Is a mamad the same as a miklat?

No. A mamad is a regulated protected room inside an apartment, while a miklat is a building or public shelter. Follow current Home Front Command instructions when choosing a protected space.

What is a mirpeset sherut?

A mirpeset sherut is a utility or laundry space that may be enclosed or screened. A mirpeset sherut is not necessarily a usable sitting balcony.

Does a reshet protect a child from falling?

No. A reshet is fine mesh intended primarily to keep insects out. Official child-safety guidance says insect mesh does not prevent falls.

Does tris mean curtain?

No. Tris normally means an exterior shutter. Rolling, sliding, hinged and louvered shutters all fit under the Hebrew word תריס.

Is a makhsan inside the apartment?

Not necessarily. A makhsan may be inside the apartment, but storage rooms are often in a basement or parking level. Check the contract, plans and land-registration documents for location and legal attachment.

Israeli Apartment Guide: Hebrew Names in English

Protected Spaces

A protected room, mamad, with a thick steel door and shuttered window

On the label or sign

ממ״ד: in-apartment protected room
מרחב מוגן דירתי: residential protected space

ממ״דIn-apartment protected room

mamad

US English

In-apartment protected room

UK English

Residential safe room

What it is

ממ״ד is short for מרחב מוגן דירתי. A mamad is a reinforced room built to Home Front Command requirements, with a protective door and window system and ventilation openings.

The difference

A mamad is a regulated room inside the apartment. An internal room or improvised shelter is not automatically a mamad.

Common mistake

Do not call an ordinary internal room a mamad without checking the protected construction and components.

On the label or sign

ממ״ק: floor-level protected space
מרחב מוגן קומתי: protected space serving a floor

ממ״קFloor protected space

mamak

US English

Floor-level protected space

UK English

Floor-level protected space

What it is

ממ״ק is short for מרחב מוגן קומתי. A mamak is a shared protected space in the common area of a building floor.

The difference

A mamak serves a floor rather than sitting inside one apartment. Building protection does not prove that an apartment has a mamad.

Common mistake

Ask which protected space the building has instead of assuming the apartment has its own mamad.

A concrete bomb shelter room in a residential building, miklat

On the label or sign

מקלט: shelter

מקלטShelter

miklat

US English

Shelter

UK English

Shelter

What it is

A miklat is a building shelter or public shelter. A building miklat can be in a shared basement or on the ground floor.

The difference

A miklat is separate from an in-apartment mamad. Official emergency guidance treats access time as important.

Common mistake

Use ממ״ד and מקלט as different terms when asking what protection is available.

On the label or sign

דלת ממ״ד: protected-room door

דלת ממ״דProtected-room door

delet mamad

US English

Protected-room blast door

UK English

Protected-room blast door

What it is

A delet mamad is the approved protective door that forms part of a regulated mamad. A heavy metal door and frame identify the component.

The difference

An ordinary security door is not equivalent to a delet mamad. A mamad door is one component of the regulated room.

Common mistake

Do not block the mamad door or treat an ordinary security door as equivalent.

On the label or sign

חלון ממ״ד: protected-room window

חלון ממ״דProtected-room window

khalon mamad

US English

Protected-room window assembly

UK English

Protected-room window assembly

What it is

A khalon mamad is an approved protective window and frame. The protective assembly can coexist with ordinary glazing or an exterior shutter.

The difference

A barred ordinary window is not equivalent to a khalon mamad. The mamad window uses an approved frame and metal protective closure.

Common mistake

Look for the protective closure and approved frame instead of relying on window bars.

Balconies and Laundry

A utility balcony with a washing machine and drying rack, mirpeset sherut

On the label or sign

מרפסת שירות: utility or laundry balcony

מרפסת שירותUtility balcony

mirpeset sherut

US English

Utility balcony

UK English

Laundry balcony

What it is

A mirpeset sherut is a small service space used for laundry and cleaning equipment. The space may be enclosed or screened.

The difference

A utility balcony is not necessarily a usable sitting balcony. Washing machine connections, a floor drain, a drying area or cleaning storage identify the service use.

Common mistake

Inspect the access, size and enclosure before counting a mirpeset sherut as an entertaining balcony.

On the label or sign

מסתור כביסה: screened laundry enclosure

מסתור כביסהScreened laundry enclosure

mistor kvisa

US English

Screened laundry or service enclosure

UK English

Screened laundry or service enclosure

What it is

A mistor kvisa is exterior screening that conceals laundry equipment, lines or mechanical units while allowing airflow. The screen is slatted or perforated on the building facade.

The difference

A mistor kvisa is screening rather than usable floor area or a secure storage room.

Common mistake

Do not count a mistor kvisa as usable room area or secure storage.

A sunny balcony with a table and plants, mirpeset shemesh

On the label or sign

מרפסת שמש: ordinary outdoor balcony

מרפסת שמשOutdoor balcony

mirpeset shemesh

US English

Ordinary outdoor balcony

UK English

Ordinary outdoor balcony

What it is

A mirpeset shemesh is a balcony intended for outdoor use. A normal balcony door, railing and usable outdoor floor area identify the space.

The difference

A mirpeset shemesh is not primarily a laundry or utility space. The general word מרפסת in a listing does not prove which balcony type is offered.

Common mistake

Ask which kind of מרפסת a listing includes instead of assuming every balcony is a mirpeset shemesh.

Shutters

On the label or sign

תריס: exterior shutter

תריסExterior shutter

tris

US English

Exterior shutter

UK English

Exterior shutter

What it is

Tris is an umbrella word for rolling, sliding, hinged and louvered shutters. The shutter sits outside the glazed window and controls light or provides protection.

The difference

A tris is normally an exterior shutter rather than an interior fabric curtain. The exact English name depends on the mechanism.

Common mistake

Look at the mechanism before translating תריס as curtain or blind.

A half-lowered roller shutter on an Israeli window, tris glila

On the label or sign

תריס גלילה: roller shutter
ארגז תריס: roller-shutter housing

תריס גלילהRoller shutter

tris glila

US English

Roller shutter

UK English

Roller shutter

What it is

A tris glila has slats that roll into a box above the opening. The shutter may be manual or motorized.

The difference

Side tracks and an ארגז תריס above the opening identify a roller shutter. The rolling design does not prove that the shutter is electric.

Common mistake

Check how a tris glila operates instead of assuming every roller shutter is electric.

On the label or sign

תריס חשמלי: electric roller shutter

תריס חשמליElectric roller shutter

tris khashmali

US English

Electric roller shutter

UK English

Electric roller shutter

What it is

A tris khashmali is a motor-driven roller shutter. A switch, remote or controller operates the shutter.

The difference

The electric mechanism does not prove that manual operation is available during a power cut.

Common mistake

Ask about manual operation instead of assuming an electric shutter works during a power cut.

A louvred shutter on a window, tris refafa

On the label or sign

תריס רפפה: louvered shutter

תריס רפפהLouvered shutter

tris refafa

US English

Louvered shutter

UK English

Louvred shutter

What it is

A tris refafa is a slatted shutter whose louvers control light and airflow. The slatted panels may be hinged or sliding.

The difference

A tris refafa is an exterior shutter panel rather than an interior Venetian blind.

Common mistake

Do not call a tris refafa a Venetian blind when the slatted panel is an exterior shutter.

On the label or sign

תריס הזזה: sliding shutter

תריס הזזהSliding shutter

tris hazaza

US English

Sliding shutter

UK English

Sliding shutter

What it is

A tris hazaza has shutter panels that move sideways on tracks. The shutter runs on a separate track outside the window or door.

The difference

A sliding shutter moves sideways rather than rolling upward into a box.

Common mistake

Follow the outside track instead of assuming a tris hazaza rolls upward.

On the label or sign

ארגז תריס: shutter box

ארגז תריסShutter box

argaz tris

US English

Roller-shutter housing

UK English

Roller-shutter housing

What it is

An argaz tris is the housing above an opening that contains the rolled slats and axle. The housing may also contain a motor.

The difference

An argaz tris may look like a box or concealed cavity above the window. The access panel is part of the shutter housing.

Common mistake

Recognize the access panel as part of the shutter housing instead of unexplained wall damage.

Windows and Safety

Decorative metal window bars on a ground-floor window, soragim

On the label or sign

סורגים: window bars or security grilles

סורגיםWindow bars

soragim

US English

Window bars or security grilles

UK English

Window bars or security grilles

What it is

Soragim are a metal security or fall-prevention barrier over a window or opening. The metal grid may be fixed, projecting or opening.

The difference

Soragim are bars rather than insect mesh. Official child-safety guidance says insect mesh does not prevent falls.

Common mistake

Look for a metal grid instead of assuming a fine insect screen provides fall protection.

On the label or sign

סורג נפתח: opening security grille

סורג נפתחOpening security grille

sorag niftakh

US English

Opening security grille

UK English

Opening security grille

What it is

A sorag niftakh is a barred unit that opens for access or emergency escape. Hinges and a locking mechanism identify the opening unit.

The difference

Some window bars are fixed. A barred window does not automatically provide an openable escape route.

Common mistake

Check for hinges and a lock instead of assuming all barred windows can open.

On the label or sign

רשת: insect screen or mesh

רשתInsect screen

reshet

US English

Insect screen or mesh

UK English

Insect screen or mesh

What it is

A reshet is fine mesh intended primarily to keep insects out. The mesh may be removable or set in a frame behind the window.

The difference

A reshet is not a fall-prevention grille. Official child-safety guidance says insect mesh does not prevent falls.

Common mistake

Do not rely on a reshet as a fall-prevention barrier.

Storage and Parking

A basement storage room with shelves and boxes, makhsan

On the label or sign

מחסן: storage room
מחסן צמוד: storage room described as attached

מחסןStorage room

makhsan

US English

Storage room

UK English

Store-room

What it is

A makhsan is an enclosed storage area. The room may be inside the apartment, but storage rooms are often in the basement or parking level.

The difference

A listing does not establish the storage room's size, location or legal attachment to the apartment. A listing may give separate square meters or say מחסן צמוד.

Common mistake

Check the plans and property documents instead of assuming a makhsan is inside the apartment or included in the advertised living area.

On the label or sign

מחסן דירתי: apartment-associated storage room
מחסן צמוד: attached storage room

מחסן דירתי / צמודApartment-attached storage

makhsan dirati / tsamud

US English

Apartment-associated or attached storage room

UK English

Apartment-associated or attached storage room

What it is

A makhsan dirati or makhsan tsamud is storage allocated or legally attached to a particular apartment. The exact title status needs checking in the contract, plans and land-registration documents.

The difference

In property language, צמוד can concern legal attachment, physical proximity or both. צמוד does not always mean that the room is next door.

Common mistake

Verify the title documents instead of reading צמוד only as a statement about physical location.

A covered parking space under an apartment building, khanaya

On the label or sign

פרטית: private
בטאבו: registered in the land registry
מקורה: covered

חניהParking space

khanaya

US English

Parking space

UK English

Parking space

What it is

Khanaya means parking associated with the apartment. The parking may be private, shared, tandem, covered or mechanical.

The difference

The word חניה does not guarantee an exclusive conventional space. A listing should qualify the parking arrangement.

Common mistake

Check the parking qualification instead of assuming every khanaya is an exclusive conventional space.

English term	Look for in Hebrew	Keep in mind
In-apartment protected room	ממ״דmamad	Regulated room inside the apartment
Shared floor protected space	ממ״קmamak	Serves a building floor
Building or public shelter	מקלטmiklat	Separate from an in-apartment mamad
Utility or laundry balcony	מרפסת שירותmirpeset sherut	Inspect before counting as a sitting balcony
Ordinary outdoor balcony	מרפסת שמשmirpeset shemesh	Intended for outdoor use
Roller shutter	תריס גלילהtris glila	May be manual or motorized
Electric roller shutter	תריס חשמליtris khashmali	Ask about manual operation
Window bars	סורגיםsoragim	Metal security or fall-prevention barrier
Insect screen	רשתreshet	Does not prevent falls
Storage room	מחסןmakhsan	Check location and legal attachment
Parking space	חניהkhanaya	Check the parking qualification

Mix-Ups to Avoid

Protected Spaces

ממ״דIn-apartment protected room

What it is

The difference

Common mistake

ממ״קFloor protected space

What it is

The difference

Common mistake

מקלטShelter

What it is

The difference

Common mistake

דלת ממ״דProtected-room door

What it is

The difference

Common mistake

חלון ממ״דProtected-room window

What it is

The difference

Common mistake

Balconies and Laundry

מרפסת שירותUtility balcony

What it is

The difference

Common mistake

מסתור כביסהScreened laundry enclosure

What it is

The difference

Common mistake

מרפסת שמשOutdoor balcony

What it is

The difference

Common mistake

Shutters

תריסExterior shutter

What it is

The difference

Common mistake

תריס גלילהRoller shutter

What it is

The difference

Common mistake

תריס חשמליElectric roller shutter

What it is

The difference

Common mistake

תריס רפפהLouvered shutter

What it is

The difference

Common mistake

תריס הזזהSliding shutter

What it is

The difference

Common mistake

ארגז תריסShutter box

What it is

The difference

Common mistake

Windows and Safety

סורגיםWindow bars

What it is

The difference

Common mistake

סורג נפתחOpening security grille

What it is

The difference

Common mistake

רשתInsect screen

What it is

The difference

Common mistake

Storage and Parking

מחסןStorage room

What it is

The difference

Common mistake

מחסן דירתי / צמודApartment-attached storage

What it is