Lens A · Language · The word canon

186 words. 60 of them with their whole story.

Every word here is searchable — and 60 carry a full deep record: etymology with a confidence label, register, examples, sources, and a journey where the geography is real. The rest are honest index entries, being researched.

Deep recordEtymology, examples, sources, confidence — the whole journey.

Index entryIn the canon, documented, being researched. No filler.

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Showing 186 of 186

אגרטלa-gar-TAL

pitcher, cruetformalliturgical

Index entry

אחיa-KHI

bro, dude (lit. "my brother")casual

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עלהa-LE

dude (lit. "leaf"; Arabic-derived vocative)casualyouth

Index entry

עלייהa-li-YA

immigration to Israel (lit. "ascent")formalliturgical

Deep record

אלוןa-LON

oak; a man's nameformal

Index entry

אמןa-MEN

"so be it" — affirmation after a blessingliturgicalformal

Deep record

אפריוןa-pir-YON

palanquin, bridal litter (Song of Songs 3:9)liturgical

Index entry

אריa-RI

lion; a man's name ("Ari" of the Zohar = R. Isaac Luria)formal

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אבטיחa-va-TI-ach

watermelon (Numbers 11:5)casualformal

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אביבa-VIV

spring (season); fresh grain ears (Tel Aviv, Chodesh Ha-Aviv)formalliturgical

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אחכachk

later, in a bit (from "acharei kach")youthcasual

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אחלהAKH-la

awesome, excellentcasual

Deep record

על הפניםal ha-pa-NIM

awful, lousy (lit. "on the face")casualyouth

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עמכהAM-kha

ordinary folk, the common people (lit. "your people")casual

Deep record

ארגמןar-ga-MAN

purple (biblical royal dye)formalliturgical

Index entry

ארטיקar-TIK

popsicle, ice lollycasual

Index entry

ערסars

thug, low-class lout (derogatory)casual

Deep record

עצמאותatz-ma-UT

independence (coined from "etzem," bone/self)formal

ברוך השםba-RUKH ha-SHEM

"thank God" (lit. "blessed be the Name")liturgicalcasual

Deep record

במבהBAM-ba

Israel's iconic peanut puff snack (Osem)casual

Deep record

בהצלחהbe-hatz-la-KHA

good luck (lit. "with success")casualformal

Index entry

בסדרbe-se-DER

okay, all right, finecasual

Index entry

בשעה טובהbe-sha-A to-VA

"at a good hour" — blessing on a pregnancy/ventureliturgicalcasual

Deep record

בטן-גבBE-ten GAV

lounging around, R&R (lit. "belly-back")casual

Index entry

בבקשהbe-va-ka-SHA

please; you're welcomecasualformal

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בוקר טובBO-ker tov

good morningcasualformal

Index entry

ברכהbra-KHA

blessingliturgicalcasual

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בורקסbu-RE-kas

flaky filled pastry (Sephardi)casual

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בולbul

exactly, right on (lit. "postage stamp")casual

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בולשיטbul-shit

nonsense, bs (borrowed)casual

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צ'ולנטCHO-lent

slow-cooked Shabbat stewcasualliturgical

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צ'ופרchu-PAR

perk, treat, bonuscasual

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צ'ופצ'יקchup-CHIK

freebie, little bonus gadgetcasual

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ד״שdash

regards (acronym of "drishat shalom")casual

דווקאdav-KA (colloquially DAF-ka)

precisely; ironically "of all things"; out of spitecasual

get lost! (Arabic-derived curse)casual

Index entry

דוביDU-bi

little bear (from "dov," bear); teddycasualplayful

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דוגריDUG-ri

straight talk, franklycasualprofessional

Deep record

דבורהdvo-RA

bee; Deborah, the prophetess (Judges 4–5)formal

Index entry

ערב טובE-rev tov

good eveningcasualformal

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איזהEI-ze

what a…! ("eize yofi" — how lovely)casual

אין מה לעשותein ma la-a-SOT

nothing to be done, it is what it iscasual

Index entry

אשכולesh-KOL

cluster of grapesformalliturgical

Deep record

אתרוגet-ROG

citron (Sukkot fruit)liturgical

screw-up, blundercasual

Deep record

פרגוןfir-GUN

generous delight in another's successcasual

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פריירFRA-yer

sucker, pushovercasual

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פרחהFRE-kha

bimbo, shallow girl (derogatory, dated)dated

Deep record

גלותga-LUT

exile, Diasporaliturgicalformal

Index entry

גלגלgal-GAL

wheel (cf. place-name Gilgal)casualformal

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גפילטע פישge-FIL-te fish

poached minced-fish patties (Ashkenazi, "stuffed fish")casualliturgical

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גאולהge-u-LA

redemption (also a Jerusalem neighborhood)liturgicalformal

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גוואלדge-VALT

good grief! (Yiddish cry of alarm, lit. "violence")casualplayful

Index entry

גברGE-ver

dude, man's man (lit. "man")casual

הכל בסדרha-KOL be-se-DER

everything's finecasual

Index entry

הלוואיha-le-VAI

if only! would that! ("hopefully")casualliturgical

Deep record

הדיוטhed-YOT

layperson, amateurformal

Deep record

עיתוןi-TON

newspaper (from "et," time)casualformal

Index entry

אם ירצה השםim yir-TZEH ha-SHEM

God willing ("if the Name wills")liturgicalcasual

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קדישka-DISH

mourner's doxology prayerliturgical

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כפרהka-PA-ra (endearment) / ka-pa-RA (atonement)

term of endearment (lit. "atonement")casualliturgical

Deep record

כשרka-SHER

fit, proper — ritually or legitimatelyliturgicalcasual

Deep record

קצהka-TZE

edge; fed up ("ani ba katza" — I'm at the end of my rope)casual

lighthearted, chill, no big dealcasual

Index entry

חלשkha-LASH

weak, pathetic, lamecasualyouth

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חסרkha-SER

lacking; a loser, clueless (youth slang)youthcasual

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חבל על הזמןkha-VAL al ha-zman

amazing! (lit. "a waste of time"; ironic reversal)casualyouth

Deep record

חי עלייkhai a-LAI

"on my life!", I swearcasual

Index entry

חחחkhakha

hehe / lol (text laughter)youthcasual

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חלווהkhal-VA

tahini-based sesame confectioncasual

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חשמלkhash-MAL

electricity (biblical: gleaming substance, "electrum")casualformal

Deep record

חסדKHE-sed

loving-kindness; volunteer charity workliturgicalcasual

contract (biblical: seer, visionary)formal

Deep record

חומוסKHU-mus

hummus; chickpea spreadcasualformal

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חוצפהkhutz-PA

audacity, nervecasualformal

Deep record

קיבוץki-BUTZ

collective agricultural communityformal

Deep record

קיצרKIT-zar

in short; whatever, cut it (from "katzer," short)casualyouth

Index entry

כנסתKNE-set

parliament of Israel (biblical root: gather)formal

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קודקודkod-KOD

crown of the head; summit, vertexformal

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כל הכבודkol ha-ka-VOD

well done, kudos (lit. "all the honor")casualformal

Deep record

כל כךkol kach

so much, that much ("why so much?!")casual

Index entry

קומבוKOM-bo

connection-scheme, wangled arrangement (protektzia move)casual

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כוסkos

cup, glasscasualformal

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קרגעKRE-ga

hang on, one sec (from "ke-raga," like a moment)casualyouth

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קרמבוKREM-bo

chocolate-coated marshmallow teacakecasual

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קרינג׳krinj

cringe (borrowed)youthcasual

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לבנהla-ba-NE

strained yogurt cheesecasual

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לילה טובLAI-la tov

good nightcasualformal

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להתראותle-hit-ra-OT

see you, goodbye (lit. "to be seen [again]")casualformal

Deep record

ליסטיםlis-TIM

bandit, robberformaldated

Index entry

לולlol

lol (borrowed text-speak)youthcasual

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מה קורהma ko-RE

what's happeningcasual

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מה נשמעma nish-MA

what's up (lit. "what is heard")casual

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מה פתאוםma pit-OM

no way! what do you mean?!casual

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מגיע ליma-GI-a li

I deserve it; serves me rightcasual

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מלביma-LA-bi

milk pudding with rosewater syrupcasual

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מאמיMA-mi

sweetie, hon (from "mommy")casualplayful

Index entry

מזל טובma-ZAL tov (Israeli) / MA-zel tov (Yiddish-American)

congratulations (lit. "good constellation")casualformal

Deep record

מבסוטmab-SUT

pleased, stoked, high-spiritedcasualyouth

Deep record

מדליקmad-LIK

lit, amazing (lit. "igniting")casualyouth

Index entry

מגניבmag-NIV

cool, awesome (lit. "steals [you]")casualyouth

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מלאךmal-AKH

angel; messengerliturgicalcasual

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מאנשmansh

'sup, what's up (text-speak contraction)youthcasual

state, country (biblical: province)formal

chariot; divine Chariot mysticism; IDF main battle tankformalliturgical

Deep record

מנייןmin-YAN

prayer quorum of tenliturgical

Index entry

מסתובבmis-to-VEV

hanging out, getting aroundcasual

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משקפייםmish-ka-FA-yim

eyeglassescasualformal

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מותקMO-tek

sweetie, honeycasualplayful

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נשמהne-sha-MA

soul; term of endearment ("dear")casual

Deep record

נגהno-GA

brightness; the planet Venus; a woman's nameformalliturgical

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נוראno-RA

terrible; terribly/awfully (intensifier)casual

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נודניקNUD-nik

nag, pest, borecasualplayful

Deep record

אופןO-fan

wheel; manner, mode (Ezekiel's ophanim)formal

Index entry

אורor

light; a unisex nameformalliturgical

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אוי וויoy vey

oh no, woe is me (Yiddish exclamation)casualplayful

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אוזני המןoz-NEY ha-MAN

hamantaschen — Purim pastriescasualliturgical

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פארה פארהPA-ra PA-ra

one by one, step by step, systematicallycasual

Index entry

פרדסpar-DES

orchard; citrus grove; (rabbinic) esoteric inquiryformalliturgical

Deep record

פיצוץpi-TZUTZ

a bombshell, a blast (lit. "explosion")casualyouth

vestibule, corridor, foyerformal

"Israeli couscous" — toasted pasta pearlscasual

Deep record

פונדקpun-DAK

inn, roadside taverncasualdated

Deep record

רחלra-KHEL

ewe; Rachel, matriarchformalliturgical

Index entry

ראש גדולrosh ga-DOL

big-picture, can-do initiative (IDF slang)casualprofessional

Deep record

ראש קטןrosh ka-TAN

narrow, minimal-effort mindset (IDF slang)casualprofessional

Index entry

סבבהsa-BA-ba

cool, great, no problemcasualplayful

defense counsel, advocateformal

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סחבקsach-BAK

buddy, close friendcasualyouth

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סנדלsan-DAL

sandal (shoe)casualformal

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סבתאSAV-ta

grandma; in "lech al savta sheli" — baloney, pull the other onecasualplayful

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סרטSE-ret

a drama, a situation (lit. "movie")casual

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שבבניקsha-bab-NIK

rascal, playful troublemakercasualplayful

Index entry

שב״כsha-BAK

Israel Security Agency (Shin Bet; acronym)formal

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שבתsha-BAT

Sabbath; Saturdayliturgicalcasual

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שלוםsha-LOM

peace; hello; goodbyecasualformal

Deep record

שמןsha-MEN

lame, annoying, uncool (lit. "fat")youthcasual

Index entry

שרוןsha-RON

the Sharon plain (central coast); a personal nameformal

Deep record

שבוע טובsha-VU-a tov

have a good week (Saturday-night greeting)casualformal

Index entry

שווארמהsha-WAR-ma

shawarma (rotisserie meat in pita/lafa)casual

Index entry

שקשוקהshak-SHU-ka

eggs poached in tomato-pepper saucecasualformal

Deep record

שיגעוןshi-ga-ON

madness, frenzy ("ze shigaon!" — it's insane!)casual

song, poem; a unisex namecasualformal

Index entry

שמורshmor

hold/save (a seat, a spot) for mecasual

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שטויותshtu-YOT

nonsense, rubbishcasual

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סליחהsli-KHA

sorry; excuse mecasualformal

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סוף הדרךsof ha-DE-rech

top-notch, the best (lit. "end of the road")casual

Index entry

סתםstam

just kidding; for no reason; merelycasual

Deep record

סופגניהsuf-gan-YA

jelly doughnut (Hanukkah)casualliturgical

answer; repentance; "doing tshuva" (becoming religious)formalliturgical

Deep record

תכלסTAKH-les

bottom line, straight to the pointcasualprofessional

Deep record

טלtal

dew; a unisex nameformalliturgical

Index entry

תירסti-RAS

corn, maize (biblical: Tiras, son of Japheth)casualformal

Deep record

תיקtik

bag, briefcase; file, portfoliocasualformal

Deep record

תתחדשtit-kha-DESH

"may you be renewed" — said on a new purchasecasual

Index entry

תודהto-DA

thank youcasualformal

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טרקליןtrak-LIN

living room, reception hallformal

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טרמפtremp

hitchhike, ridecasual

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צברtza-BAR (plant) / TZA-bar (person)

prickly pear; native-born Israelicasualformal

Deep record

צה״לTza-HAL

the IDF (acronym: Israel Defense Forces)formal

Index entry

אולפןul-PAN

Hebrew-immersion school for new immigrantsformal

wow, really?! (from "by God")casualyouth

Deep record

יעלya-EL

ibex, mountain goat; a woman's name (Judges 4)formal

Index entry

יאללהYA-la

let's go; come on; hurry upcasual

Deep record

יאללה בייYA-la bye

gotta go, bye (hybrid farewell)casual

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יהיה בסדרyih-YEH be-se-DER

it'll be finecasual

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יונהyo-NA

dove; Jonah; a unisex nameformalliturgical

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יוצא דופןyo-TZE DO-fen

exceptional (rabbinic: born by caesarean)casualformal

Index entry

זעתרza-A-tar

hyssop; the thyme-herb blendcasualliturgical

Index entry

The deep records

The 60 deep records are the atlas’s library.

Each one researched, sourced, and dated — etymology with a confidence label, examples from real speech, and a map only where the geography is defensible.

Deep recordסבבהsa-BA-baWhy do Israelis say this when everything’s fine?Open the journey

Deep recordחבל על הזמןkha-VAL al ha-zmanHow did “a waste of time” come to mean “incredible”?Open the journey

Deep recordדווקאdav-KA (colloquially DAF-ka)Why does “precisely” so often mean “just to spite you”?Open the journey

Index entries are not failures; they’re the queue. Every deep record lists its sources and review date.

Suggest a word for the next research pass →

186 words · 12 languages · 204 places · 8 stories · 20 migrations · 12 erasReviewed 2026-07-30