13 Hebrew Words You Need to Know for Election Day

1 min read
Yonatan Engler
Yonatan Engler

Municipal elections are being held in Israel on October 30th, 2018. Whether or not you plan on voting, use these 13 Hebrew words to make you feel more in-the-know.

1. Candidate

Hebrew translation: מָעֳמָד (m) מָעֳמֶדֶת (f)

Transliteration: mo-ah-mahd (m) mo-ah-meh-det (f)

2. Polling place

Hebrew translation: קַלְפִּי

Transliteration: kahl-pee

3. Mayor

Hebrew translation: רֹאשׁ עִיר (m) רֹאשַׁת עִיר (f)

Transliteration: rosh eer (m) rosh-at eer (f)

4. City hall/municipality

Hebrew translation: עִירִיָּה

Transliteration: ee-ree-yah

5. Day off

Hebrew translation: יוֹם שַׁבָּתוֹן

Transliteration: yohm shah-bah-tohn

(Election days are a national holiday and a day off work/school in Israel!)

6. Survey

Hebrew translation: סֶקֶר

Transliteration: seh-ker

7. Party platform

Hebrew translation: מַצָּע

Transliteration: mah-tzah

8. A vote

Hebrew translation: הַצְבָּעָה

Transliteration: hatz-bah-ah

9. To weigh the options

Hebrew translation: לְהִתְלַבֵּט

Transliteration: le-heet-la-bet

10. To vote

Hebrew translation: לְהַצְבִּיעַ

Transliteration: leh-hatz-bee-ah

The root of the word comes from the word אֶצבַּע (which means finger). Funny enough, this can also mean to raise your hand in class or to point at someone.

11. Who did you vote for?

Hebrew Translation: ?לְמִי הִצְבַּעְתָּ

Transliteration: leh-mee heetz-bah-tah (m) / heetz-baht (f)?

In Israel, it’s totally culturally acceptable to ask people who they voted for.

12. Left-wing

Hebrew translation: שְׂמֹאלָנִית (f) שְׂמֹאלָנִי (m)

Transliteration: smoh-lah-nee (m) smoh-lah-neet (f)

This refers to someone left-leaning politically.

13. Right-wing

Hebrew Translation: יְמָנִי (m) יְמָנִית (f)

Transliteration: yeh-mah-nee (m) / yeh-mah-need (f)

This refers to someone right-leaning politically, but can also mean right-handed.

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