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.
