Is Bulgarit the same as feta?

No. Israeli Bulgarit can be a cow's milk brined cheese, while Feta PDO is Greek and uses specified sheep's and goat's milk.

Is gvina levana cream cheese?

No. Gvina levana is fresh Israeli white cheese that is smooth and salted. The Hebrew term for cream cheese is גבינת שמנת.

What is gvina tsehuba in English?

Gvina tsehuba means yellow cheese. The phrase is an umbrella category for named semi-hard cheeses, not a translation of American cheese or cheddar.

Is labneh the same as gvina levana?

No. Labneh is concentrated fermented milk made by removing some of yogurt's water and whey. Gvina levana is a fresh white cheese.

Does gvinat shamenet mean cream cheese?

Yes. גבינת שמנת is the ordinary Hebrew term for cream cheese. גבינה במרקם שמנת names a separate creamy-textured spread category.

Israeli Cheese Guide: Hebrew Names in English

Fresh And Soft

A bowl of smooth Israeli white cheese, gvina levana, beside a plain tub

On the label or sign

גבינה לבנה: white cheese

גבינה לבנהIsraeli white cheese

gvina levana

US English

Israeli white cheese; closest substitute is quark

UK English

Quark, fromage frais, or fromage blanc

What it is

Gvina levana is a fresh, unripened, smooth, spreadable cow's milk cheese.

The difference

Gvina levana is normally smooth and salted. Quark or fromage blanc is only an approximation, and ricotta and farmer cheese have a different structure.

Common mistake

Do not buy cream cheese, sour cream, Greek yogurt, ricotta, or cottage cheese just because the product is white and spoonable.

A bowl of Israeli cottage cheese, kotej, with a spoon

On the label or sign

קוטג׳: cottage cheese

קוטג׳Cottage cheese

kotej

US English

Cottage cheese

UK English

Cottage cheese

What it is

Kotej is cottage cheese: moist fresh curds in a creamy dressing.

The difference

The English and Hebrew names are a true match. Israeli 5% cottage is close to full-fat US cottage cheese.

Common mistake

Choose the brand and fat percentage on the tub instead of assuming Israeli cottage is a different cheese.

Salty White Cheeses

A block of white Tzfat cheese, tsfatit, with two slices cut

On the label or sign

צפתית רכה: soft Tzfatit
צפתית מעודנת: mild Tzfatit

צפתית רכה / צפתית מעודנתSoft Tzfatit

tsfatit raka / tsfatit meudenet

US English

No exact US name

UK English

No exact UK name

What it is

Soft supermarket Tzfatit is a mild, smooth, sliceable Israeli white cheese. Current versions can be made from cow's milk.

The difference

Soft Tzfatit is not automatically the older sheep's milk cheese made in Safed. Soft Tzfatit is also not feta.

Common mistake

Read the modifier and milk source instead of expecting hard, salty traditional Safed cheese.

On the label or sign

צפתית קשה: hard Tzfatit

צפתית קשהHard Tzfatit

tsfatit kasha

US English

Hard Tzfat cheese; no exact US equivalent

UK English

Hard Tzfat cheese; no exact UK equivalent

What it is

Hard Tzfatit is a firmer, saltier form used for grating, cooking, baking, and salads.

The difference

Traditional Safed cheese can use sheep's milk, while a current hard supermarket version uses cow's milk. Milk source and texture can therefore vary.

Common mistake

Do not buy soft 5% Tzfatit when a recipe needs a firm, salty cheese for grating.

On the label or sign

צפתית: Tzfatit
בולגרית: Bulgarian-style cheese
פטה: feta

גבינה מלוחהSalty white cheese

gvina melukha

US English

Brined or salty white cheese

UK English

Brined white cheese or salad cheese

What it is

Gvina melukha is an umbrella category for salty cheeses. Tzfatit and Bulgarit are examples.

The difference

Gvina melukha names a family, not one recipe. Feta, Tzfatit, Bulgarit, and other salty white cheeses are not interchangeable.

Common mistake

Ask for the exact variety instead of asking only for salty cheese and expecting feta.

Crumbly brined Bulgarian-style cheese, bulgarit, in a dish

On the label or sign

בולגרית: Bulgarian-style cheese
מסורתית: traditional style

בולגרית מסורתיתTraditional Bulgarit

bulgarit masortit

US English

Bulgarian-style white brined cheese

UK English

Bulgarian-style white brined cheese

What it is

Traditional Bulgarit is a salty brined cheese with a rougher, more crumbly texture. Current Israeli versions can use cow's milk.

The difference

Bulgarit is not guaranteed to be Greek Feta PDO. Feta is Greek and uses specified sheep's and goat's milk.

Common mistake

Read the milk source and origin instead of assuming Bulgarit guarantees sheep's milk, Bulgarian origin, or Greek feta.

On the label or sign

בולגרית מעודנת: mild, smooth Bulgarian-style cheese

בולגרית מעודנתMild Bulgarit

bulgarit meudenet

US English

Mild, smooth Bulgarian-style brined cheese

UK English

Mild, smooth Bulgarian-style salad cheese

What it is

Mild Bulgarit is a smoother, sliceable style of Israeli brined cheese.

The difference

The word מעודנת describes style and texture. The word does not promise lower salt or lower fat, and the cheese is not automatically feta.

Common mistake

Check the fat percentage and milk source instead of reading מעודנת as a diet label.

On the label or sign

פטה: feta
כבשים: sheep
עיזים: goats

פֶטָהFeta

feta

US English

Feta

UK English

Feta

What it is

Feta PDO is a protected Greek cheese made from milk of native ewes and goats. Feta PDO ripens in brine for at least two months.

The difference

Feta is not the English translation of every Bulgarit. Israeli dairy catalogues list sheep's milk and goat's milk feta separately from cow's milk Bulgarit.

Common mistake

Look for the exact word פטה, the animal, the origin, and any PDO mark instead of treating every salad cheese as feta.

Yellow Cheeses

Slices of pale yellow semi-hard Israeli cheese, gvina tsehuba, beside a block

On the label or sign

גבינה חצי קשה: semi-hard cheese
פרוסות: slices
מגורדת: grated

גבינה צהובהYellow cheese

gvina tsehuba

US English

Yellow sliced or semi-hard cheese

UK English

Yellow sliced or semi-hard cheese

What it is

Gvina tsehuba is an everyday Israeli umbrella category based on color. The category includes named semi-hard cheeses.

The difference

Gvina tsehuba is not one cheese variety. Yellow color does not automatically mean American cheese or cheddar.

Common mistake

Ask for the named cheese and fat level instead of asking only for yellow cheese.

On the label or sign

עמק 28%: Emek 28%
גלבוע 22%: Gilboa 22%
נעם 28%: Noam 28%

עמק 28% / גלבוע 22% / נעם 28%Israeli sandwich cheeses

Emek / Gilboa / Noam

US English

Brand-specific Israeli semi-hard sliced cheeses

UK English

Mild semi-hard sandwich or toast cheeses

What it is

Emek, Gilboa, and Noam are named products in the yellow cheese family. Emek 28%, Gilboa 22%, and Noam 28% are sold as semi-hard cheeses.

The difference

Emek, Gilboa, and Noam are not Hebrew words for cheddar. The three products do not have the same fat level.

Common mistake

Choose the named cheese and fat level instead of assuming every Israeli toast cheese is cheddar or that all three products are identical.

Labneh And Spreads

Labneh with olive oil and za'atar, and a jar of labneh balls in oil

On the label or sign

לאבנה: labneh

לַבְּנֶה / לאבנהLabneh

labneh

US English

Labneh; strained yogurt or yogurt cheese

UK English

Labneh; strained yogurt

What it is

Labneh is concentrated fermented milk made by removing part of yogurt's water and whey.

The difference

Labneh is normally tangier and saltier than plain Greek yogurt. Greek yogurt is only an approximation.

Common mistake

Do not confuse לאבנה with גבינה לבנה or assume every Greek-style yogurt has the same salt and concentration.

On the label or sign

כדורי לאבנה: labneh balls

כדורי לאבנה בשמןLabneh balls in oil

kadurei labneh beshemen

US English

Labneh balls in oil

UK English

Labneh balls in oil

What it is

Labneh balls are a drier, shapeable form of labneh stored or sold in oil. Products can use cow's milk or buffalo milk.

The difference

Labneh balls are not fresh mozzarella. Milk source, fat, and whether the weight includes oil can vary.

Common mistake

Read the milk source and oil details instead of mistaking the white balls for mozzarella or bocconcini.

A dense block of cream cheese, gvinat shamenet, on parchment

On the label or sign

גבינת שמנת: cream cheese
בטעם טבעי: natural or plain flavor

גבינת שמנתCream cheese

gvinat shamenet

US English

Cream cheese, with a composition warning

UK English

Cream cheese or full-fat soft cheese

What it is

Gvinat shamenet is the ordinary Hebrew term for cream cheese.

The difference

Israeli cream cheese is not always compositionally identical to US cream cheese. The US standard requires at least 33% milkfat and no more than 55% moisture.

Common mistake

For baking, read the exact label, fat level, and recipe needs instead of buying gvina levana or a creamy-textured spread.

A tub of light cheese spread, gvina be-mirkam shamenet, on bread

On the label or sign

גבינה במרקם שמנת: cheese with a cream-like texture

גבינה במרקם שמנתCreamy-textured spread

gvina bemirkam shamenet

US English

Creamy-textured cheese spread

UK English

Reduced-fat soft cheese or cheese spread

What it is

Gvina bemirkam shamenet means cheese with a cream-like texture. Israeli government analysis treats the label as a separate category from cream cheese.

The difference

Products in the government sample were largely 5% fat. A lower-fat, stabilized spread can give a looser filling or a different set than cream cheese.

Common mistake

Read the decisive words במרקם שמנת instead of stopping when the label contains the word שמנת.

Your recipe says this. Look for this Hebrew label.
Recipe says	Look for in Israel	Keep in mind
Quark or fromage blanc	גבינה לבנהgvina levana	Closest cooking approximation; Israeli white cheese is already smooth and salted.
Cottage cheese	קוטג׳kotej	A true name match; choose the fat percentage on the tub.
Mild sliceable white cheese	צפתית רכה / צפתית מעודנתtsfatit raka / tsfatit meudenet	Read the milk source and modifier.
Firm salty grating cheese	צפתית קשהtsfatit kasha	Choose the hard form, not soft 5% Tzfatit.
Crumbly Bulgarian-style cheese	בולגרית מסורתיתbulgarit masortit	Read the milk source; Bulgarit is not automatically feta.
Smooth Bulgarian-style cheese	בולגרית מעודנתbulgarit meudenet	מעודנת describes the smoother, sliceable style.
Feta	פטהfeta	Check the animal, origin, and any PDO mark.
Mild sandwich or toast cheese	גבינה צהובהgvina tsehuba	Choose a named semi-hard cheese and fat level.
Labneh	לאבנהlabneh	Do not confuse labneh with gvina levana.
Cream cheese	גבינת שמנתgvinat shamenet	Check fat and moisture needs for baking.
Reduced-fat creamy spread	גבינה במרקם שמנתgvina bemirkam shamenet	A separate category from cream cheese.

Your recipe says this. Look for this Hebrew label.

Recipe says

Look for in Israel

Keep in mind

Quark or fromage blanc

גבינה לבנהgvina levana

Closest cooking approximation; Israeli white cheese is already smooth and salted.

Cottage cheese

קוטג׳kotej

A true name match; choose the fat percentage on the tub.

Mild sliceable white cheese

צפתית רכה / צפתית מעודנתtsfatit raka / tsfatit meudenet

Read the milk source and modifier.

Firm salty grating cheese

צפתית קשהtsfatit kasha

Choose the hard form, not soft 5% Tzfatit.

Crumbly Bulgarian-style cheese

בולגרית מסורתיתbulgarit masortit

Read the milk source; Bulgarit is not automatically feta.

Smooth Bulgarian-style cheese

בולגרית מעודנתbulgarit meudenet

מעודנת describes the smoother, sliceable style.

Feta

פטהfeta

Check the animal, origin, and any PDO mark.

Mild sandwich or toast cheese

גבינה צהובהgvina tsehuba

Choose a named semi-hard cheese and fat level.

Labneh

לאבנהlabneh

Do not confuse labneh with gvina levana.

Cream cheese

גבינת שמנתgvinat shamenet

Check fat and moisture needs for baking.

Reduced-fat creamy spread

גבינה במרקם שמנתgvina bemirkam shamenet

A separate category from cream cheese.

Mix-Ups to Avoid

Fresh And Soft

גבינה לבנהIsraeli white cheese

What it is

The difference

Common mistake

קוטג׳Cottage cheese

What it is

The difference

Common mistake

Salty White Cheeses

צפתית רכה / צפתית מעודנתSoft Tzfatit

What it is

The difference

Common mistake

צפתית קשהHard Tzfatit

What it is

The difference

Common mistake

גבינה מלוחהSalty white cheese

What it is

The difference

Common mistake

בולגרית מסורתיתTraditional Bulgarit

What it is

The difference

Common mistake

בולגרית מעודנתMild Bulgarit

What it is

The difference

Common mistake

פֶטָהFeta

What it is

The difference

Common mistake

Yellow Cheeses

גבינה צהובהYellow cheese

What it is

The difference

Common mistake

עמק 28% / גלבוע 22% / נעם 28%Israeli sandwich cheeses

What it is

The difference

Common mistake

Labneh And Spreads

לַבְּנֶה / לאבנהLabneh

What it is

The difference

Common mistake

כדורי לאבנה בשמןLabneh balls in oil

What it is

The difference

Common mistake

גבינת שמנתCream cheese

What it is

The difference

Common mistake

גבינה במרקם שמנתCreamy-textured spread

What it is

The difference

Common mistake

Your Recipe Says This. Look for This Hebrew Label.

Knowing the word is half of it. Say it out loud.

How we checked this guide

Frequently Asked Questions

More Hebrew-English Guides

Israeli Cream Guide

Israeli Milk Guide

Israeli Yogurt Guide

Israeli Flour Guide