What Language Do They Speak in Israel?
Facts last checked 9 October 2026.
Israel has 2 official languages: Hebrew, Arabic.
Learn some Hebrew before you go
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Hebrew Phrasebook & Dictionary
The essentials for ordering food, asking directions and being polite.
Languages of Israel at a glance
| Official languages | Hebrew, Arabic |
|---|---|
| Number of official languages | 2 |
| Countries on this site where Hebrew is official | 1 |
| People (demonym) | Israeli |
| Capital | Jerusalem |
| Internet domain | .il |
Languages of neighbouring countries
Israel in context
- Israel covers 21,937 kmยฒ, making it the 148th largest of the 196 countries on this site.
- Its population density of about 462 people per kmยฒ ranks 18th of 196 (1st = most crowded).
- It shares a land border with 5 countries: Egypt, Jordan, Lebanon, Palestine, Syria.
- With 10,134,800 people, Israel holds about 3.4% of the population of Western Asia.
- With 2 official languages, Israel has more than most countries on this site.
- Traffic drives on the right, and calendars start the week on Sunday.
- Israel is a member state of the United Nations.
Useful phrases for visitors to Israel
Everyday Hebrew phrases you will hear and use in Israel:
| English | Hebrew |
|---|---|
| Hello | ืฉืืื (shalom) |
| Thank you | ืชืืื (toda) |
| Please | ืืืงืฉื (bevakasha) |
| Goodbye | ืืืชืจืืืช (lehitraot) |
| Yes | ืื (ken) |
| No | ืื (lo) |
Everyday Arabic phrases you will hear and use in Israel:
| English | Arabic |
|---|---|
| Hello | ู ุฑุญุจุง (marhaba) |
| Thank you | ุดูุฑุง (shukran) |
| Please | ู ู ูุถูู (min fadlak) |
| Goodbye | ู ุน ุงูุณูุงู ุฉ (ma'a as-salama) |
| Yes | ูุนู (na'am) |
| No | ูุง (la) |
Spellings can vary by region, and some languages use different forms for formal or informal speech. Even a simple greeting in the local language is usually appreciated.
Languages in Israel โ FAQ
What language do they speak in Israel?
The official languages of Israel are Hebrew and Arabic.
How many official languages does Israel have?
Israel has 2 official languages: Hebrew, Arabic.
Is Hebrew spoken anywhere else?
Israel is the only country on this site where Hebrew is an official language.
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