Greetings and politeness
Hello, please and thank you, and the phrases for everyday moments.
שָׁלוֹם shalom means "hello", "goodbye" and "peace". Israelis are informal: there is no polite "you", and people use first names with teachers, doctors and bosses alike.
| Hebrew | Meaning |
|---|---|
| שָׁלוֹם shalom | hello, goodbye |
| בֹּקֶר טוֹב boker tov | good morning |
| עֶרֶב טוֹב erev tov | good evening |
| לַיְלָה טוֹב layla tov | good night |
| לְהִתְרָאוֹת lehitra'ot | see you, goodbye |
| מָה נִשְׁמָע? ma nishma? | how's it going? |
The answer to בֹּקֶר טוֹב is בֹּקֶר אוֹר boker or, "morning of light". Asking how someone is, and their name, is in Questions.
Please and thank you
| Hebrew | Meaning |
|---|---|
| תּוֹדָה toda | thank you |
| תּוֹדָה רַבָּה toda raba | thank you very much |
| בְּבַקָּשָׁה bevakasha | please; you're welcome; here you are |
| אֵין בְּעַד מָה ein be'ad ma | don't mention it |
| סְלִיחָה slikha | sorry; excuse me |
- toda raba! bevakashaThank you very much! You're welcome.
- slikha, eifo hatakhana?Excuse me, where's the station?
- na'im me'od, ani danaNice to meet you, I'm Dana.
Politeness comes from these words and from asking rather than telling: a request is usually a question in the future tense (The future tense).
Wishes
| Hebrew | When |
|---|---|
| שַׁבָּת שָׁלוֹם shabat shalom | before and on the Sabbath, from Friday afternoon |
| חַג שָׂמֵחַ khag same'akh | on a holiday |
| מַזָּל טוֹב mazal tov | congratulations: a birthday, a wedding, a new baby |
| בְּהַצְלָחָה behatslakha | good luck |
| בְּתֵאָבוֹן beteavon | enjoy your meal |
| לַבְּרִיאוּת labri'ut | bless you, after a sneeze; also to someone eating |
| לְחַיִּים lekhayim | cheers, a toast |
| רְפוּאָה שְׁלֵמָה refu'a shlema | get well soon |
- mazal tov leyom hahuledet!Happy birthday!
- ha'okhel mukhan. beteavon!The food's ready. Enjoy your meal!
Cards from this guide
9 cardsEach card asks about one thing this guide teaches, and its back gives the answer with why and an example. They're reviewed with the rest of the Getting started cards.
What does שָׁלוֹם (shalom) mean?
Hello, goodbye, and peace.
How do you answer בֹּקֶר טוֹב (good morning)?
בֹּקֶר אוֹר (boker or), 'morning of light'.
Besides 'please', what does בְּבַקָּשָׁה (bevakasha) mean?
'You're welcome', and 'here you are' when handing something over.
What does סְלִיחָה (slikha) mean?
'Sorry' and 'excuse me'.
How do you say 'Nice to meet you'?
נָעִים מְאוֹד (na'im me'od).
What do you say for a birthday, a wedding or a new baby?
מַזָּל טוֹב (mazal tov), 'congratulations'.
What greeting do Israelis use from Friday afternoon to Saturday evening?
שַׁבָּת שָׁלוֹם (shabat shalom).
What do you say to someone about to eat, like 'enjoy your meal'?
בְּתֵאָבוֹן (beteavon).
Does Hebrew have a polite 'you' for strangers or a boss?
No: everyone is אַתָּה or אַתְּ.