Basic words in Hebrew
307 words in Hebrew on the topic “basic words”: כן — yes, לא — no, טוב — fine, רע — bad, מעולה — excellent.
307 words on the topic
- כןкенyesShort and ringing. In live speech often just ken with a nod
- לאлоnoThe same word negates the verb: ani lo mevin — I don't understand. There is no separate word for not
- טובтовfineThe standard answer in full: tov, toda — fine, thank you. The same word also means good
- רעраbadThe pair to tov. Israelis more often answer lo ra — not bad; it sounds livelier
- מעולהмецуйанexcellentFrom metsuyan — outstanding. A stronger answer to how are you than tov: it means it cannot be better
- אפשרэфшарmay ILiterally "it is possible". A polite request begins with it: efshar mayim, bevakasha?
- וвеandAnd in Hebrew is not a word but a prefix on the next one: te ve-kafe — tea and coffee. Before b, m, p it sounds u
- אבלавальbutShort and frequent. It resembles the French avaler only on paper — it reads aval
- קילוкилоkilogramAt the shuk nobody says the whole kilogram — only kilo. Two kilos is shnei kilo, and the word does not change
- חציхециhalfChetzi — half: half a kilo is chetzi kilo, half an hour — chetzi shaa. One word for every half
- לא צריךло царихI do not need itLiterally "not needed": lo tzarich, toda — the polite refusal. A request is tzarich plus the infinitive: tzarich leshalem — the bill must be paid
- עוד אחדод эхадone moreOd — more: od chetzi kilo — another half kilo. Before a feminine word — od achat
- מספיקмаспикenoughMaspik! — enough: about money and about a talk alike. Good enough is maspik tov
- בסך הכלбэ-сх ха-кольin totalLiterally "in the sum of all". At the till this word is the grand total — the English "that comes to"
- תורторqueue; appointmentBoth the line at the supermarket and the appointment at the doctor: yesh li tor larofe — I have an appointment with the doctor
- מידהмидаsizeA measure and a size in one: eizo mida? — what size? Clothes and shoes are sized with mida, by number, as in English
- יותרйотэрmoreMore: yoter tov — better, yoter kal — lighter. It stands before the word, like the English more
- פחותпахотlessThe pair to more. Less and fewer: pachot melach — less salt, a frequent kitchen phrase
- כבדкаведheavyAbout weight and about food: ochel kaved — heavy food. The feminine is kveda, and in comparison it is the same: kveda yoter
- קלкальlightLight by weight and light by difficulty — kal. It is easy is ze kal. The pair to heavy
- חדשхадашnewNew, the feminine chadasha. The pair to yashan, old. From the same letters chadashot — the news: the fresh things
- ישןяшанoldAbout things. About a person they say zaken — you will meet that syllable in the people lesson. Yashan covers bread and furniture alike
- שבורшавурbrokenFrom lishvor, to break — you will meet it in the I-see-I-hear lesson. A broken leg is regel shvura; broken equipment is shvur too
- הכל בסדרхаколь бэсэдерeverything is fineBeseder is order, and it is the glue-word of Hebrew: beseder means OK, fine, all right. Hakol beseder — everything is in order
- אני בסדרани бэсэдерI am fineThe answer to ma shlomcha?: ani beseder — I am fine. About the state of affairs they say hakol beseder — do not mix them up
- אדםадамpersonA human being; the plural is special — anashim. People are counted with it: kama anashim? — how many people?
- אחד עשרэхад асарelevenLiterally "one and ten": the masculine form, like echad. For counting aloud the feminine achat esre is used — the row comes in pairs
- שנים עשרшнаим асарtwelveLiterally "two and ten". A year has exactly that many months — and you will meet all their names in the calendar unit
- שלושה עשרшлоша асарthirteenFrom shlosha, three. The whole row up to nineteen is built the same way: number + asar, and the number itself does not change
- ארבעה עשרарбаа асарfourteenFrom arbaa, four, complete — nothing drops out. The longest word in the row
- חמישה עשרхамиша асарfifteenA quarter of an hour is chetzi shaa, but the time will still be named with the number. Dakot after it means minutes — a word you know
- שישה עשרшиша асарsixteenFrom shisha, six, with the t in place: Hebrew loses nothing in this row
- שבעה עשרшиваа асарseventeenFrom shivaa, seven. The throaty ע inside is not read: shivaa, not shiva-a
- שמונה עשרшмона асарeighteenFrom shmona, eight. At eighteen Israelis get the vote and a driving licence — an age everyone talks about
- תשעה עשרтишаа асарnineteenThe last one in -asar. Tens in -im come next, built more simply: a root plus one ending
- עשריםэсримtwentyEsrim is the base of all the tens: shloshim, arbaim, chamishim. Twenty-one is esrim ve-echad, and so on up
- שלושיםшлошимthirtyFrom shlosha, three: the base plus -im. Thirty degrees in Tel Aviv is not yet heat, it is November
- ארבעיםарбаимfortyFrom arbaa, four. Hebrew knows no irregular word here — the row is perfectly regular
- חמישיםхамишимfiftyFrom chamisha, five. Fifty is round money at the shuk: haggling starts right here
- שישיםшишимsixtyFrom shisha, six. Sixty is the age when Israelis start counting pension discounts
- שבעיםшиваимseventyFrom shivaa, seven. Seventy shekels is a typical restaurant dinner price, drinks not included
- שמוניםшмонимeightyFrom shmona, eight. The tens never change: learn the pattern and you have every one up to ninety
- תשעיםтишаимninetyFrom tishaa, nine — the last ten before mea. After it counting starts anew
- מאהмеаhundredMea is a hundred; two hundred is maatayim — the dual, a pair of hundreds living its own form, like the word for eyes
- אלףэлэфthousandElef is a thousand; in the alphabet it is also the name of the first letter, alef. Cars and apartments are priced in elfim
- מיליוןмильонmillionSpelled with an extra i: milyon. It is already a full noun: shnei milion — two million
- אפסэфесzeroEfes is zero and nothing at once: efes, toda — nothing, thank you. A football score of nil reads efes
- ראשוןришонfirstThe week opens with yom rishon, Sunday. Feminine — rishona
- שניшениsecondThe same word as two before a noun: shnei yeladim. Yom sheni is Monday, literally the second day
- שלישיшлишиthirdFrom shlosha, three. Yom shlishi is Tuesday: the ordinals and the weekdays are one family
- אחרוןахаронlastFrom acharei, after: acharon is the very last. Haotobus haacharon — the last bus, a phrase for every evening
- כמהкамаhow much; how manyYou know kama ze ole?; one letter separates it from lama, why — do not guess, ask again
- זוגзугa coupleA pair of boots and a married couple — one word. From it zvugi, paired, double-bed
- יחידהйехидаa pieceA unit: a piece of goods, a cell, a department. From yachid, single — one of its kind, not one in count
- אחוזахузpercentLiterally "out of a hundred". Chamishim achuz, fifty percent, is the shop word for half off
- כלкольeach; everyBefore a noun kol means every: kol yom — every day. On its own kol means everything: hakol beseder
- מיмиwhoMi — who: mi plus a questioning intonation and the question is ready. Shel mi? — whose: two short words settle half the disputes
- למהламаwhyLama — why. Its neighbor kama — how much: by ear you tell them apart by the first letter, and on paper they look nothing alike
- בשביל מהбэ-швиль маwhat forLiterally "for the sake of what": you ask about the purpose. Lama looks for a cause, bishvil ma — for the point
- איזהэйзэwhichEize — which: eize kafe? — which coffee? It agrees by gender: eizo shaa — what time is it, the familiar phrase
- של מיшель миwhoseLiterally "of whom": Hebrew builds belonging through shel. The answer is built the same way: shel hachaver — the friend's
- אף אחדаф эхадnobodyLiterally "even one". The negation is obligatory: af echad lo — nobody does. Without lo the phrase is incomplete
- משהוмашехуsomethingMashehu — something; mashehu acher — something else. One of the words that open a conversation
- שניהםшнейхэмboth of themShnei (two) plus hem (they): both of them. About two women — shtehen. The dual lives in the pronouns too
- אני לא יודעани ло йодэаI don't knowFrom the root y-d-a, to know. A woman says ani lo yodeat. Knowing a person is another verb, lehakir
- לראותлиротto seeThe root r-a-h, to see — the same as in lehitraot. The present: roe, roa, roim — she sees, they see
- לשמועлишмоаto hearThe root sh-m-a, to hear: shma! — listen! Hearing and listening on purpose are one word — the intention differs, not the verb
- לישוןлишонto sleepThe present: yashen — he sleeps. On paper it is almost the same as yashan, old: only the vowel tells them apart, and without nikud — the context
- לסחובлисховto carryTo carry and to haul: the everyday verb for everything in the hands. sohev — I carry, sohevet — she carries
- לשיםласимto putTo lay and to stand in one: sim et zeh al hashulchan. Lying flat and standing upright — one word here
- לשבורлишворto breakThe root sh-b-r: shavur — broken, which you know. It broke by itself — nishbar; somebody broke it — shavar: different phrases
- לבנותливнотto buildThe root b-n-h: bone — he builds; binyan — a building. The same root is in ben, a son: the thing that grows and holds
- הרבהхарбэa lotA lot. After it the noun stands in the plural: harbe anashim — many people — and nothing else changes
- מעטмеатa littleLittle and a little in one: meat melach — a bit of salt. The pair to a lot
- רךрахsoftSoft: mita raka — a soft bed. It is said about character too: a person who is rach is gentle, yielding
- קשהкашеhard; difficultHard and difficult in one: bread that is kashe has gone stale, a question that is kashe is hard. Hebrew loves such double words
- רטובратовwetWet: ratzfa rtova — a wet floor, the sign by every pool. The feminine rearranges the vowels — rtova
- יבשявешdryDry: lachbesh — to dry, the same root. A towel that is yevasha is already dry and can be put away
- דקдакthinThin: ice, paper, a notebook. In speech dak also means exactly at: hashmone dak — at eight sharp
- עמוקамокdeepDeep: mayim amokim — deep waters. Amoka is the depth — and the sea trench is she too
- עגולаголroundRound: shulchan agol — the round table where agreements are made. From maagal, a circle: the same root a-g-l
- לאןлаанwhere toLean — where to, literally "to-where". The pair to eifo: where is about a place, where to is about movement, and Hebrew holds the border firmly
- בכל מקוםбэ-коль макомeverywhereLiterally "in every place": kol plus makom. Makom, a place, is the word on the parking sign and in the form
- בשום מקוםбэ-шум макомnowhereShum — none: beshum makom — nowhere, and the negation must stand beside it. The same scheme is in shum davar — nothing
- דבריםдваримthingsLiterally "words": the same davar means both a thing and a word. Packing things is leareg dvarim
- סיכוןсихунa riskLesaken — to risk; the sichun is both a risk and a danger in general. A small risk — sichun katan — and you sleep calmly
- תוכנית חלופיתтохнит хальфитa backup planLiterally "a replacing plan": lehitachef — to replace oneself. They also say it shorter — tochnit bet, plan B — exactly as in English
- עקסהаксаa mishapA colloquial word from Yiddish: a small annoyance, not a disaster. The comfort formula is short: aksa ktana, lo nora — a trifle, nothing scary
- סיבהсибаa causeIt lives in two turns: siba le- — the cause of something — and bli siba — without a cause. Cause and reason are one word in Hebrew
- תוצאהтцуаa resultFrom yatza — to go out: a result is what has come out. The result of a match is also a tzua — and the score is seen in it at once
- לכןлахэнthereforeIt introduces the effect and stands after the comma: ...velachen... Often with the conjunction ve-: yesh pekek, velachen anachnu meachrim. Do not mix it up with lama — that asks why
- כיкиbecauseA conjunction — and the comma before it is needed as in English: ani sameach, ki... It glues to the next word: kihakol beseder — because everything is fine
- בגלל זהбэглаль зэbecause of thisThe preposition biglal requires a noun after it: biglalhapekak — because of the jam. Its tone is harder than the neutral lachen: it points at the culprit
- תלוי בталуи бе-to depend onNot a verb but an adjective — talui, hung: to depend means to hang on. After it the preposition be-: talui bimezeg haavir. The most frequent answer is talui — it depends
- להסביר את הסיבהлеасбир эт ха-сибаto explain the causeLehasbir — to explain — a relative of heseber — the explanation from school. One explains a cause to somebody — lehasbir le-; and one proves — lehochich
- מטרהматараa goalLiterally a target: the goal one aims at. The trip form already asked matarat hanesia — the same goal, a word of this root
- משמעותмишмаутa meaningFrom mashmau — having significance: the meaning of a word is mishmaut hamila. The phrase ein leze mashmaut — it makes no sense — is sharp and frequent
- מסקנהмасканаa conclusionThe maskana — what one has come to — the outcome of the reasoning. At the end of the lesson they ask lesaken maskana — to draw a conclusion
- הזדמנותхиздамнутan opportunityIt is the opportunity of a chance, a break: hizdamnut tova — a good opportunity — and one misses it. The opportunity of choice is the optzia — at the end of the lesson
- ייתכןйитахэнpossiblyThe bookish possibly that — after it goes she-: yitachen shehu ba machar. The familiar ulai — maybe — sounds simpler and livelier
- בלתי אפשריбилти эфшариimpossibleThe bilti — a negating prefix for nouns, like un-: impossible is bilti efshari. In speech they say it simpler: lo efshar — or ei efshar
- צורךцорэхa necessityA relative of tzarich — need — which you know: yesh tzorech — there is a need; ein tzorech — no need. After it the preposition be-: tzorech bitargum
- חובהховаobligatoryThe same word as debt: the obligatory is what is owed. It is written on forms: milui chova — filling in is obligatory. The English surely I will come is another thing — betach
- אצטרךацтарэхI will have toThe future of tzarich — need: aetzarech — I will have to; tatzarech — you will have to. Hebrew has no separate word for have to
- מותרмутарallowedFrom the same family of passives as the words that follow: literally permitted. About a person they say it with a verb: mutar lecha — you may
- אסורасурforbiddenThe word from the signs: literally removed, taken away. You have already heard the verb leasor — to forbid; the pair allowed-forbidden closes all the questions of the rules
- בחירהбхираa choiceFrom livchor — to choose — familiar from the shop. The turns: yesh li bchira — I have a choice; ein li bchira — I have no choice
- אופציהопцияan optionA borrowing, sounds like the English option: a variant from those one can go through. Tell it apart from the opportunity: options are chosen — the opportunity is missed
- ספקсэфэкa doubtIt lives in turns: yesh li safek — I have a doubt; bli safek — without a doubt — and that is already confidence. From it safuk — doubtful
- לפקפקлефакпэкto doubtIt takes be-: one doubts in something — lefakpek be-... To doubt that... is said through safek she- — the next word of the lesson
- בטוחбатуахsureA relative of betach — surely — and bituchon — safety: sure is the one who is in safety. It takes she-: batuach she-...
- ספק אםсэфэк имhardlyLiterally a doubt if: the polite hardly. Short and weighty they say simply safek — doubt it yourself
- כנראהканэраэprobablyLiterally so it seems: ken nire — it seems so. It stands at the beginning, does not demand a comma and does not disturb the word order
- בדיוקбидюкexactlyFrom dik — exactness: bidiuk — exactly, on the dot. Do not mix it up with batuach — sure: bidiuk basheva — at seven sharp — not probably at seven
- נראה ליнираэ лиit seems to meFrom nire — looks — and to whom — li. The continuation goes through she-: nire li sheze yakar midai
- בעצםбээцэмactuallyLiterally in the essence, from etzem — the bone, the core: it means in principle, in general. A soft correction to what has been said — and no comma after it is obligatory
- להניחлеанияхto supposeLiterally to put down: to suppose means to put in advance. After it goes she-: maniah shehu beseder — let us suppose he is fine
- אני לא בטוחани ло батуахI am not sureA ready polite formula of disagreement: a Hebrew speaker rarely says no — he says ani lo batuach. A woman says lo btucha; the continuation goes through she- or im
- ניסיוןнисайонexperienceOne word for experience and an attempt: every experience is an attempt. You have already written nision avoda — work experience; knowledge is yeda — it stands nearby
- מקרהмикрэa caseA case as what has happened: bamicre hazeh — in this case. The same word is in mikre bituach — the insurance case; by chance — bimkreh
- דוגמהдугмаan exampleAn example-sample, the one you point at: ten li dugma — give me an example. The example-illustration is asked with the same word — as in English
- לדוגמהле-дугмаfor exampleThe same dugma with a preposition: written in two words and not shortened — people say it whole. It stands at the beginning or after a comma
- הבדלхэвдэльa differenceFrom lehavdil — to distinguish: a difference is a separateness. The turns: hevdel bimchir — a difference in price; ein hevdel — no difference
- השוואהхашвааa comparisonThe same word as in comparing prices from the advertising lesson: one compared by the same root sh-v-h, equal. The main formula — bechashvaa le- — compared to
- להבדילлеавдильto differ; to tell apartLiterally to separate: to tell one from the other is lehavdil bein... le-... Separately they say shone mi- — different from; both moves exist in English too
- דומהдомэsimilarIt takes le-, not to: like the father is dome leaba — and the English to is a trap here. The likeness is the dimyon — the next word
- דמיוןдимйонlikenessThe same root as in dugma and dome: everything about likeness. The second sense — imagination: the dimyon draws both likenesses and what does not exist
- שינויшинуйa changeFrom leshanot — to change: you have already changed the channel with the same root. The turns: shinui bashot avoda — a change in the hours; bli shinui — without changes
- ראשיתрашитfirstlyFrom rishon — first: firstly means as the first thing. It stands at the start of the phrase and opens the list; the continuation — shenit — the next word
- שניתшнитsecondlyFrom sheni — second: secondly means as the second thing. The same row goes on: shlishit — thirdly — and it is closed by besofo shel davar
- קודם כלкодэм кольfirst of allLiterally "before everything": importance, not a place in time. The word kodem — earlier — will meet you separately later, in the time lesson
- בנוסףбэ-носэфbesidesLiterally "in addition", from lehosif — to add: you have already added sugar to coffee with the same verb. After it — as on a new line
- אגבагавby the wayLiterally "in passing, on the way": it introduces what is off the topic of the talk. A live colloquial word — and the comma after it is usual
- באופן כלליбэ-офэн клаллиin generalLiterally "in the general manner", from ofen — a way, a manner. It means speaking broadly, generalizing; the filler in general Hebrew says differently — az — well, so
- בקיצורбэ-кицурin shortFrom katzar — short — which you know: in short is in the shortness. It draws the line under what has been said and stands first
- במילים אחרותби-миллим ахэротin other wordsWord for word "with other words": mila — the word — will meet you again. It opens the sentence, set off by a comma, and retells the same idea more plainly
- העיקרха-икарthe main thingFrom ikar — the essence, the core: the main thing is the most-essence. It lives in the chain haikar she- — the main thing is that... — and no comma before she- is needed
- בסופו של דברби-софо шель даварin the endLiterally "at the end of the matter": a bookish turn — sof, the end — you know. It introduces the last argument, not the last event — about time they say it differently
- למרות שламрот ше-althoughA conjunction of lamrot and she-: it introduces a whole clause — and no comma is put after it. The she- glues to the next word
- מנגדмнэгэдon the other hand (but then)Literally opposite: it takes the second half of the phrase in the other direction from the first. It stands after the comma and often goes in a pair with a concession
- להיפךлеифэхon the contraryLiterally inverted — a hafech turned over: you have already flipped pancakes with the same root. Almost always with a comma — and it introduces the correction: it was not so, but the other way
- למרותламротdespiteA preposition: after it a noun, not a phrase — lamrot hageshem — despite the rain. For a whole sentence add she- — the previous word of the lesson
- עם זאתим зотhoweverLiterally "together with this": a bookier aval — but — which you know. It stands at the start of the second half, after the comma
- מצד אחדми-цад эхадon the one handLiterally "from the side of one": it almost always asks for the pair mitzad sheni. Started without the continuation it sounds cut off
- מצד שניми-цад шэниon the other handThe pair to on the one hand; it stands as the first word of the second half. Often with ve-: vemitzed sheni, hamischoret nmucha
- למרות זאתламрот зотneverthelessThe same preposition lamrot with the demonstrative zot — despite this. It stands after the comma in the second half and carries the talk against what has been said
- במקום זאתби-мком зотinsteadLiterally "in this place": makom — the place — from the city wave. After it comes what will be done instead, often in the future: nelech — we will go
- לא משנהло мишнэall the sameLiterally it does not change: it does not matter, all the same, of no consequence. It cuts the dispute short with lo mishne — and the topic is closed
- במקרהби-микрэby chanceThe same mikre — a case — from the examples lesson: by chance means by a case. The antonym is bekavana — on purpose — the next word
- בכוונהби-кванаon purposeFrom kavana — intention: on purpose means with an intention — often with a reproach. Especially for you is not bekavana but meuyad bishvilcha
- כישלוןкишалонa failureThe full opposite of hatzlacha — success. Failing an exam is said lipo — to fall — as in the English fall through
- צעד אחר צעדцаад ахар цаадstep by stepThe tsaad — a step; literally a step after a step. The same builds day after day — and time after time
- סדר הפעולותседар ха-фаолотthe order of actionsThe seder — the order — and the peulot — the actions — from paal — to do. Before a complex matter write down the order of actions — and the order will appear
- בפירוטби-фаротin detailFrom perat — a detail: befratot — by the details, in detail. The heseber — the explanation — is of the same root as lesaber
- במילים שליби-милим шелиin my own wordsIn my words: a retelling not by another's formula but as you understood. Hebrew does not need own — the my is enough
- במילים פשוטותби-милим фшутотsimply putThe pshutot — simple — about a person too: an ish pashut — a simple man. The in short you know — and this is softer
- תן לי דוגמהтэн ли дугмаgive an exampleAn example is not led but given: ten li dugma. The dugma — the example — you already know from the experience lesson — here it is in a request
- תראה לי איך עושים את זהтэрэ ли эйх осим эт зэshow me how it is doneHow it is done Hebrew builds impersonally — how does one do. Politely to a stranger — taru; to a group — taru-plural
- ברור?барур?clear?The barur — clear; the answer is short — barur! The teacher will ask is everything clear? — and the interlocutor softer — just understood?
- עכשיו ברור ליахшав барур лиnow I understandAgain the to-whom instead of I: it is clear not to me but li — to me. Without li it turns into the general now it is clear — to everyone
- התבלבלתיхитбалбалтиI got confusedFrom lehitbalbel — to get confused: the balbel — to mix — and the confused person is mixed. In the past the I form is one for all
- להיזכרлехизакорto recallTo remember — lizkor — you already know; to recall — the same root z-k-r in the reflexive pattern: lehizakor. The past — nizcarti
- לשכוחлишкоахto forgetThe forgotten thing lives where it was left: shachacti babait — I forgot it at home — as in English. Forgetful — shcochan
- כוונהкаванаan intentionThe kavana — an intention; bekavana — on purpose — you have already met. Without intention — bli kavana
- לשנות דעהлешанот даатto change one's mindLiterally to change the opinion: daat — the opinion — you know from in my opinion. To decide — lehachlit — but to change one's mind — to change the opinion
- הכל לפי התוכניתхаколь ле-фи ха-тохнитeverything by the planLe-fi — by — literally by the mouth: everything goes as said. The plan changed — hatochnit hishtana — and that is no longer by the plan
- אם זה מסתדרим зэ мистадэрif it works outThe mistader — literally arranges itself: so they say both about a plan and about a person who has settled
- עדיין לא החלטתיодайн ло хахларттиI have not decided yetThe odain — yet; hachlatti — decided — from achlata — the decision. Hebrew says yet not decided — and the yet is the main word here
- הכל השתנהхаколь хиштанаeverything has changedLehishtanot — to change oneself: the hit- particle makes the verb intransitive. You know shinui — the change
- לטובהле-товаfor the betterThe English to is not translated here: letova — to the good — a ready pair. The opposite — leraa — the next slot
- לרעהле-рааfor the worseYou know ra — bad; leraa — for the worse. The pair for the better and for the worse holds all the talks about changes
- להשתייךлештайехto belongShayach — belongs: a field, a club and even an opinion belong through this word. From it comes shiuch — belonging to a group
- של אחריםшель ахеримsomeone else'sAcher — another: someone else's is of the others. The foreigner in Hebrew is nochri — from the same field of not one's own — but that word was already there
- משותףмешутафsharedFrom shutaf — the partner: shared means partner-like, for two. Meshutaf also stands in common friends — chaverim meshutafim
- לדחוףлидхофto pushOn the shop doors they write dchof — push — and mshoch — pull: commands from one field of words. You can push a trolley and plans alike
- למשוךлимшохto pullMshoch on the door — pull towards you: the first word you read in a shop. To stall for time — limshoch zman — is the same verb
- להכותлеакотto hitMaka — the blow: worth knowing in boxing and at the doctor. Lehakot is stronger than lidchof: a hit is already contact
- מטרметрa metreSounds almost like ours: meter. After a number 2-10 the noun stands in the plural — shlosha metarim — while after hundreds it stays as is: meaatayim meter
- סנטימטרсантиметрa centimetreThe small measure that holds everything precise: the width of a phone, the height of a child, the hem at the tailor. It lives on the ruler
- קילומטרкилометрa kilometreThe big measure of the road. Speed is counted kilometer be-shaa — kilometres per hour — and it stands on every speedometer
- ליטרлитрa litreThe measure of milk and of petrol at once. The measure on the bottle is signed short, and one and a half litres is said liter ve-chetzi — a litre and a half
- גרםграмa gramAt the market cheese is weighed in grams, and the seller says meaatayim gram without any extra endings. A thousand grams is a kilo
- משקלмишкальthe weightThe same word as the scales you know: both the device and what it shows are mishkal. Body weight is mishkal guf
- אורךорэхthe lengthFrom aroch — long: length is a longness. The question how long is built simply: ma orech — and then the object
- רוחבрухавthe widthFrom rachav — wide: the same root as in rachav about the wide steppe. Doors and corridors are measured exactly with it
- גובהговаthe heightFrom gavoa — high. The height of a person is also gova: in questions about height this is exactly the word
- עומקомэкthe depthFrom amok — deep: the same root as in omek — a deep thought. At the pool the depth is written in numbers on the side
- בערךбэ-эрэхapproximatelyFrom erech — the value: approximately is literally by the value, by the eye. It stands next to ulai — maybe — but is more confident than it
- כמעטкиматalmostIt stands right before the word: kimat kol yom — almost every day. Kimat shkachati — I almost forgot
- בולбульexactlyThe colloquial exactly, on the dot — the same as the familiar bediyuk, only livelier. Careful: bul is also a stamp — the phrase tells them apart
- בממוצעби-мемуцаon averageFrom memutza — the average: what stands in the middle between all the cases. The adjective memutzi means both average and so-so
- פי שנייםпей шнаимtwice as muchPi means times over: pi shnayim — twofold. Twice as much is pi shnayim yoter, while half is the familiar chetzi
- ספרהсфараa digitFrom lispor — to count: a digit is a sign from zero to nine. The number whole is mispar, and a phone number is mispar telephone
- רבעрэваa quarterA quarter of an hour is reva shaa, without any endings: the short form lives in time. Three quarters is shloshet rvaaim
- לשקולлишкольto weighFrom mishkal: to weigh is lishkol et ze. The same verb also means to think over — to weigh the pros and cons
- מיותרмеуйтарextraFrom miut — the surplus: extra is literally surplus. The adverb lechinam stands nearby — in vain, for free: about actions, not things
- ריקрэкemptyAbout a bottle, a bus and a pocket at once. Reikim is an empty gesture: many words, nothing inside
- להימנעлеиманаэto avoidFrom mnaa — to hold back: lehimanea is to hold oneself back. After it comes the preposition mi-: to avoid the sun — lehimanea mi-shemesh
- עובדהувдаa factUvda is what has already happened and will not go away: from leaasot — to do. The opinion argues, the fact stands
- שאלהшээлаa questionA question that is asked: sheela. The answer to a question is tshuva. A question without an answer is sheela ptucha — open
- חשובхашувimportantFrom machshava — the thought: the important is what people think about. Chashuv has met you a hundred times: now the word is yours
- חיוביхиувиpositiveFrom chai — alive: chiuvi — positive, like the answer yes. In the test chiuvi is good, in the review it is pleasant
- שליליшлилиnegativeThe pair to chiuvi: shlili — negative, no. A shlili review hurts more but is more honest
- בהשוואה לби-хашваа леcompared toFrom lehashvot — to compare: be-hashvaa le- — in comparison with. After the le- stands the one who is compared with
- אותו דברото даварthe sameLiterally the same object: oto — that very one. The same thing and just like it live in one turn
- יתרוןитронan advantageFrom yoter — more: yitron is what there is more of, the advantage. The neighbour chisaron — from chaser — to lack
- חסרוןхисаронa disadvantageThe pair to yitron: from chaser — to lack. Every flat, job and idea has its list — start with the chisaron
- תוצאותтоцаотconsequencesThe plural of totzaa — the result: totzaot — results and consequences at once. Every decision brings them — count in advance
- לקחת בחשבוןлакахат бэ-хэшбонto take into accountLiterally to take into the account: cheshbon — the account — you know from the bank. To take into account is to write into your calculation
- סביר להניחсавир ле-ханахmost likelyLiterally it is plausible to suppose: savir — plausible, lehanach — to suppose. It sounds judicious: yes, and I am not burning with certainty
- בוודאיбе-вадаиfor sureFrom vadai — certain: be-vadai — exactly, without doubts. Firmer than ulai — maybe — and softer than betach — certainly
- סבירותсавирутprobabilityFrom the same savir: savirut is probability, the measure of how possible. A high one is savirut gvoha
- השערהхашараan assumptionFrom lehaarich — to size up: hasharaa — an assumption, an estimate. Until it is checked it is only a guess
- נראה שнира шеit seems thatLiterally it is visible that: the eye hints before the words. Ulai — maybe — stands nearby: that one is more cautious
- מן הסתםмин ха-стэмpresumablyLiterally by default: stem — closed to questions. They say it when a conclusion is made without proof: presumably, probably
- אי אפשרэй эфшарimpossibleEin efshar is both impossible and no way!: the surprise in the same words. Possible is efshar — you know it
- לפחותле-фахотat leastFrom meat — little: le-fachot — down to the lesser: the minimum. You love it: at least one, at least once
- בכל מקרהбэ-холь микрэin any caseLiterally in every case: mikre — a case, the same one as in it happened. Whatever comes out — the outcome is one
- ליתר ביטחוןле-йитер битахонjust in caseLiterally for extra safety: bitachon — security — from the documents. An umbrella on a sunny day is exactly leiter bitachon
- אילוилуif only (if)Ilu is if about the unfulfilled: after it comes the past — ilu hayiti... hayiti. You already built im hayiti this way — this is its bookish brother
- בתנאי שби-тнай шеon condition thatTnai — the condition: bi-tnai she- — on condition that. This is how they agree about money, help and meetings
- גם אםгам имeven ifLiterally also if: a concession about the future. Gam — also: even if it is hard — we will go anyway
- במקרה כזהби-микрэ казэin that caseLiterally in such a case: mikre — the case. The outcome of an argument in words: since so — then so
- אחרתахэрэтotherwiseSpelled like the feminine other — acheret. The place tells them apart: at the end of a condition it is the threat otherwise, at the beginning — the aside actually
- אזазthenOne syllable — az: then and right after. Az ma? — so what?: a short word with a funny character
- כדי שкдэй шеin order toKdei — enough: kdei she- — in order to. The goal lives in the second half of the phrase: got up early — in order to make it
- כאילוкэ-илуas ifKe-ilu — as if it were: a likeness, not the truth. He speaks as if he knows everything — and it is only likeness
- במקום לби-мком леinstead ofBi-mkom — instead: in the place of a thing or an action. After it comes the infinitive: instead of sleeping he scrolls the phone
- בעיקרбэ-икарmainlyFrom ikar — the essence: be-ikar — in the main, mostly. Not always but almost always
- ככללкахлальas a ruleLiterally as the rule: klal — the rule. Shorter and drier than the familiar biderech clal — from the documents and the news
- כמעט כולםкимат куламalmost everyoneKimat — almost — which you know, kulam — all together. Almost everyone is not everyone: one or two are always missing
- יוצא מן הכללйоцэ мин ха-клальan exceptionLiterally one who leaves the rule: klal — the rule — and out of it one goes. A rule without exceptions is a rarity
- וכוליвэ-хулэйand so onIn writing it shrinks to two letters with an apostrophe, aloud — vechulei, and so forth. The end of a list when enumerating got boring
- בניגוד לби-нигуд леunlikeFrom neged — against: benigud le- — in opposition to someone. After the le- stands the one who is compared to your disadvantage
- חוץ מхуц миexceptLiterally outside of: it excludes one out of all. Chutz is both outside and abroad: the same look from inside
- לא בדיוקло би-дюкnot exactlyBediyuk — exactly — you know: lo bediyuk — not exactly. The polite no: it does not argue but does not agree either
- יותר או פחותйотэр о фахотmore or lessYoter — more, pachot — less — you know both: together — approximately, so-so. About degree, not about number
- בקושיбэ-кошиwith difficultyLiterally in the difficulty: barely, the strength lasted to the last moment. Kal — easy — stands nearby, its antonym
- שווה לנסותшавэ линасотworth tryingShave — to be worth it: not with money but with sense. Shave linasot — try it, you will not lose
- היה צריךхайа царихshould haveThe past with tzarich: haya tzarich — should have, a reproach after the fact. A woman says hayta tzricha — the sense is the same
- הכי טובхахи товbest of allHachi — the most — which you know from the degrees: hachi tov — best of all. An adverb: how to do, not what object
- הכי גרועхахи гаруаworst of allGarua — bad, poor: hachi garua — worst of all. The pair to hachi tov: one ladder, two ends
- כמה שיותר מהרкама ше-йотэр махэрas fast as possibleThe formula kama she-yoter — the more, the: how much — by that much. Kama she-yoter maher — as fast as possible: speed without a limit
- לחינםле-хинамin vainOne word, two sorrows: lechinam is both for free and in vain. To wait in vain and to get for free — one turn
- להתמודדлеитмодэдto copeLehitmoded — to cope: not to win once and for all but to hold on and pull through. With the problem — im: one copes with it
- ניסיוןнисайонan attemptSpelled like nisayon — the experience — which you know: an attempt and an experience are one word. Nisayon rishon — the first attempt
- כלומרкломарthat isLiterally "as if to say": klomar opens a rephrasing of what you just said. You say it again more simply — and understand it better yourself
- התבררхитбарэрit turned outFrom barur — clear: hitbarer — it cleared up by itself. Then comes she-: hitbarer she-... — it turned out that...
- כתוצאה מכךкэ-тцуата ми-кахas a resultLiterally as a consequence of this: totzaa — the consequence, the result. A dry word from the reports — but about our life too
- מוביל לмовиль леleads toFrom lehadrich — to lead: movil — leads, as a road leads. The road leads to a place, a habit — to consequences
- בזכותби-зхутthanks toFrom zchut — the merit: bizchut — by someone's merit: thanks to. The opposite of biglal — because of: the same place, the other sign
- מהפעם הראשונהми-ха-паам ха-ришонаthe first timeLiterally from the first time: paam — a time, rishon — first — both familiar. The exam, the licence, the bicycle — it depends
- מאתייםмаатайимtwo hundredOne word, not "two hundreds": the dual number, like einayim — eyes. From three hundred on the pattern changes: number plus meot, hundreds
- שלוש מאותшлош меотthree hundredMea in the plural is meot: first the number, then the hundreds. It is the feminine form of the numeral that stands before meot — shlosh
- ארבע מאותарба меотfour hundredFrom here the row is mechanical: arba, chamesh, shesh plus meot. It is exactly in the hundreds that the feminine numeral is heard
- חמש מאותхамеш меотfive hundredIn the hundreds it is chamesh, but in fifteen it is chamisha asar: the numeral agrees with meot, not with what you are counting
- שש מאותшеш меотsix hundredShesh and meot merge into one beat — Hebrew does not pause inside a number. On the receipt it is one line
- שבע מאותшева меотseven hundredCheshbon chashmal is the electricity bill, and seven hundred shekels is no record for it. People say hundreds even when they write digits
- שמונה מאותшмоне меотeight hundredThe price attaches with be-: bishmone meot shekalim — for eight hundred shekels. The same turn as in ba-ogust, in August
- תשע מאותтша меотnine hundredYears before the two-thousand mark are said in hundreds: tsha meot tishim — nine hundred twenty. The last floor before elef, a thousand
- רביעיревииfourthA special form, not arba-i: ordinals up to tenth behave like adjectives and take gender. You know yom revii — Wednesday, literally the fourth day
- חמישיхамишиfifthYom chamishi is Thursday: the days from Sunday to Friday are called by their ordinals. Feminine — chamishit: komah chamishit, the fifth floor
- שישיшишиsixthYom shishi is Friday: in Israel it is a short day, and by evening the city quiets down before Shabbat. Feminine — shishit
- שביעיшвииseventhThe seventh day of the week is Shabbat, the day of rest: transport and most shops do not work. Feminine — shviit
- שמיניшминиeighthEighth is shmini, feminine shminit. After the tenth there are no special ordinals: Hebrew switches to plain numbers
- תשיעיтшийиninthThe throaty א inside gives a doubled i: tshii. Three consonants on paper, two extra syllables by ear
- עשיריасириtenthThe last ordinal with a form of its own: asiri, feminine asirit. Beyond it the tens are said with plain numbers
- מאהмеаhundredthThe same word as hundred: numbers past ten have no special ordinals. With the article — hamea: Israeli schools celebrate yom hamea, the hundredth day of the school year
- אוоorThe same word stands in questions and in choices: coffee or tea? There is no either-or pair — o goes before each item
- גםгамalsoIt stands before the one in question: gam ani — me too. With a negation the same word works: gam lo — me neither
- רקракonlyIt stands right before the word it limits: rak asara — only ten. Though it sounds close, it is no kin of regel, foot
- כברкварalreadyAs in kvar meuchar — already late; one kvar also works with verbs: hu kvar kan — he is already here
- עודодmoreOd echad — one more, the phrase from the market. The same word about time: od rega — just a moment
- יותר מדיйотэр мидайtooLiterally "beyond measure". After an adjective a single midai is enough: gadol midai — too big
- ביחדбэ-яхадtogetherRoot y-ch-d, the same as in yachida, a unit: together — as one. The word takes no number: two people or the whole family are still beyachad
- לא מותרло мутарnot allowedMut means allowed; with lo it turns into not allowed. The strict asur, forbidden, is about rules and signs; in speech lo mut is more common
- צריךцарихneed toYou say ani tsarich in the pharmacy lessons; without a person it is need to: tsarich laavod — one must work. When a specific person is meant, ani or ata comes back
- חייםхаимlifeThe word lives only in the plural: hachaim is life. Chai, alive, is the same root ch-y-h
- לרצותлирцотto wantAni rotse was your first phrase about wanting; the verb is lirtzot. Ratzon, a wish, is the same root r-tz-h
- יכולяхольcan; to be ableYou say ani lo yachol; it changes by gender and number: yachola, yecholim. It has no infinitive — another verb follows it directly
- מילהмилаa wordYou have been lilmod milim, learning words, since the first lesson; one word is mila
- ענייןиньянa matterMa heinyan? is the ordinary way to ask what is going on. The same word means a topic, an affair: inyan of time
- אופןофэнa way; a mannerYou have seen beofen clali, in general; ofen is a manner. Most often heard in the pair beofen + adjective: beofen tivai — naturally
- כדיкдейin order toKdei marks a purpose: in order to work, in order to see. After it the verb stands in the infinitive — Hebrew adds no would here
- אםимifTwo letters, two roles: im is if; the same word means mother, which you know as ima — only the place in the sentence tells them apart
- כל עודколь одwhile (in the meantime)Literally "still": the action lasts as long as another one does — I read while I wait for the bus
- מכיוון שмихване шsinceLiterally "in the direction that": since, given that — a reason the listener already knows: since I am at the shop anyway, I will buy bread
- אילו רקилу ракif onlyLiterally "if only": lu is the particle of wishing, rak is only, which you have already met
- כך שках шsoYou have met lachen, therefore; kach she is so, introducing a consequence: there is no bread, so I am buying some
- ביןбейнbetweenBein means between, and a second bein plays the role of and: between the bank and the post office is bein habank ladoar
- לידле-ядnext toYou have met beerekh, approximately; next to in the sense of beside is leyad: sit next to the window, live next to the sea
- במקוםби-макомinstead ofYou have met makom, a place; bimkom is instead of, literally "in the place of": instead of coffee I buy tea
- נגדнегедagainstYou can hear the g and the d in it: neged is against — not against it, playing against a team. The taller kneged sounds bookish
- בליблиwithoutOne short word and no extra marking needed: without milk, without money is just bli and the noun
- בשבילбишвилforBishvil is for, for someone's sake: a present for grandma. The same bishvil answers what for — a purpose
- עלальaboutThe same al as on the wall; one word covers both on and about: a book about the sea, a talk about work. The verb tells you which
- אחריахарейafterAfter work, after lunch — acharei, and the noun needs nothing extra attached: acharei haavoda — after work
- במהלךбамахалахduringLiterally "in the course of": during the film, during the lesson. It sounds a bit formal but lives in everyday speech too
- בגללбиглалbecause ofOnly for causes: because of the rain, because of work. Around the corner takes a different preposition — biglal will not say that
- מסביבмисавивaroundYou have met hasviva, the neighborhood; around is misaviv: chairs around the table, a garden around the house
- בעודбе-одin (after a while)You have met derekh as through and a way; for time it is beod: beod shavua — in a week, beod shaa — in an hour
- מבפניםмибифнимfrom insideYou know bifnim, inside, from this very lesson; the m in front gives a view or a lock from inside: the door is locked from within
- בקרבת מקוםбе-кроват макомnearbyYou have met karov, close; nearby is bikrovat makom, literally "in the closeness of a place": there is no shop nearby
- בעיהбеаяa problemIn the plural — beayot. Yesh beaya — there is a problem
- מאודмеодveryOne word for every boost: meod stands before the word — very good, very expensive. You heard it in naim meod
- עזרהэзраhelpA noun from leazor, which you have met: the root a-z-r stands in both. The cry ezra! is already a call for help
- ישйешthere is (to exist)The yesh of yesh li, I have; here it stands on its own: the place first, then yesh, then what there is. The negation is ein: there is no bank here
How it sounds in a sentence
A word list is a blank. Conversation is made of sentences, and these are the ones the words fit into most often.
What is worth knowing about these words
כן (кен) — yes. Short and ringing. In live speech often just ken with a nod.
לא (ло) — no. The same word negates the verb: ani lo mevin — I don't understand. There is no separate word for not.
טוב (тов) — fine. The standard answer in full: tov, toda — fine, thank you. The same word also means good.
רע (ра) — bad. The pair to tov. Israelis more often answer lo ra — not bad; it sounds livelier.
Test yourself
Recalling a spelling from meaning is harder than recognizing a familiar word — and therefore more useful.
- How do you say “yes” in Hebrew?
Short and ringing. In live speech often just ken with a nod
- How do you say “but” in Hebrew?
Short and frequent. It resembles the French avaler only on paper — it reads aval
- How do you say “queue; appointment” in Hebrew?
Both the line at the supermarket and the appointment at the doctor: yesh li tor larofe — I have an appointment with the doctor
- How do you say “old” in Hebrew?
About things. About a person they say zaken — you will meet that syllable in the people lesson. Yashan covers bread and furniture alike
- How do you say “thirteen” in Hebrew?
From shlosha, three. The whole row up to nineteen is built the same way: number + asar, and the number itself does not change
How to learn the set instead of just reading it
Yes, no, good, bad, very. The small change of a language — and no sentence assembles without it.
A list is read in a minute and forgotten in a day. What works: hide the translation, try to recall, get it wrong — and come back to the same words tomorrow.
- Recalling beats re-reading. Covering the translation and trying to remember it does more than reading it ten more times.checked many timesAdesope, Trevisan & Sundararajan, 2017, Review of Educational Research 87(3) · 188 experiments, 272 comparisons. g = 0.61; against plain re-reading 0.51, against passive review 0.93.
- Study spread over days wins not only in experiments but in ordinary classrooms, with real students.checked many timesMawson & Kang, 2025, Behavioral Sciences 15(6):771 · 22 studies, d = 0.54 (confidence interval 0.31–0.77). The authors warn that individual studies disagree widely.
Frequently asked
How do you say “yes” in Hebrew?
«כן», read “кен”. Short and ringing. In live speech often just ken with a nod. It is one of 307 words in the set “basic words” — the rest are in the table above.
How many basic words do you need to start?
The whole set on this page is 307 words, but there is no need to start with all of it: the words you will need in the next few days are enough. Take them a few at a time — five to seven new ones per session.