The Israeli shuk (שׁוּק): Markets like the Machane Yehuda in Jerusalem or the Carmel Market in Tel Aviv are the best places to practice your Hebrew. Vendors appreciate the effort — don't be shy!
🔍 Finding What You Need
| Hebrew | Transliteration | English |
|---|
| אֵיפֹה הַיְּרָקוֹת? | Eifo ha-yerakot? | Where are the vegetables? |
| אֵיפֹה מוּצְרֵי הֶחָלָב? | Eifo mutzrei ha-chalav? | Where is the dairy section? |
| יֵשׁ לָכֶם...? | Yesh lachem...? | Do you have...? |
| אֲנִי מְחַפֵּשׂ / מְחַפֶּשֶׂת... | Ani mechapes / mechapeset... | I'm looking for... (m/f) |
| זֶה טָרִי? | Ze tari? | Is this fresh? |
| יֵשׁ לָכֶם מָשֶׁהוּ בְּלִי גְּלוּטֶן? | Yesh lachem mashehu bli gluten? | Do you have anything gluten-free? |
| אֵיפֹה הַקֻּפָּה? | Eifo ha-kupa? | Where is the checkout? |
❓ Asking About Items
| Hebrew | Transliteration | English |
|---|
| מַה זֶּה? | Ma ze? | What is this? |
| מַה הַמְּחִיר? | Ma ha-mechir? | What is the price? |
| זֶה כָּשֵׁר? | Ze kasher? | Is this kosher? |
| אֶפְשָׁר לְנַסּוֹת? | Efshar lenasot? | Can I try (a taste)? |
| זֶה חָרִיף? | Ze charif? | Is this spicy? |
| מָתַי פָּג הַתֹּקֶף? | Matai pag ha-tokef? | When does it expire? |
| יֵשׁ לָכֶם גֹּדֶל יוֹתֵר קָטָן? | Yesh lachem godel yoter katan? | Do you have a smaller size? |
Kosher tip: In Israel, most supermarkets are kosher. Look for the teuda kashrut (תְּעוּדַת כַּשְׁרוּת) certificate on the wall. Shuk vendors will tell you proudly if their product is kosher.
⚖️ Quantities & Amounts
| Hebrew | Transliteration | English |
|---|
| קִילוֹ אֶחָד שֶׁל... | Kilo echad shel... | One kilo of... |
| חֲצִי קִילוֹ | Chatzi kilo | Half a kilo |
| מֵאָה גְּרָם | Me'a gram | 100 grams |
| לִיטֶר שֶׁל... | Liter shel... | A litre of... |
| אַחַת / שְׁתַּיִם / שָׁלוֹשׁ | Achat / shtayim / shalosh | One / two / three (f)Used for counting feminine nouns like eggs (ביצים), tomatoes (עגבניות) etc. |
| עוֹד קְצָת בְּבַקָּשָׁה | Od ktzat bevakasha | A little more please |
| פָּחוֹת קְצָת | Pachot ktzat | A little less |
| זֶה מַסְפִּיק | Ze maspik | That's enough |
💳 At the Checkout
| Hebrew | Transliteration | English |
|---|
| כַּמָּה עוֹלֶה הַכֹּל? | Kama ole ha-kol? | How much does everything cost? |
| אֲנִי מְשַׁלֵּם בְּכַרְטִיס | Ani meshalem be-kartis | I'm paying by card (m)meshalmet — feminine |
| אֲנִי מְשַׁלֵּם בְּמָזוּמָן | Ani meshalem be-mazuman | I'm paying cash |
| אֶפְשָׁר שַׁקִּית בְּבַקָּשָׁה? | Efshar sakit bevakasha? | Can I have a bag please? |
| יֵשׁ לְךָ עוֹדֶף? | Yesh lecha odef? | Do you have change?Yesh lach — to a woman |
| קִבַּלְתִּי עוֹדֶף לֹא נָכוֹן | Kibalti odef lo nachon | I received the wrong change |
| תּוֹדָה, יוֹם טוֹב | Toda, yom tov | Thank you, have a good day |
Useful to know: In Israeli supermarkets you pay for bags (sakit שַׁקִּית). Most people bring their own reusable bag (tik תִּיק). Self-checkout machines (kasot shiru'it atzmi) are common and have an English option.
