We Translated the Names of Israeli Cities to English, and It’s Hilarious

1 min read
Yonatan Engler
Yonatan Engler

1. Seven Wells

Reminds us of Platform Nine and Three Quarters in Harry Potter.

Hebrew: בָּאֵר שְׁבַע

Transliteration: beh-er sheh-vah

English: Beer Sheva

2. Mermaid

It’s like living under the sea.

Hebrew: בַּת יָם

Transliteration: bat yam

English: Bat Yam

3. Hope Entrance

The original meaning was “gates of hope” to welcome the new immigrants to the city.

Hebrew: פְּתַח תִּקְוָה

Transliteration: peh-tach teek-vah

English: Petach Tikva

4. Eye Head

Rosh Haayin played a major role as an intersection of trade routes in the biblical days.

Hebrew: רֹאשׁ עַיִן

Transliteration: rosh eye-een

English: Rosh Haayin

5. The Cave Head

For those of you that don’t know, Rosh Hanikra has beautiful caves and grottos on the Mediterranean coast. It’s worth a trip!

Hebrew: רֹאשׁ הַנִּקְרָה

Transliteration: rosh hah-nee-krah

English: Rosh Hanikra

6. Lanes

We’re sure this city has more than just a few lanes to offer.

Hebrew: נְתִיבוֹת

Transliteration: neh-tee-vote

English: Netivot

7. Two Hills

Tel Aviv may be flat, but its neighboring town, Givatayim, actually has quite a few hills.

Hebrew: גִּבְעָתַיִם

Transliteration: geev-ah-tai-eem

English: Givatayim

8. First to Zion

If getting to Israel were a race, then this town is the self-declared winner.

Hebrew: רִאשׁוֹן לְצִיּוֹן

Transliteration: reesh-ohn leh-tzee-ohn

English: Rishon Lezion

9. Streets

We thought it was understood that cities have streets.

Hebrew: רחוֹבוֹת

Transliteration: reh-choh-vote

English: Rehovot

10. Grandfather’s Village

Nothing better than coming home to grandpa.

Hebrew: כְּפָר סַבָּא

Transliteration: k’far sah-bah

English: Kfar Saba

11. Eagle

What came first, the city or the beer?

Hebrew: נֶשֶׁר

Transliteration: neh-sher

English: Nesher

12. Corner Head

The true meaning of the name Rosh Pina is “keystone,” which symbolized the start of a new Jewish village in the 1800s.

Hebrew: רֹאשׁ פִּנָּה

Transliteration: rosh pee-nah

English: Rosh Pina

13. Sun House

Makes you feel all nice and warm inside.

Hebrew: בֵּית שֶׁמֶשׁ

Transliteration: beit sheh-mesh

English: Bet Shemesh

14. Intelligence

The city’s name comes from the historical use of the town as a place to send messages by smoke to neighboring settlements.

Hebrew: מוֹדִיעִין

Transliteration: moe-dee-een

English: Modi’in

15. Boulevards

The city was actually named after the eucalyptus trees in the area which share the name “Sderot” and brought work to the local people.

Hebrew: שְׁדָרוֹת

Transliteration: sdeh-rote

English: Sderot

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