If you’ve ever taken a formal Hebrew class, you probably learned how to say hello, ask for directions, and order a coffee.

But the moment you step off the plane in Tel Aviv or Jerusalem, you will quickly realize something important: Israelis don’t actually speak like a textbook.

Spoken street Hebrew is full of slang.

It borrows heavily from Arabic, Yiddish, and even English. If you want to improve your foreign language comprehension and actually understand what locals are saying, you need to learn these everyday words.

As I always tell my students, you can study grammar all day, but learning local slang is the secret to sounding like a native.

Here are the most essential Israeli slang words you need to know.

Sababa (cool / alright)

If there is one word you will hear a hundred times a day in Israel, it’s sababa.

Originally borrowed from Arabic, sababa simply means “cool,” “great,” or “alright.” You can use it to agree to a plan, say that you are doing well, or confirm that you understand something.

If someone asks you how you are doing, you can just smile and say, “sababa.”

Yalla (let’s go / hurry up)

This is another incredibly common word borrowed directly from Arabic.

Yalla translates to “let’s go” or “hurry up.” Israelis use it constantly to get people moving, to encourage someone, or simply to transition from one activity to another.

You will also hear Israelis use it to end a phone call. It is very common to hear people say “yalla bye” right before hanging up.

Tachles (bottom line / actually)

This word comes from Yiddish, which was spoken by many Jewish immigrants arriving from Eastern Europe.

Tachles means “bottom line,” “practically speaking,” or “cut to the chase.”

Israelis are known for being very direct. They don’t like to beat around the bush. If someone is talking too much without getting to the point, you might tell them to give you the tachles. It can also be used to mean “actually” or to agree strongly with a true statement.

Ahi and achoti (my brother / my sister)

In English, it is very common to call your friends “bro” or “dude.” In Israel, the exact equivalent is ahi (for men) and achoti (for women).

Ahi literally means “my brother” and achoti means “my sister.”

You can use this with your close friends, but you will also hear strangers calling each other ahi at the grocery store, in traffic, or at a restaurant. It shows the warm, informal nature of Israeli culture.

Eizeh ba’asa (what a bummer)

When things don’t go your way, this is the phrase you need.

Ba’asa (another word with Arabic roots) means a bummer or a shame. When you add eizeh (which means “what a” in this context), you get eizeh ba’asa - “what a bummer!”

Missed your bus? Eizeh ba’asa. Dropped your falafel on the ground? Eizeh ba’asa.

Stam (just kidding / for no reason)

Stam is a very versatile Hebrew word. It usually means “for no reason,” “just because,” or “ordinary.”

However, in slang, it is most often used to mean “just kidding!”

If you tell your friend a crazy story and they look shocked, you can laugh and say “stam!” to let them know you are pulling their leg.

Chaval al hazman (amazing / out of this world)

This is perhaps the most confusing slang phrase for beginners to learn, but it is super important!

Literally translated, chaval al hazman means “a waste of time” or “shame on the time.” If you look at it in a textbook, it looks like a negative phrase.

But in street slang, it means the exact opposite! It means something is so amazing, so incredible, that it is a “waste of time” to even try describing it. You will use this to describe a delicious meal, a great party, or a beautiful trip.

Quick review table of israeli slang

To help you memorize these, here is a simple reference table with all the words we just covered.

Keep listening and practicing

Learning slang is one of the most fun parts about acquiring a new language. It immediately breaks down the walls between you and the local people.

The next time you practice speaking Hebrew, try throwing out a sababa or a yalla! You’ll instantly sound more confident and natural.