Last Updated on November 21, 2021
Hebrew Acronyms & Abbreviations
Hebrew: קיצורים וראשי תיבות בעברית
Hebrew is a colorful and poetic language. Learning local Hebrew slang and jargon is an important part of your integration. If you want to speak like an Israeli it’s useful to know common abbreviations and acronyms as well. Sometimes Hebrew acronyms form new words. For example the Hebrew words for yellow cheese are “gvinah tzehuba” – the acronym in Hebrew is גבנ”צ and these letters then form a new word “GAVNATZ”.
Here are some of out all-time favorite Hebrew acronyms and abbreviations:
| Full phrase | Acronym | Transliteration | Meaning |
| חברי כנסת | ח”כים | CHAKIM | Havrei Knesset: Members of the Knesset |
| סכין, כף ומזלג | סכו”ם | SAKUM | Cutlery: knife, spoon and fork (in that specific order) |
| חמישי, שישי, שבת | חמשו”ש | HAMSHUSH | Army slang: Thursday, Friday, Saturday weekend leave |
| חרדי לאומי | חַרְדָּ”ל | CHARDAL | Charedi Leumi. This is funny as the word for mustard in Hebrew is “Chardal” |
| שק שינה | סָקָ”שׁ | SAKASH | Sak Sheinah: Sleeping bag |
| חבל על הזמן | חַבְלָ”ז | HAVLAZ | Chaval al hazman: wow, stunning or awful and also a waste of time |
| שֵׁירוּת ביטחון כללי | שַׁבָּ”כּ | SHABAK | Israel Security Forces also known as the Shin Bet |
| חס וחלילה | חו”ח | CHUCH | Chas Ve Chalilah: Heaven forbid |
| סוף סוף | סו”ס | SUS | Sof Sof: Finally. This is funny as the word for horse is Hebrew is “Sus” |
| זו בעיה שלכם | זַבַּ”שְכֵּם | ZABSHECHEM | Zu B’aya shelachem: That’s your problem |
| גמר חתימה טובה | גמח”ט | GAMACHT | Gmar Hatima Tova! – Yom Kippur greeting – may you be inscribed |
| שינת צוהרים | שנ״צ | SHNATZ | Sheinat Tzohorayim – afternoon sleep |
| לילה טוב | לל”ט | LALAT | Leilah Tov – good night |
| דרישת שלום | ד”ש | DUSH | Drishat shalom – greetings and regards (some might spell it DASH) |
| צבא הגנה לישראל | צה”ל | TZAHAL | Tzavah Hahaganah LeYisrael – the Israel Defense Force |
| לוח זמנים | לוּ”ז | LUZ | Luach Zmanin – time schedule |
| קרוב לבית | קַלַ”בּ | KALAB | Karov LeBayit – close to home |
| שבת שלום | ש”ש | SHINSHIN | Shabat Shalom – a peaceful Sabbath |
| מוצאי שבת | מוֹצָ”ש | MOTZASH | Motzei Shabbat – Saturday night after Shabbat |
- Acronyms, abbreviations, homonyms and homophones
- Hebrew slang words and their meanings
- Hebrew English word sheets by topic…
To illustrate, here is a conversation between two teenage friends; Talia and Hedva
H: “Hi Talia!”
T: “So nice to hear from you Hedva, it’s been ages – Shanah Tova and GAMACHT”
H: “Thanks and you too. I’ve just woken up from my SHNATZ, I was exhausted. I was out buying presents today for the family. I bought so many nice things and a new set of SAKUM for my parents. The ones we use now are so old fashioned.”
T: “I also did some shopping today and bought a stunning red dress – CHAVLAZ! I can’t wait to wear it next week.”
H: “Have you heard Adina has a boyfriend SUS, can you believe it he is a CHARDAL. I was so amazed to hear it, her family are just very traditional.”
T: “I wasn’t so friendly with her at school but everyone used to say that her father was in the SHABAK. I wonder if that is actually true.”
H: “So have you heard, I’m in TZAHAL now. I’m posted in Beer Sheva. It’s so far, I asked for KALAB but they refused me and so I have to be happy with my CHAMSHUSHIM (plural for CHAMSHUSH). Well we are having elections again soon, I hope the new CHAKIM will do something to improve our conditions. I wish we had an air-conditioner. It’s so cold on our base that I have to sleep in my SAKASH all the time.”
T: “I’d love to see you and catch up, how is your LUZ? Let’s get together on MOTZASH, how does that suit you?”
H: “That sounds great, I’ll pick you up at 21:00”
T: “Can’t wait! It’s getting late now, I am going to bed. Give DUSH to your family please. LALAT.”
H: “LALAT and DUSH to yours as well.”
Thanks to all the members of our Facebook group that contributed to this article
