Products מוצרים
Mobile AppWeb TranslatorChrome ExtensionSpeak HebrewAPIs & DevelopersHebrewCore APIEnterpriseFor NewsroomsFor GovernmentTools כלים
All Hebrew ToolsHebrew to English TranslatorEnglish to Hebrew TranslatorOnline Hebrew KeyboardVerb ConjugatorGematria CalculatorHebrew Date ConverterToday's Hebrew DateJewish Holidays This YearZmanim by CityYour Name in HebrewThe Hebrew AlphabetSlang Dictionarybaba AtlasLearn ללמוד
Hebrew GuidesAI Hebrew TutorHebrew for Yom KippurHebrew for TravelHebrew in the NewsIsraeli News in EnglishHebrew News in EnglishHebrew on WhatsAppBlogNews חדשות
baba NewsGood Morning, IsraelIsraeli NewsroomsIsraeli News APIMore עוד
PricingAboutSupportFree, no AI102 terms, 8 phrases
IDF Terms and Slang
Parents hear a mix of ranks, unit names, and slang from a child in uniform. These are the words on a tzav, in a Shabbat phone call, and at the bakum.
| Hebrew | Reads | What It Is | Good to Know | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| צה"ל | tzahal | IDF | ||
| חייל | khayal | soldier (m.) | ||
| חיילת | khayelet | soldier (f.) | ||
| מפקד | mefaked | commander | ||
| קצין | katzin | officer | ||
| טוראי | turai | private | ||
| רב טוראי | rav turai | corporal | ||
| רב"ט | rabat | corporal (abbrev.) | ||
| סמל | samal | sergeant | ||
| סמל ראשון | samal rishon | staff sergeant | ||
| סמ"ר | samar | staff sergeant (abbrev.) | ||
| רב סמל | rav samal | sergeant first class | ||
| רס"ל | rasal | sergeant first class (abbrev.) | ||
| רב סמל ראשון | rav samal rishon | master sergeant | ||
| רס"ר | rasar | master sergeant (abbrev.) | ||
| רב סמל מתקדם | rav samal mitkadem | sergeant major | ||
| רס"מ | rasam | sergeant major (abbrev.) | ||
| רב סמל בכיר | rav samal bakhir | command sergeant major | ||
| רס"ב | rasab | command sergeant major (abbrev.) | ||
| רב נגד | rav nagad | chief warrant officer | ||
| רנ"ג | ranag | chief warrant officer (abbrev.) | ||
| סגן משנה | segen mishne | second lieutenant | ||
| סג"מ | sagam | second lieutenant (abbrev.) | ||
| סגן | segen | lieutenant | ||
| סרן | seren | captain | ||
| רב סרן | rav seren | major | ||
| רס"ן | rasan | major (abbrev.) | ||
| סגן אלוף | sgan aluf | lieutenant colonel | ||
| סא"ל | sa'al | lieutenant colonel (abbrev.) | ||
| אלוף משנה | aluf mishne | colonel | ||
| אל"מ | alam | colonel (abbrev.) | ||
| תת אלוף | tat aluf | brigadier general | ||
| תא"ל | ta'al | brigadier general (abbrev.) | ||
| אלוף | aluf | major general | ||
| רב אלוף | rav aluf | lieutenant general | The rank of the Chief of Staff. | |
| רא"ל | ra'al | lieutenant general (abbrev.) | ||
| גדוד | gdud | battalion | ||
| חטיבה | khativa | brigade | ||
| אוגדה | ugda | division | ||
| פלוגה | pluga | company | ||
| מחלקה | makhlaka | platoon | ||
| כיתה | kita | squad | ||
| חיל | khayil | corps | ||
| מילואים | milu'im | reserves | ||
| טירונות | tironut | basic training | ||
| טירון | tiron | recruit | ||
| בקו"ם | bakum | induction center | Where new soldiers are processed on day one. | |
| גיבוש | gibush | selection tryout | ||
| שיבוץ | shibutz | assignment | ||
| קרבי | kravi | combat | ||
| עורפי | orfi | rear / non-combat | ||
| ג׳ובניק | jobnik | non-combat soldier | Slang, sometimes fond, sometimes dismissive. | |
| קבע | keva | career army | ||
| סדיר | sadir | regular service | ||
| עתודה | atuda | academic reserve track | ||
| גיוס | giyus | enlistment | ||
| דחייה | dekhiya | deferment | ||
| שחרור | shikhrur | discharge | ||
| צו | tzav | call-up order | ||
| צו 8 | tzav shmona | emergency reserve call-up | ||
| פז"ם | pazam | time in service | How long the soldier has served toward discharge, not a rank. | |
| יציאה | yetzi'a | leave off base | ||
| גימלים | gimelim | army sick leave | A medical day off; parents hear this more than "מחלה." | |
| מחבוש | makhbosh | base detention | ||
| פק"ל | pakal | kit / packing list | ||
| מדים | madim | uniform | ||
| כומתה | kumta | beret | ||
| נשק | neshek | weapon | ||
| מטווח | mitvakh | firing range | ||
| מסע | masa | loaded march | ||
| תעסוקה מבצעית | ta'asuka mivtza'it | operational duty | ||
| גבול | gvul | border | ||
| כוננות | konenut | standby / alert | ||
| בסיס | basis | base | ||
| בה"ד | bahad | training base | ||
| נח"ל | nakhal | Nahal | ||
| גולני | golani | Golani | ||
| גבעתי | giv'ati | Givati | ||
| צנחנים | tzanhanim | paratroopers | ||
| שריון | shiryon | armor | ||
| חיל אוויר | khayil avir | air force | ||
| חיל הים | khayil ha-yam | navy | ||
| מודיעין | modi'in | intelligence | ||
| סיירת | sayeret | reconnaissance unit | ||
| קורס קצינים | kurs ktzinim | officer course | ||
| מכינה | mekhina | pre-army year | ||
| שנת שירות | shnat sherut | service year | ||
| ת"ש | tash | soldier welfare / conditions | ||
| מש"ק | mashak | NCO | ||
| משקית | mashkit | female NCO | ||
| קב"ן | kaban | mental-health officer | ||
| שמירה | shmira | guard duty | ||
| תורנות | toranut | duty roster | ||
| קשר | kesher | contact / signals | ||
| מילואמניק | milu'imnik | reservist | ||
| קבעניק | kevanik | career soldier | ||
| הסדר | hesder | yeshiva-army track | ||
| חתרן | khatran | slacker | ||
| אפסנאות | afsana'ut | supply | ||
| מנת קרב | manat krav | combat ration | ||
| כפיר | kfir | Kfir brigade | ||
| שייטת | shayetet | naval commando | When people say "the Shayetet" they mean Shayetet 13. |
102 of 102 terms
Army Life צבא
Say It
| מתי השחרור | matai ha-shikhrur | When is discharge? |
| אני במילואים | ani be-milu'im | I am on reserve duty. |
| יש צו 8 | yesh tzav shmona | There is an emergency call-up. |
| איפה הבסיס | eifo ha-basis | Where is the base? |
| הוא בטירונות | hu be-tironut | He is in basic training. |
| יש גימלים | yesh gimelim | There is army sick leave. |
| יציאה לשבת | yetzi'a le-shabbat | Leave for Shabbat. |
| מתי הגיבוש | matai ha-gibush | When is the tryout? |
Terms
| צה"ל | tzahal | IDF |
| חייל | khayal | soldier (m.) |
| חיילת | khayelet | soldier (f.) |
| מפקד | mefaked | commander |
| קצין | katzin | officer |
| טוראי | turai | private |
| רב טוראי | rav turai | corporal |
| רב"ט | rabat | corporal (abbrev.) |
| סמל | samal | sergeant |
| סמל ראשון | samal rishon | staff sergeant |
| סמ"ר | samar | staff sergeant (abbrev.) |
| רב סמל | rav samal | sergeant first class |
| רס"ל | rasal | sergeant first class (abbrev.) |
| רב סמל ראשון | rav samal rishon | master sergeant |
| רס"ר | rasar | master sergeant (abbrev.) |
| רב סמל מתקדם | rav samal mitkadem | sergeant major |
| רס"מ | rasam | sergeant major (abbrev.) |
| רב סמל בכיר | rav samal bakhir | command sergeant major |
| רס"ב | rasab | command sergeant major (abbrev.) |
| רב נגד | rav nagad | chief warrant officer |
| רנ"ג | ranag | chief warrant officer (abbrev.) |
| סגן משנה | segen mishne | second lieutenant |
| סג"מ | sagam | second lieutenant (abbrev.) |
| סגן | segen | lieutenant |
| סרן | seren | captain |
| רב סרן | rav seren | major |
| רס"ן | rasan | major (abbrev.) |
| סגן אלוף | sgan aluf | lieutenant colonel |
| סא"ל | sa'al | lieutenant colonel (abbrev.) |
| אלוף משנה | aluf mishne | colonel |
Say It
מתי השחרור
matai ha-shikhrur
When is discharge?
אני במילואים
ani be-milu'im
I am on reserve duty.
יש צו 8
yesh tzav shmona
There is an emergency call-up.
איפה הבסיס
eifo ha-basis
Where is the base?
הוא בטירונות
hu be-tironut
He is in basic training.
יש גימלים
yesh gimelim
There is army sick leave.
יציאה לשבת
yetzi'a le-shabbat
Leave for Shabbat.
מתי הגיבוש
matai ha-gibush
When is the tryout?
Good to Know
גימלים Is Not Civilian Sick Leave
It is the army medical day off; a parent hears it as "he is coming home tomorrow."
צו 8 Is the One That Wrecks the Calendar
An emergency reserve order, not the ordinary yearly miluim dates.
Ranks Collapse to Nicknames
People say רס"ר and סא"ל more than the full Hebrew; the vest still has the full rank.
Bakum Is a Place, Not a Unit
בקו"ם is the induction center; after that the שיבוץ is the real news.
Same Format, Other Situations
Frequently Asked Questions
What is a צו 8?
An emergency reserve call-up order, different from the ordinary yearly miluim dates and usually the one that upends plans.
What are גימלים?
Army sick leave, a medical day off. Parents often hear it as "he is coming home tomorrow" rather than as illness.
What is a בקו"ם?
The induction center, where new soldiers are processed on day one. The actual assignment, שיבוץ, comes after.
Why do people say the rank abbreviation instead of the full word?
Ranks collapse to short forms in speech, like רס"ר or סא"ל, even though the uniform carries the full Hebrew rank.