How to Learn Key Phrases in Hebrew

If you've never studied Hebrew, say for a bar or bat mitzvah - or even if you have (biblical Hebrew is not much like everyday spoken Hebrew) - you can quickly learn a few key phrases. Native speakers will appreciate you using some basic phrases in their language.

Difficulty: Moderate

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Travel Guides
• Airline Tickets To Israel

1. Make copious use of "shalom" for both hello and good-bye. "Shalom," which also means peace, is a very special word.

2. Introduce yourself by saying, "Shalom, shme" (pronounced "Shhh," like the sound for "keep quiet," followed by "me") and then your name.

3. Say "ken" for yes and "low" for no.

4. Use "ba'va'ka'shaw" for please and "toe'da" for thank you.

5. Say "a'foe," which means "where," if you're looking for something or someone.

6. Use "a'nee row'tseh" (if you're a male) or "a'nee'row'tsah" (if you're a female) which means "I want," then point to what you want. You can tack on "ba'va'ka'shaw" at the beginning or the end.

7. Ask "At'a me'da'bare Angleet?" ("Do you speak English?" to a male) or "At me'da'bar'et Angleet" ("Do you speak English?" to a female). A majority of Hebrew speakers do, but it's still fun to use some Hebrew with your English.

Tips & Warnings

• Carry a small, basic Hebrew phrase book with phonetic pronunciations.
• Be adventurous. The best way to learn the language and get into the spirit of the country is to use it.
• Be persistent. Many Hebrew speakers prefer to practice their English. Don't let that stop you from continuing to try out your Hebrew.

on 12/16/2005 Some good Hebrew language books are:

"Hebrew in 10 minutes" (by Bilingual Books, Inc.)
"Teach yourself Modern Hebrew" (by Teach Yourself)
"Hebrew Phrasebook" (by Lonely Planet)

"The Phrasebook" by Lonely Planet is especially good for useful facts and handy conversational phrases.

be'hatslakha (good luck)!

on 12/16/2005 If you are in Israel, don't be afraid to try your Hebrew at every chance. Israelis love correcting and helping people to speak their language.

on 11/22/2005 Check out your local synagogues or Jewish community centers for beginner courses in Hebrew.