

hummus: חומוס (humus)

May I have a glass of _____? 

אפשר כוס (Efshar qos)

May I have a cup of _____? 

אפשר כוס (Efshar qos)

May I have a bottle of _____? 

אפשר בקבוק (Efshar baqbuq)

...coffee 

...קפה (Kafeh)

...tea (drink) 

תה (Teh)

...juice 

...מיץ (Mits)

...(bubbly) water 

...סודה (Sodah)

...water 

...מים (Mayim)

...beer 

...בירה (Birah)

...red/white wine 

...יין אדום. יין לבן (Yain adom / Yain lavan)

May I have some _____? 

אפשר (Efshar)

salt 

מלח (Melah)

black pepper 

פלפל שחור (Pilpel shahor)

Excuse me, waiter? (getting attention of server)

סליחה (Slihah)

I'm finished. 

סיימתי (Siamti)

It was delicious. 

היה מצוין (Hayah metsuyan)

Please clear the plates. 

אפשר לפנות (Efshar l-fanot)

The check, please. 

אפשר חשבון, בבקשה (Efshar heshbon, b-vakasha)

Where is the bathroom ? 

איפה השירותים ? (Eifo Hasherutim?)