What olim get
Nefesh B’Nefesh lists a free Hebrew ulpan as one of the core aliyah benefits. A standard subsidized course lasts five months, five days a week, five hours a day, and the address on your Teudat Zehut decides which ulpan you are placed in.
You get your place through Misrad HaKlita: at your first meeting the absorption counselor gives you information about local programs and a referral or voucher. The window for starting the free course depends on your status and on the rules in force when you made aliyah, so confirm yours with the counselor rather than relying on a number from a forum.
After finishing a public ulpan, olim in their first two years can ask Misrad HaKlita for a voucher for an additional private course from the ministry’s approved list, with the tuition reimbursed. Nefesh B’Nefesh also lists Hebrewbyte, an online ulpan subsidized by Misrad HaKlita, which you can take alongside a classroom course.
Ulpan words: levels and formats
| Hebrew | Say it | What it means |
|---|---|---|
| אולפן א׳ | ulpan aleph | The first level, for beginners. The standard five-month course. |
| אולפן ב׳ | ulpan bet | The next level, for people who finished aleph or already have some Hebrew. |
| אולפן המשך | ulpan hemshech | Continuation ulpan: a follow-on course, often in the evening and usually paid. |
| אולפן בוקר | ulpan boker | Morning ulpan, the full-time format. |
| אולפן ערב | ulpan erev | Evening ulpan, for people already working. |
| אולפן תעסוקתי | ulpan taasukati | Vocational ulpan: Hebrew for your profession, for olim who finished ulpan aleph. |
| שובר | shovar | Voucher from Misrad HaKlita for a private course. |
| מבחן סיום | mivchan siyum | Final exam at the end of the course. |
Classroom Hebrew
The words your teacher and your textbook use in the first weeks.
- מורהmore / moraTeacher. The spelling is the same; מוֹרֶה is a man, מוֹרָה a woman.
- כיתהkitaClass, classroom.
- שיעורי ביתshiurei bayitHomework.
- תרגילtargilExercise.
- דף עבודהdaf avodaWorksheet.
- מחברתmachberetNotebook.
- עמודamudPage.
- מילה / מיליםmila / milimWord / words.
- משפטmishpatSentence. The same word also means law or trial.
- פועלpoalVerb.
- שם עצםshem etzemNoun.
- שורשshoreshRoot: the letters, usually three, that most Hebrew words are built on.
- בנייןbinyanVerb pattern (paal, piel, hifil and so on).
- זכר / נקבהzachar / nekevaMasculine / feminine.
- יחיד / רביםyachid / rabimSingular / plural.
- ניקודnikudVowel marks, mostly dots and lines under the letters, used in textbooks and dropped in everyday text.
Phrases for the classroom
Male form first, female form second, where they differ.
| English | Hebrew | Say it |
|---|---|---|
| Could you repeat that? | אפשר לחזור על זה? | efshar lachzor al ze |
| I didn’t understand. | לא הבנתי. | lo hevanti |
| How do you say “receipt” in Hebrew? | איך אומרים “receipt” בעברית? | eich omrim “receipt” be-ivrit |
| What does this word mean? | מה פירוש המילה הזאת? | ma perush ha-mila ha-zot |
| How do you spell it? | איך כותבים את זה? | eich kotvim et ze |
| Is it masculine or feminine? | זה זכר או נקבה? | ze zachar o nekeva |
| What’s the root? | מה השורש? | ma ha-shoresh |
| Which page? | באיזה עמוד? | be-eize amud |
| What’s the homework? | מה שיעורי הבית? | ma shiurei ha-bayit |
| I’m ready. | אני מוכן / מוכנה. | ani muchan / muchana |
| I’ll be late tomorrow. | מחר אגיע באיחור. | machar agia be-ichur |
Four mistakes every ulpan hears
English habits that slip into beginner Hebrew, and what Israelis actually say.
- Beginner Hebrewאני שלושים.What Israelis sayאני בן שלושים / בת שלושים.Age takes בן or בת: literally “a son of thirty”, “a daughter of thirty”.
- Beginner Hebrewאני חם.What Israelis sayחם לי.Feeling hot or cold is “to me”: חם לי, קר לי.
- Beginner Hebrewאני יש מכונית.What Israelis sayיש לי מכונית.Hebrew has no verb “to have” here: יש לי means “there is to me”.
- Beginner Hebrewזה עושה שכל.What Israelis sayזה הגיוני.This is “makes sense” translated word for word. Israelis say זה הגיוני (it’s logical) or יש בזה היגיון.
Check your homework sentence before class
Type the sentence you want to say and baba shows you natural Israeli Hebrew, the male and female forms, and how to pronounce it.
- Gender-aware Hebrew
- Transliteration on every translation
- Voice playback with baba Pro
Get babaFree for iPhone and AndroidPoint your phone camera here. It opens baba if you have it, or the store if you don’t.
Frequently asked questions
Is ulpan free for olim?
Yes. Nefesh B’Nefesh lists a free Hebrew ulpan as an aliyah benefit, and Misrad HaKlita gives you the referral. The time window to start depends on your status, so confirm it with your absorption counselor.
How long does ulpan last?
A standard subsidized course runs about five months, five days a week, five hours a day.
Can I work and do ulpan?
Many olim do. Besides the full-time morning ulpan there are evening courses (ulpan erev) designed for people who work.
Can I study ulpan online?
Yes. Some private ulpanim approved for Misrad HaKlita vouchers teach on Zoom, and Hebrewbyte is a subsidized online ulpan you can take alongside a classroom course.
Official sources
Rules, amounts and deadlines change. Check the official page before you act on anything here.
- Nefesh B’Nefesh: Aliyah rights and benefits (ulpan)checked September 29, 2026
- Nefesh B’Nefesh: Ulpan and Hebrew learning resourceschecked September 29, 2026
- Nefesh B’Nefesh: Your first steps after making aliyahchecked September 29, 2026
- Ministry of Aliyah and Integration: Guide for the New Immigrant (PDF)checked September 29, 2026