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.

186 words

אגרטלa-gar-TAL

pitcher, cruetformalliturgical

Index entry

אחיa-KHI

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

Index entry

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

Index entry

אחכachk

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

Index entry

אחלהAKH-la

awesome, excellentcasual

Deep record

על הפניםal ha-pa-NIM

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

Deep record

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

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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

Index entry

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

Index entry

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

Deep record

פריירFRA-yer

sucker, pushovercasual

Deep record

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

Index entry

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

Index entry

קדישka-DISH

mourner's doxology prayerliturgical

Index entry

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

Index entry

חסרkha-SER

lacking; a loser, clueless (youth slang)youthcasual

Index entry

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

Index entry

חלווהkhal-VA

tahini-based sesame confectioncasual

Index entry

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

Deep record

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

Index entry

קודקודkod-KOD

crown of the head; summit, vertexformal

Index entry

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

Index entry

לבנהla-ba-NE

strained yogurt cheesecasual

Index entry

לילה טובLAI-la tov

good nightcasualformal

Index entry

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

Index entry

מה פתאוםma pit-OM

no way! what do you mean?!casual

Index entry

מגיע ליma-GI-a li

I deserve it; serves me rightcasual

Index entry

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

Index entry

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

Index entry

משקפייםmish-ka-FA-yim

eyeglassescasualformal

Index entry

מותקMO-tek

sweetie, honeycasualplayful

Index entry

נשמהne-sha-MA

soul; term of endearment ("dear")casual

Deep record

נגהno-GA

brightness; the planet Venus; a woman's nameformalliturgical

Index entry

נוראno-RA

terrible; terribly/awfully (intensifier)casual

Index entry

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

Index entry

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

Index entry

סחבקsach-BAK

buddy, close friendcasualyouth

Index entry

סנדלsan-DAL

sandal (shoe)casualformal

Index entry

סבתאSAV-ta

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

Index entry

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

Index entry

שבתsha-BAT

Sabbath; Saturdayliturgicalcasual

Index entry

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

Index entry

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

Index entry

טרקליןtrak-LIN

living room, reception hallformal

Index entry

טרמפtremp

hitchhike, ridecasual

Index entry

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

Index entry

יהיה בסדרyih-YEH be-se-DER

it'll be finecasual

Index entry

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