Lesson 19 — Time-Related Vocabulary in Hebrew

Days of the week, months, and time expressions

Hebrew has a unique week structure — the week begins on Sunday (יוֹם רִאשׁוֹן, "First Day"). The days are simply numbered, with Saturday being Shabbat (Sabbath). Months follow the Gregorian calendar in modern Hebrew usage.

Days of the Week
HebrewTransliterationEnglishNotes
יוֹם רִאשׁוֹןYom RishonSundayLiteral: "First Day" — week starts here
יוֹם שֵׁנִיYom SheniMonday"Second Day"
יוֹם שְׁלִישִׁיYom ShlishiTuesday"Third Day"
יוֹם רְבִיעִיYom Revi'iWednesday"Fourth Day"
יוֹם חֲמִישִׁיYom ChamishiThursday"Fifth Day"
יוֹם שִׁישִּׁיYom ShishiFriday"Sixth Day" — workweek ends
שַׁבָּתShabbatSaturdayThe Sabbath — most shops and transport stop in Israel
Time Words
HebrewTransliterationEnglish
עַכְשָׁוachshavnow
אַחַר כָּךְachar kachlater / after that
לִפְנֵי כֵּןlifney chenbefore that
מָחָרmachartomorrow
אֶתְמוֹלetmolyesterday
הַיּוֹםhayomtoday
הַלַּיְלָהhalaylatonight
מָחֳרָתַיִםmachoratayimthe day after tomorrow
שִׁלְשׁוֹםshilshomthe day before yesterday
בְּקָרוֹבbekarovsoon
תָּמִידtamidalways
לְפַעֲמִיםlif'amimsometimes
לְעִיתִּים נְדִירוֹתle'itim nedirotrarely
אַף פַּעַם לֹאaf pa'am lonever
כְּבָרkvaralready
Time Units
HebrewTransliterationEnglish
שָׁנִיָּהshniasecond
דַּקָּהdakaminute
שָׁעָהsha'ahour
יוֹםyomday
שָׁבוּעַshavuaweek
חֹדֶשׁchodeshmonth
שָׁנָהshanayear
בֹּקֶרbokermorning
צָהֳרַיִםtsohorayimnoon / afternoon
עֶרֶבerevevening
לַיְלָהlaylanight
Example Sentences
HebrewTransliterationEnglish
הַיּוֹם יוֹם שְׁלִישִׁי.Hayom yom shlishi.Today is Tuesday.
מָחָר יוֹם שִׁישִּׁי, אַחַר כָּךְ שַׁבָּת.Machar yom shishi, achar kach Shabbat.Tomorrow is Friday, then it's Shabbat.
אֶתְמוֹל הָלַכְנוּ לַמִּסְעָדָה.Etmol halachnu lamisada.Yesterday we went to a restaurant.
אֲנִי תָּמִיד שׁוֹתֶה קָפֶה בַּבֹּקֶר.Ani tamid shote kafe baboker.I always drink coffee in the morning.
לְפַעֲמִים אֲנִי הוֹלֵךְ לַחֶדֶר כּוֹשֶׁר בַּצָּהֳרַיִם.Lif'amim ani holech lacheder kosher batshohorayim.Sometimes I go to the gym at noon.
הַסֵּרֶט מַתְחִיל בְּעוֹד שָׁעָה.Haseret matchil be'od sha'a.The movie starts in an hour.
אַף פַּעַם לֹא אֲנִי אוֹכֵל בַּלַּיְלָה.Af pa'am lo ani ochel balayla.I never eat at night.
הַשָּׁנָה טָסִים לְיָוָן.Hashana tasim leYavan.This year we're flying to Greece.
בְּקָרוֹב יִהְיֶה חַג.Bekarov yihye chag.There will be a holiday soon.
כְּבָר שָׁעָה תֵּשַׁע בָּעֶרֶב.Kvar sha'a tesha ba'erev.It's already nine o'clock in the evening.