Hebrew Phrases

Please remember that this list is in transliterated Hebrew and not in the Hebrew letters. I hope to eventually put up the original Hebrew, transliterated Hebrew, and English translation, but that will take some time.

Incidently, there is no standard for transliteration from Hebrew to English characters. For instance: חנוכה can be tansliterated as Chanukah, Hanukkah, Chanukkah, etc. There is no single, correct way to transliterate from one to the other.

Hebrew Transliteration	English Translation
A
Aba	Father
Acharei Aruchat Hatzohorayim	After Lunch
Acharei Hatzohorayim	In the Afternoon
Achat	One
Acheret	Otherwise
Achi	My Brother
Achichem	Your Brother
Achiv	His Brother
Achinu	Our Brother
Achoti	My Sister
Achotichem	Your Sister
Achotenu	Our Sister
Adat HaE-L Chai	Community of the Living G-d
Adat Hashem	Congregation of Hashem
Ad HaErev	Until this Evening (response upon departing)
Ad Machar	Until Tomorrow (response upon departing)
Ad me’ah ve’esrim shanah!	May you live to be 120!
Adon HaShamayim veEretz	Master of Heaven and Earth
Adon Olam	Master of the Universe
Af Al Pe Chain	Despite That It is So; In Spite of It All
Ahavah	Love
Ahavah Olam	Everlasting Love or Eternal Love
Ahavat HaEmet	Love of the Truth
Ahavat Chesed	Love of Kindness
Ain Davar K’Zeh	There is No Such Thing; Drop It, It Doesn’t Exist
Ain Mazel b’Yisrael	The People of Yisrael transcend astrological influences
Al Tedag	Don’t Worry
Amarta Amarta	You Said, You Said; You Said It, So It’s Good Enough For Me
Am Kadshecha	People of Your Holiness
Am Yisrael	The People of Israel [all Jews]
Anachnu	We
Anglit	English
Ani	I
Ani Chai	I Live
Ani Etkasher Ele’cha	I’ll Call You
Ani Koreh Ivrit, Aval Lo Medaber (masc.)	I Read Hebrew but do not Speak
Ani Koreh VeKotev, Aval Lo Medaber (fem.)	I Read and Write [Hebrew] but do not Speak
Ani LeDodi veDodi Li	I am My Beloved’s and My Beloved is Mine
Ani Lo Mevin (masc.) Ani Lo Mevinah (fem.)	I Do Not Understand
Ani Lo Mevin Otcha (masc.) Ani Lo Mevin Otach (fem.)	I Don’t Understand You
Ani Lo Yode’a (masc.) Ani Lo Yoda’at	I don’t Know
Ani Medaber Ivrit (masc.) Ani Medaberet Ivrit (fem.)	I Speak Hebrew
Ani Mitzta’er (masc.) Ani Mitzta’eret (fem.)	I’m Sorry
Ani Ohev Otach (masc.) Ani Ohevet Otcha (fem.)	I Love You
Ani Tzarich Lalechet Achshav	I Must Go Now
Ani veAtah Neshane et HaOlam!	You and I will Change the World!
Ani Yode’a (masc.) Ani Yoda’at (fem.)	I know
Ani Yode’a Ivrit (masc.) Ani Yoda’at Ivrit (fem.)	I Know Hebrew
Ani Yode’a Milim Achadot (masc.)	I Know a Few Words [of Hebrew]
Ani Yoda’at Rak Milim Achadot (fem.)	I Know Only a Few Words [of Hebrew]
Arba	Four
Arba Pinot HaEretz	The Four Corners of the Earth
Arbaim Yom veArbaim Lailah	Forty Days and Forty Nights
Aruchat Boker	Breakfast
Aruchat Erev	Dinner
Aruchat Tzohorayim	Lunch
Asir Todah (masc.) Asirat Todah (fem.)	Ever So Grateful
Atah (masc. sing.) At (fem. sing.)	You
Atah beChartanu	You Have Chosen Us
Atah Lo Mevin (masc.) At Lo Mevina’ (fem.)	You Don’t Understand
Atah Lo Tzodek (masc.) Ata Lo Tzodeket (fem.)	You Are Wrong
Atah Medaber Ivrit? (masc.) At Medaberet Ivrit (fem.)	Do You Speak Hebrew? Responses:   Me’at – A Little;   Ken, me’at – Yes, a little;   Meat me’od – Very little;   Rak me’at – Just a little;   Lo, ani lo medaber (masc.) – No, I do not speak
Atah Mevine? (masc.) At Mevina’? (fem.)	Do You Understand?
Atah Mevin Ivrit? (masc.) At Mevinah et Hamilim (fem.)	Do You Understand Hebrew?; Do You Understand the Words? Response:   Ken, ani mevinah et hamilim (fem.) – Yes, I understand the words;   Ani mevin et hamilim, aval lo et hamishpat (masc.) – I understand the words, but not the sentence;   Ani mevin, aval lo medaber (masc.) – I understand but do not speak;
Atah Tzodek (masc.) At Tzodeket (fem.)	You Are Right
Atem (masc. plural) Aten (fem. plural)	You
Av HaRoeh beSeter	Father Who Sees in Secret
Avi	My Father
Avichem	Your Father
Avi Chol	Father of All
Avoteinu	Our Fathers
Avraham Avinu	Avraham Our Father
Avinu Malkeinu	Our Father, Our King
Av SheBaShamayim	Father in Heaven
Avinu SheBaShamayim	Our Father in Heaven
Az Mah?	So What?
Azov Oti	Leave Me [Alone]
Azoi?	Really?
Azru Li!	Help Me!
B
Baal HaKerem	Master of the Vineyard
Baal Bayit	Master of the House
Baal Midot ToVot (masc.) BaaLat MiDot ToVot	Master of Good Attributes; A Person of Good Character
Baal Nefesh	Religious Jew
Baali	My Husband
BaBoker	In the Morning
Bachur (masc.) Bachurah (fem.)	Young Man; Young Woman
Ba Li	I Felt/Feel Like it
Balnes	Miracle Worker
Balshem	Faith Healer; Performer of Miracles
BaMidbar	In the Wilderness
Barchot veTefillot	Blessings and Prayers
Barei Lev	Pure in Heart
Bari veShalem	Safe and Sound
Bar Mitzvah (masc.) Bat Mitzvah (fem.)	Son/Daughter of the Commandment
Baruch HaBah! (pl. Bruchim haBaim)	Welcome!
Baruch HaBah B’Shem Adonai	Blessed is the Name of the Lord
Baruch Hashem	Thank G-d
Baruch Hu veBaruch Shmo	Blessed be He and Blessed be His Name
Baruch sheAmar	Blessed be He Who Spoke
Baruch Shem Kivod LeOlam Va’ed	Blessed be His Glorious Majesty Forever and Ever
Baruch Shem Kivod Malchuto LeOlam Va’ed	Blessed be His Glorious Name Whose Kingdom is Forever and Ever
Baruch Shemah	Blessed be the Name
Bat	Daughter
Bat Tziyon	Daughter of Zion
Batu’ach?	Are You Sure?
B’Ahavah	With Love
BS”D (Aramaic – B’Siyata D’Shamaya)	With the Help of Heaven/G-d
Bechayecha! (masc.) Bechayech! (fem.)	On Your Life!; Really? Oh Sure!
Bechayai!	Really! Sure!
Bechol’zot	Nevertheless
Be’einei Hashem	In the Eyes of Hashem
Behatzlacha	Good Luck!; All the Best!
Bekarov	Soon
Bemeshech haYom	During the Day
Ben	Son
Beratzon	With Pleasure
Beresheet	In the Beginning
Berishonah	In the First Place
B’Seder	All Right
Be’tach!	Sure!
BeTodah Me-rosh	Thank You in Advance
Betulah	Unmarried Woman
Bevakasha	Please
Bevakasha et Zeh	This, Please
Bilui Naim	Have a Good Time
Binat haLev	An Understanding of the Heart
Bitachon	Trust [in G-d]
Bobbeh	Grandmother
Bocher	Bachelor; Unmarried Man; Young Man
Bri’at HaOlam	Creation of the World
Bevakasha	Please [or your welcome]
B’Ezrat Hashem (BE”H)	With G-d’s Help
Bli Safek	Without a Doubt
Bimheirah b’Yameinu	Speedily In Our Days
Boker Tov	Good Morning
Bracha	Prayer
Bracha vehazlaha	Blessing and Much Success
Bruchim haBa’im	Blessed Are Those Who Come [to you and your family]; Welcome
Bubbee	Grandmother
D
Dan Lekaf Zechut	To Judge on the Scale of Merit
Derech Eretz	Way of the Land
Derech Hashem	Way of Hashem
Devar Elokim	Word of G-d
Devir	Holy of Holies
Divrei HaNevu’ah	Words of Prophecy
Divrei Chibushim	Words of Admonition
Dodah	Aunt
Drishat Shalom (D”SH) (DASH)	Regards; Kind Regards; Greetings (response upon departing)
Drishat Shalom laMishpacha	Regards to the Family (response upon departing)
Drishat Shalom Le	Give My Regards to….
E
Efes	Zero
Efshar’	Possible
Eich Omrim et Zeh Be’ [Anglit]	How Do You Say This in [English]?
Eifo Atah Gar?	Where Do You Live?
Eifo Ha’Sherutim?	Where is the Bathroom?
Ei, Gut	Great, Just Great!
Ein Be’ad Ma	You’re Welcome
Ein Ba’aya!	It’s Nothing!
Ein Be’ayot	No Problems
Ein Brerah	No Choice
Ein Li Klum (Ein Li Shum Davar)	I Don’t Have Anything; I Have Nothing
Ein Somchin Al Haness	Don’t Rely on Miracles
Eizel	Fool; Dope
E-l Adon	G-d is Master
Ela Mai	What Then?;  So What?; But What Happens?
E-l Emunah	G-d of Faithfulness
Elokei	My G-d
Elokeicha (Elokeichem)	Your G-d
Elokeinu	Our G-d
Elokim Yerachem	G-d Will Have Mercy
Emanu	Our Mother
Emet veYatziv	True and Certain
Eretz Yisrael	The Land of Israel
Erev Tov	Good Evening
Eser	Ten
G
Galui Le-Ayin	Perceptible to the Eye; Visible; Obvious; Noticeable; Detectable; Evident
Gam Zu leTovah	This is for the Good [best]
Gavra Rabbah	A Great Man
Germanit	German
Gesundheit (Yiddish)	Literally – Health.  A response when someone sneezes
Goyish (masc.) Goyisha (fem.)	Not Jewish
Gut Shabbes! (Yiddish)	Good Sabbath!
Gut Yontev! (Yiddish)	Good Holiday!
Gut Yontiff! (Yiddish)	Good Holiday!
H
HaAv	The Father
Hachamenu Zichronam Liveracha	Our Sages, May Their Memory be a Blessing
Hainu Hach	It is the Same Thing
HaIvri	The Hebrew
HaKash SheShavar et Gav HaGamal	The Straw That Broke the Camel’s Back
HaKodesh Baruch Hu	Holy One, Blessed be He
Hakol	All
Hakol Beseder?	Is Everything O.K.?
Hakol Beseder B’Eli Haseder	Everything is in Order Within the Chaos
Halevei! (Halevai)	Would That It Came True!
Hallelu et Adonai	O Praise the Lord
HaMa’eiven Yavin	Those Who Know Understand
Ha’omnam’?	Really?
HaRosh Mistovev	My Head is Spinning
Har’Beh	A Lot, Many, Much
Hashem Yimloch LeOlam Va’ed	the Lord Will Reign Forever and Ever
Hashem Yitbarach	the Lord, May He be Blessed
Hashem Yaazor	[I hope that] G-d Shall Help
Hatzlacha Rabbah!	Much Success! (as a greeting – Good Luck!)
Havarah Ashkenazit	Ashkenazi pronunciation of Hebrew – Current in some Diaspora circles
Havarah Sefaradit	Sephardi pronunciation of Hebrew – Current Pronunciation in Yisrael
HaYakar (masc.)HaY’karah (fem.)	Dear, Beloved
Hayalim Kedoshim	Holy Soldiers
Haya Naim Me’od	It’s Been a Pleasure [greeting at departing]
HaYanayim Me’od	Goodbye, I had a Delightful Time
Hechal	Holy Place
Hem (masc.) Hen (fem.)	They
Hishtagata (masc.) Hishtagat? (fem.)	Have You Gone Mad?; Are You Nuts?; Have You Lost it?; Are You Crazy?
Histalek!	Go Away!
Hotza’at Dibah	Sending Forth of Slander; idiomatically, Publication of Slander/Libel
I
Ihulim Levaviim	Best Wishes
Ichulim	Greetings
Im Yirtzeh Elokim	If It Pleases G-d
Im (Ima)	Mother
Imi	My Mother
Im Shachar	At Dawn
Ish	Man
Ishah	Woman
Ishti	My Wife
K
Kacha Kacha	So So
Kacha HaChayim	That’s Life; That’s the Way it Goes
Kamah Zeh O’leh?	How Much Does This Cost?
Kar Li	It is Cold to Me; I Feel Cold
Karov Rachok	A Distant Relative
Kazeh (masc.) Kazot (fem.)	Like This
Ken	Yes
Ketivah veChasimah Tovah LeShanah Tovah Tikateivu	May You be Inscribed in the Book of Life for a Good Year
Kvetch	Complain
Kolboynik	Know It All
Kol HaKavod!	All the Honor!; All Right!; Great!; Good Job!
Kol Tuv	All The Best
Kol Yisrael Arevim Zeh Lazeh	All Jews are Responsible for Each Other
Kotel Ma’aravi	Western Wall
Ktzat	Little, A Little
KH (CH)
Chabdeihu Vechoshdeihu	Take Him With a Grain of Salt
Chag Same’ach!	Happy Festival!; Joyous Festival!
Chag Kasher veSame’ach Pesach!	Happy & Kosher Passover Festival!
Chag Same’ach	Happy Holidays
Chalomot Tovim	Sweet Dreams
Chamesh	Five
Cham Li	It is Hot to Me; I Feel Hot
Chas veChalilah!	G-d Beware/G-d Forbid!
Chas veShalom!	G-d Forbid!
Chaval Al Hazman	Don’t Waste Your Time; It is a waste of Time
Chaver Shelach (masc.) Chavera Shelach (fem.)	Your Friend
Chayei Olam	Eternal Life
Charon af Hashem	Wrath [anger] of Hashem
Chaver	Friend
Chele Kodesh	Sacred Objects
Chochem	Wise Man; A Wise Guy (slang)
Chodesh	Month
Chodesh Tov	A Good Month
Chodesh Tov uMevorach	A Good and Blessed Month
Chozer Bitshuvah	A Jew who has become religious
Chutzpah	Audacity; Utter Nerve
L
Lailah Tov	Goodnight
L’aMet	To Bring Out the Truth; To Verify; To Confirm
Le’an atah nose’a?	Where Are You Going?
Leharim Et HaKol	To Raise or Lift One’s Voice; To Shout
Lehitra’ot	See You Later; See You Again; See You Soon; So Long
LeChayim!	To Life!
Lechu Neranenah	Come. Let Us Sing
Lehitra’ot BaErev	I’ll See You in the Evening (response upon departing)
Lelakek Et Ha’etzba’ot!	Finger Licking Good!
LeShaim Shamayim	For the Sake of Heaven
LeShalom veDa’at	For Peace and Knowledge
LeShanah Tovah	For a Good Year
Leshanah Tovah Tikateivu	May you be written down for a good year
LeShanah Tovah Tikatev Vetihatem	May You be Inscribed and Sealed for a Good Year (response: Gam Atah – Same to You)
LeShanah Tovah Tiktavi Tetichtami (fem.)	May You be Inscribed and Sealed for a Good Year
LeTov uLeChayim uLeShalom	For Good, and for Life, and for Shalom
Lichora	As It Appears; Apparently; On the Face of It
Lo	No, Not
Lo Ba Li	I Don’t Feel Like It
Lo Bediyuk	Not Exactly
Lo B’Shamayim Hi	The Torah is Not In Heaven
Lo BeshiMush	Not In Use; Not Working
Lo Kol Kach’  Lo Kol Kach	Not So Good; Not So Much
Lo Yitachen	It Is Not Possible
M
Macher	A Big Shot; Man with Contacts
Magiyah Lo	To Him it Should be Received; He Deserves It
Maher’	Quickly
Mah Atah O’mer?	What Are You Saying?
Mah Hainyanim?	What’s the News?
Mah Hasha’ah?	What Time Is It?
Mah Hashem Shelcha?	What’s Your Name? Response: Hashem sheli – My name is ___
Mah Lechah?	What’s It To You?
Mah Nishmah?	What is Heard?; What’s New? Response: Lo kelum – Nothing
Mah She-BaTuach,BaTuach	What is Certain is Certain
Mah Shlomecha? (masc.) Mah Shlomech? (fem.)	How Are You? Responses: umah shlomecha/shlomech? or  v’atah? – and how are you?; Tov.  Umah Shlomecha/Shlomech? – Well. And how are you?; Tov Me’od, Todah – Very Well Thanks; Tov Todah – Fine/Good, Thanks; Beseder, B”H – Fine, Baruch Hashem.
Mah Shlom’chem? (masc. plural) Mah Shlom’chen? (fem. plural)	How Are You?
Mah Tovu Ohalecha	How Goodly Are Your Tents
Mah Yesh?	What Do You Have?; What’s the Matter?; What’s the Problem?
Mah Zeh?	What is This?
Malkut HaShamayim	The Kingdom of Heaven; The Kingdom of G-d
Marat	Married Woman; Mrs.
Mazel uBracha! (Yiddish: Mazel und Brucha)	Blessings and Congratulations!
Mazel Tov!	Congratulations!
Me’ah Achuz	For Sure; 100% Certain
Me’at	A Little
Mechiah	A Great Feeling; Relief
Meh Chadash?	What’s New? Response: Ein chadash – Nothing’s new
Mench	A Nice Gentleman; Good Person
Meshuga	Crazy
Metzuyan!	Perfect!
Meytav  HaIchulim!	Best Wishes!
MiDei Pa’Am	From Time to Time
Mitzta’er	I’m Sorry
Mivta Ashkenazi	Ashkenazi Accent
Mivta Sefardi	Sephardic Accent
Mivta Yisraeli	Israeli Accent
Mo’adim LeSimcha! (Sefardic)	Happy Holiday/Festival; Times For Joy; Seasons of Joy
Moadim L’Simcha L’Geula Shleima	Happy Holiday in the Anticipation of a Complete Redemption
Moshiah Olam	Savior of the World
Motza’ei Shabbat	Saturday Evening; Night after Shabbat
N
Naim Me’od	It’s a Pleasure; Pleased to Meet You [greeting at meeting]
Nehedar, Yo’fi	Wonderful, Great
Neshomeleh	Sweet Soul; Sweetheart; Darling
Nesia Tovah	Have a Good Trip
Niftar (masc.) Nifterah (fem.)	Died
Nishtu Gedacht!	May We be Saved From It [sad event]; It Shouldn’t Happen!; G-d Forbid!
Nod Nafuach	A Complete Nothing; A Bag of Wind
Nohal Takin	Correct Procedure
Nolad (masc.) Noldah (fem.)	Born
Nu?	So?; Well?
Nu Tzadakti?	Well, Was I Right?
O
Oi [Oy]	Denotes disgust, pain, astonishment or rapture
Oi  Va’avoi Li!	Oh My G-d!
Oi Vai Iz Mir!	Woe is Me!
Onesh Olam	Eternal Punishment
Oseh Shamayim veEretz	Maker of Heaven and Earth
Ozer Yisrael biGvurah	Who Girds Yisrael with Strength
Ozer Yisrael b’Tif’arah	Who Crowns Yisrael with Splendor
P
Po Nikbar; Po Nitman	Here Lies (abbrev. at top of most Jewish tombstones)
Proster Oilem	Common People
R
Rachmana Litzlon!	Heaven Forbid!
Rah Me’od	Very Bad
Rasheh	Mean, Evil Person
Rav Todot!	Many Thanks!
Rebiniu	Term of endearment for a Rabbi
Refuah Shleimah!	[May you have] a Complete Recovery!
Regah	One Moment
Rofeh HaCholim	Healer of the Sick
Rosh Chodesh	First of the Month
S
Sa’arah B’Kos Mayim	Making a Big Deal Out of Nothing
Sarah Emanu	Sarah Our Mother
Savlanut!	Patience!
Selicha	Pardon
Selach Li	Excuse Me
Sfaradit	Spanish
Sinit	Chinese
Sh
Sha’alu Shalom Yerushalayim	Prayer for the Peace of Jerusalem
Sha’arei Tziyon	Gates of Zion
Shabbat Goi [Shabbas Goy]	A non-Jew doing work for Jews on the Sabbath
Shabbat Shalom uMevorach	A Peaceful and Blessed Sabbath
Shabbat Shalom veShavua Tov!	A Peaceful Shabbat and a Good Week!
Shalom	Peace; Hello; Goodbye
Shalom uv’racha	Peace and Blessing
Shalom uv’racha leYisrael	Peace and Blessing to Israel
Shalosh	Three
Shanah (Shanim)	Year; Years
Shanah Tovah!	Happy New Year!
Shavua Tov (Yiddish – Gut Vach)	Good Week
Sheket!	Quiet!
Shkoyach	Way To Go!
Shlimazel	Luckless Person; Incompetent Person; One who has perpetual bad luck
Shlomi’ Tov	I’m Fine
Shmi	My Name is
Shmoneh	Eight
Shesh	Six
Shta’yim	Two
Sheva	Seven
T
Ta’amin Li!	Believe [to] Me; [Just] Believe Me!
Tateleh	Little Darling
Tehe Nishmatah Tzerurah Bitzror HaChayim	May Her Soul be Bound in the Bond of Eternal Life
Tei-yerinkeh	Sweetheart; Dearest
Tesha	Nine
Timsor Lo Dash	Transfer Regards to Him
Tishlach Lo Dash Mimeni	Send Him My Regards
Tismoch Alai	You Can Rely on Me
Titkasher’ Elai!	Call Me!
Tochnit Av	Plan of the Father; Master Plan
Todah	Thank You
Todah LaE-l!	Thank G-d!
Todah Lailah Tov	Thanks, Goodnight
Todah Rabbah	Thank You Very Much
Todah veShalom	Thank You and Goodbye
Tov Me’od, Todah	Very Well, Thanks
Tov Todah	Ok, Thank You
Tuchal La’azor Li?	Can You Help Me?
Tut Mir Hano’eh	It Gives Me Pleasure (can also be meant sarcastically)
Tzaharaim Tovim	Good Afternoon (response upon departing)
Tzarfatit	French
Tzar Li	I’m Sorry
Tzetech leShalom veShuvech leShalom (masc.)	Go in Peace and Return in Peace
Tzetcha leShalom veShuvcha leShalom (fem.)	Go in Peace and Return in Peace
Tzimchoni	Vegetarian
Tzom Kal	May You Have an Easy Fast
U
Ulai’	Perhaps
V
Vadai, beVadai!	Of Course!
VeYitten Lecha	[May G-d] Grant You
Y
Ya’aleh veYavo	May it Ascend and Arrive
Yachas Enoshi	Benevolence; Thoughtfulness
Yasher Koach!	May Your Strength Be Firm; May You Have Strength!
Yatziv Patgam	True is the Word
Yehi Ratzon	May It Be Your Will
Yehiyeh Asher Yehiyeh	What Will Be Will Be; Come What May
Yeled (masc.) Yaldah (fem.)	Child
Yerushalayim Shelanu	Our Jerusalem
YESHA (acronym)	Yehudah (territories of Judea) Shomrom (territories of Samaria) Azza (territories of Gaza)
Yihyeh Beseder	It Will Be in Order; Everything Will be Ok; It Will All Work Out
Yitachen	It Is Possible
Yom; Yamim	Day; Days
Yom HaShabbat	The Day of Shabbat; The Shabbat Day
Yom Huledet	Birthday
Yom Huledet Same’ach!	Happy Birthday!
Yom Tov	A Good Day (applied to the Festivals)
Yoshev Al Hagader	Straddling the Fence
Yoshev Al Sir HaBasar	[He is] Living the Good Life
Yoter	More
Z
Zaide	Grandfather
Zakain (masc.) Zekainah (fem.)	Old
Zechut Avot	Merit of the Fathers
Zeh Chashuv	It’s Important
Zeh Hakol	That’s It
Zeh Klum!	It’s Nothing!
Zeh Lo Meshane	It Doesn’t Matter
Zeh Mah Sheyesh	This is What There is; There is No More
Zeh Mean”yen	It’s Interesting
Zeh Mesukan	It’s Dangerous
Zei Mir Gezunt!	Be Well!
Ziknei HaAm	Elders of the People
Zot Omeret	In Other Words