21 Hebrew Words That Are Actually English

Ever hear an Israeli say something in Hebrew and think to yourself, “Wow, that sounds a lot like English…” Newsflash: It probably was English!

Here’s a list of words that are the same in English and Hebrew.

1.  Hand breaks 

Hebrew translation: אַמְּבְּרֵקְס

Transliteration: ahm-breks

How it sounds: 

 

2. Small, medium, large 

Fun fact: In Hebrew clothing sizes are exactly the same as in English, except said with an Israeli accent.

Hebrew translation: ‘סִמּוֹּל, מֶדְיוּם , לְאַרְג

Transliteration: smoll, med-yoom, large  

How it sounds: 

 

3. Highlighter

Fun fact: Highlighters are simply called markers in Hebrew.

Hebrew translation: מַרְקֵר

Transliteration: mar-kehr 

How it sounds: 

 

4. T-shirt 

Hebrew translation: טֵי– שֶׁיָּרַט

Transliteration: tee-shert 

How it sounds: 

 

5. Sweatshirt 

Hebrew translation:  סְוֶטְשֵׁירְט

Transliteration: swet-shert (but some Israelis just pronounce it swet-sher without any “t” sound at the end)

How it sounds: 

 

6. Jeans

Hebrew translation:  גִ’ינְס

Transliteration: jeans

How it sounds: 

 

7. Eyeliner

Hebrew translation:  אִיִּי–לַיְנֵר

Transliteration: eye-line-er 

How it sounds: 

 

8. Mascara 

Hebrew translation:  מַסְקֵרָה

Transliteration: mahs-ker-ah 

How it sounds: 

 

9. Sublet 

Hebrew translation:  סָבלֶט

Transliteration: sahb-let 

How it sounds: 

 

10. Homeless 

Fun fact: The plural for הוֹמְלֵס in Hebrew is pronounced “home-les-eem” הוֹמְלֵסים

Hebrew translation:  הוֹמְלֵס

Transliteration: home-les 

How it sounds: 

 

11. Hostel 

Hebrew translation:  הוֹסְטֶל

Transliteration: Hoh-stel 

How it sounds: 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

21. Online

Hebrew translation: אוֹנְלַייְן

Transliteration: ohn-line

How it sounds: