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
PricingAboutSupport
What Does Walla Mean in Hebrew?
Walla (וואלה, pronounced WAH-lah) is a versatile Israeli exclamation borrowed from Arabic meaning "really?", "no way!", "wow!", or "seriously?" depending entirely on tone. A rising tone = surprised question ("really?"). Flat tone = affirmation ("seriously, yes"). It's one of the most frequently used words in modern Hebrew. Israelis use it as surprise, filler, affirmation, and wonder. Israel's top news site walla.co.il is named after this word.
How to Pronounce Walla
וואלה
The Hebrew script reads right-to-left. The English transliteration uses the Israeli Sephardic pronunciation standard.
When Do Israelis Use Walla?
Walla is the Israeli verbal chameleon, one word that expresses surprise, disbelief, affirmation, and wonder depending entirely on tone. Rising tone = surprised question ("Really?"). Flat tone = affirmation ("Seriously, yes"). It's so common it functions like a filler word. Also the name of Israel's most popular news website.
Fun fact
Walla.co.il, Israel's major news portal, is named after this slang word. Common misconception: tourists sometimes confuse it with "walla" in Australian slang (meaning kangaroo grass), completely unrelated. The Israeli walla always expresses an emotional reaction.
Walla in a Sentence: Examples
וואלה, לא ידעתי שהוא גר שם!
Walla, lo yadati shehu gar sham!
Wow, I didn't know he lives there!
הם קיבלו קידום? וואלה!
Hem kiblu kidum? Walla!
They got a promotion? No way!
וואלה כן, זה אמיתי.
Walla ken, ze amiti.
Seriously, yes. It's real.
וואלה לא, אני לא מאמין לזה.
Walla lo, ani lo ma'amin laze.
No way, I don't believe that.
וואלה, כמה זמן לא דיברנו!
Walla, kama zman lo dibarnu!
Wow, it's been so long since we talked!
Origin of Walla
From Arabic "wallahi" (والله: "By God / I swear to God"). The oath meaning softened over time into a general-purpose exclamation. Used across Mizrahi and all Israeli communities.
Trace the full journey of Walla in the baba Atlas: the languages it passed through, what it literally means, and the sources.
Heard "Walla" and need to translate it?
baba includes curated support for expressions like Walla. Compare the literal words with the intended meaning and use the surrounding sentence to choose the right translation. To translate a whole message with the right gender and register, use the free Hebrew to English translator.
Free to download on iPhone and Android · Slang mode comes with baba Pro