Is חסה ערבית romaine lettuce?

Yes. חסה ערבית and חסה רומית name romaine lettuce, called cos lettuce in UK English. Romaine is tall and upright, while iceberg is round and compact.

Are רוקט and רוקולה the same thing?

The shelf names overlap. רוקט can mean Eruca sativa, while רוקולה or ארוגולה often means the narrower leaved Diplotaxis tenuifolia, but Israeli sellers do not use the names consistently.

Is מנגולד spinach?

No. מנגולד is Swiss chard, also sold as סלק עלים or סילקה. Chard has large leaves and substantial stalks, unlike tender spinach leaves.

What does עלי בייבי mean?

עלי בייבי means a category of young edible leaves, not one plant or fixed recipe. Read the ingredient panel because a bag can contain spinach, rucola, beet leaves, rocket, watercress, or mizuna.

Israeli Greens Guide: Hebrew Names in English

Lettuce And Rocket

On the label or sign

חסה ערבית: Romaine lettuce
חסה רומית: Romaine lettuce

חסה ערבית; חסה רומיתRomaine lettuce

hasa aravit; hasa romit

US English

Romaine lettuce

UK English

Cos lettuce or romaine lettuce

What it is

חסה ערבית is a tall, upright romaine lettuce with long green leaves and a firm pale rib. The label חסה רומית names the same lettuce type.

The difference

The word ערבית is an Israeli shelf name, not the English market name. Romaine is different from the round, compact lettuce sold as iceberg.

Common mistake

Do not ask for Arabic lettuce or buy חסה אייסברג as the equivalent; look for romaine.

On the label or sign

לבבות חסה: Lettuce hearts
לבבות קיסר: Caesar hearts, meaning romaine hearts

לבבות חסה; לבבות קיסרRomaine hearts

levavot hasa; levavot keisar

US English

Romaine hearts

UK English

Cos hearts or romaine hearts

What it is

לבבות חסה are the pale, compact inner parts of romaine. The short heads contain the crisp inner leaves.

The difference

לבבות קיסר is a shelf name for trimmed romaine hearts. The name does not describe a separate lettuce species.

Common mistake

Do not treat Caesar hearts as a special lettuce or as artichoke hearts; buy them as romaine hearts.

On the label or sign

רוקט: Rocket or arugula
בן־חרדל מצוי: Garden rocket, Eruca sativa

רוֹקֵט; בן־חרדל מצויGarden rocket

roket; ben-hardal matsui

US English

Arugula or garden rocket

UK English

Rocket

What it is

In precise use, רוֹקֵט is Eruca sativa, an annual brassica with aromatic leaves and relatively broad, coarse lobes. US shoppers call the leaf arugula, while UK shoppers call the leaf rocket.

The difference

Israeli sellers do not use the rocket names consistently. A pack marked רוקט has not necessarily been identified as Eruca sativa.

Common mistake

Do not assume every רוקט pack contains garden rocket; compare the leaf shape and check a Latin name when available.

On the label or sign

רוקולה: Rucola, often wild rocket
ארוגולה: Arugula, often wild rocket
טוריים צרי־עלים: Wild rocket, Diplotaxis tenuifolia

רוקולה; ארוגולה; רוקטWild rocket

rukola; arugula; roket

US English

Wild arugula or arugula

UK English

Wild rocket or rocket

What it is

רוקולה and ארוגולה often name Diplotaxis tenuifolia, a perennial brassica with narrow, deeply cut leaves. The precise names are wild arugula in the US and wild rocket in the UK.

The difference

רוקולה, ארוגולה, and רוקט can overlap across two plants in Israeli shops. Some producers separate the names, while other shelf labels combine them.

Common mistake

Do not rely on רוקולה and רוקט as either exact synonyms or guaranteed different species; use the leaf shape and Latin name.

Chard And Beet Leaves

Chard, mangold, with white and red stalks

On the label or sign

מנגולד: Swiss chard
סלק עלים: Leaf beet or chard
סילקה: Chard

מנגולד; סלק עלים; סילקהSwiss chard

mangold; selek alim; silka

US English

Swiss chard, chard, or leaf beet

UK English

Chard, Swiss chard, or leaf beet

What it is

מנגולד is chard, a Beta vulgaris crop grown for large leaves and thick stalks. Look for broad green blades with a conspicuous white rib and stalk.

The difference

Chard shares a species with beetroot but is grown for leaves and stalks rather than a swollen root. The name סלק עלים can sound like ordinary beet tops, but Israeli sellers also use the name for chard.

Common mistake

Do not buy מנגולד as spinach or expect a beetroot attached; use Swiss chard in English.

On the label or sign

מנגולד אדום: Red chard
מנגולד צבעוני: Rainbow chard

מנגולד אדום; מנגולד צבעוניRed or rainbow chard

mangold adom; mangold tsivoni

US English

Red chard or rainbow chard

UK English

Red chard or rainbow chard

What it is

מנגולד אדום and מנגולד צבעוני are chard with red, pink, yellow, or white ribs and stalks. The colored forms remain Beta vulgaris chard.

The difference

A colored stalk does not turn chard into ordinary beetroot tops. A colored stalk also does not identify every leaf in a mixed baby leaf bag.

Common mistake

Do not treat red or rainbow chard as a separate species or as ordinary red beet leaves; buy the form as chard.

On the label or sign

עלי סלק אדום: Red beet leaves

עלי סלק אדוםRed beet leaves

alei selek adom

US English

Red beet leaves or baby beet greens

UK English

Red beet leaves or baby beet greens

What it is

עלי סלק אדום are red beet foliage. Young leaves can have green to burgundy blades with red veins and stems.

The difference

Red beet leaves and chard share the species Beta vulgaris, but the label does not prove a chard crop. Their crop forms and leaf to stalk proportions can differ.

Common mistake

Do not translate every עלי סלק label as Swiss chard; read the full product name and ingredient list.

Spinach Names

On the label or sign

תרד: Spinach
תרד תורכי: Turkish spinach, still true spinach
תרד גינה: Garden spinach

תֶּרֶד; תרד תורכי/טורקי; תרד גינהSpinach

tered; tered turki; tered hagina

US English

Spinach

UK English

Spinach

What it is

תֶּרֶד, תרד תורכי, and תרד גינה can name true spinach, Spinacia oleracea. True spinach has smooth, tender green leaves with slim stems.

The difference

The word תורכי is a market or cultivar description, not a different English vegetable. Longer names such as תרד ניו־זילנדי and תרד מים refer to different plants.

Common mistake

Do not translate every product containing תרד as ordinary spinach; check the full label.

On the label or sign

תרד בייבי: Baby spinach
עלי תרד בייבי: Baby spinach leaves

תרד בייבי; עלי תרד בייביBaby spinach

tered beibi; alei tered beibi

US English

Baby spinach

UK English

Baby spinach

What it is

תרד בייבי means young spinach leaves. The small, tender leaves come from spinach rather than a separate species.

The difference

Baby spinach is one leaf type. עלי בייבי is a mixed leaf category and may contain spinach, rucola, and beet leaves.

Common mistake

Do not buy generic עלי בייבי when a recipe needs pure baby spinach; look for תרד בייבי.

On the label or sign

תרד ניו־זילנדי: New Zealand spinach
תרד ניוזילנדי: New Zealand spinach

תרד ניו־זילנדי; תרד ניוזילנדיNew Zealand spinach

tered nyu-zilandi

US English

New Zealand spinach or warrigal greens

UK English

New Zealand spinach or warrigal

What it is

תרד ניו־זילנדי is Tetragonia tetragonioides, a warm season spinach substitute with slightly succulent leaves. Look for fleshy triangular or diamond shaped leaves on branching stems.

The difference

New Zealand spinach is not Spinacia oleracea. ניו־זילנדי names a different plant sold in Israel, not merely the origin of ordinary spinach.

Common mistake

Do not expect the raw texture of baby spinach; identify תרד ניו־זילנדי by the full label and fleshy leaves.

On the label or sign

תרד תאילנדי: Thai water spinach
תרד מים: Water spinach
פאק בונג: Pak bung, another name for water spinach

תרד תאילנדי; תרד מים; פאק בונגWater spinach

tered tailandi; tered mayim; pak bung

US English

Water spinach, kangkong, or ong choy

UK English

Water spinach or kangkong

What it is

תרד תאילנדי is Ipomoea aquatica, an aquatic or wetland relative of morning glory. Water spinach has long hollow or trailing stems and narrow, arrow shaped leaves.

The difference

Water spinach is not true spinach. The long stem and leaf structure is different from the small leaves of baby spinach.

Common mistake

Do not substitute תרד מים directly in a raw baby spinach salad; buy water spinach for its own stem and leaf structure.

Baby Leaf Mixes

On the label or sign

עלי בייבי: Baby leaves or mixed baby greens
מיקס בייבי: Baby leaf mix
בייבי: Baby, describing young leaves

עלי בייבי; מיקס בייבי; בייביMixed baby greens

alei beibi; miks beibi; beibi

US English

Mixed baby greens or spring mix

UK English

Mixed baby leaves or baby leaf salad

What it is

עלי בייבי is a category of young edible leaves, not one plant or one fixed recipe. A mix can contain spinach, rucola, beet leaves, rocket, watercress, or mizuna.

The difference

A baby leaf bag does not always contain lettuce. The contents can change by product and supply, so the ingredient panel decides what is in the bag.

Common mistake

Do not assume every עלי בייבי bag has the same leaves; read the ingredient panel each time.

On the label or sign

מיקס בייבי מנגולד: Baby chard mix

מיקס בייבי מנגולדBaby chard mix

miks beibi mangold

US English

Baby chard and beet leaf mix

UK English

Baby chard and beet leaf mix

What it is

מיקס בייבי מנגולד is a mixture centered on young chard and beet leaves. One current formula contains green chard leaf and red beet leaf.

The difference

Baby chard mix is not a synonym for generic baby greens. The identified formula has chard and red beet leaves rather than rocket or spinach.

Common mistake

Do not grab מיקס בייבי מנגולד when a recipe needs a general baby leaf mix; check the ingredient panel.

Your recipe says this. Look for this Hebrew label.
Recipe says	Look for in Israel	Keep in mind
Romaine lettuce	חסה ערבית; חסה רומיתhasa aravit; hasa romit	Choose a tall head, not round iceberg.
Romaine hearts	לבבות חסה; לבבות קיסרlevavot hasa; levavot keisar	These are trimmed romaine hearts.
Arugula or rocket	רוקטroket	Names overlap, so check the leaf shape.
Wild arugula or wild rocket	רוקולה; ארוגולהrukola; arugula	Look for narrow, deeply cut leaves.
Swiss chard	מנגולד; סלק עלים; סילקהmangold; selek alim; silka	All three can name chard.
Red beet leaves	עלי סלק אדוםalei selek adom	Do not assume every beet leaf is chard.
Spinach	תרד; תרד תורכי; תרד גינהtered; tered turki; tered hagina	Check the full label for true spinach.
Baby spinach	תרד בייביtered beibi	Generic baby leaves are usually a mix.
New Zealand spinach	תרד ניו־זילנדיtered nyu-zilandi	A separate plant with fleshy leaves.
Water spinach	תרד תאילנדי; תרד מים; פאק בונגtered tailandi; tered mayim; pak bung	A separate plant with long hollow stems.
Mixed baby greens	עלי בייבי; מיקס בייביalei beibi; miks beibi	Read the ingredient panel for the mix.
Baby chard mix	מיקס בייבי מנגולדmiks beibi mangold	Check for chard and red beet leaves.

Your recipe says this. Look for this Hebrew label.

Recipe says

Look for in Israel

Keep in mind

Romaine lettuce

חסה ערבית; חסה רומיתhasa aravit; hasa romit

Choose a tall head, not round iceberg.

Romaine hearts

לבבות חסה; לבבות קיסרlevavot hasa; levavot keisar

These are trimmed romaine hearts.

Arugula or rocket

רוקטroket

Names overlap, so check the leaf shape.

Wild arugula or wild rocket

רוקולה; ארוגולהrukola; arugula

Look for narrow, deeply cut leaves.

Swiss chard

מנגולד; סלק עלים; סילקהmangold; selek alim; silka

All three can name chard.

Red beet leaves

עלי סלק אדוםalei selek adom

Do not assume every beet leaf is chard.

Spinach

תרד; תרד תורכי; תרד גינהtered; tered turki; tered hagina

Check the full label for true spinach.

Baby spinach

תרד בייביtered beibi

Generic baby leaves are usually a mix.

New Zealand spinach

תרד ניו־זילנדיtered nyu-zilandi

A separate plant with fleshy leaves.

Water spinach

תרד תאילנדי; תרד מים; פאק בונגtered tailandi; tered mayim; pak bung

A separate plant with long hollow stems.

Mixed baby greens

עלי בייבי; מיקס בייביalei beibi; miks beibi

Read the ingredient panel for the mix.

Baby chard mix

מיקס בייבי מנגולדmiks beibi mangold

Check for chard and red beet leaves.

Mix-Ups to Avoid

Lettuce And Rocket

חסה ערבית; חסה רומיתRomaine lettuce

What it is

The difference

Common mistake

לבבות חסה; לבבות קיסרRomaine hearts

What it is

The difference

Common mistake

רוֹקֵט; בן־חרדל מצויGarden rocket

What it is

The difference

Common mistake

רוקולה; ארוגולה; רוקטWild rocket

What it is

The difference

Common mistake

Chard And Beet Leaves

מנגולד; סלק עלים; סילקהSwiss chard

What it is

The difference

Common mistake

מנגולד אדום; מנגולד צבעוניRed or rainbow chard

What it is

The difference

Common mistake

עלי סלק אדוםRed beet leaves

What it is

The difference

Common mistake

Spinach Names

תֶּרֶד; תרד תורכי/טורקי; תרד גינהSpinach

What it is

The difference

Common mistake

תרד בייבי; עלי תרד בייביBaby spinach

What it is

The difference

Common mistake

תרד ניו־זילנדי; תרד ניוזילנדיNew Zealand spinach

What it is

The difference

Common mistake

תרד תאילנדי; תרד מים; פאק בונגWater spinach

What it is

The difference

Common mistake

Baby Leaf Mixes

עלי בייבי; מיקס בייבי; בייביMixed baby greens

What it is

The difference

Common mistake

מיקס בייבי מנגולדBaby chard mix

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 Rice and Grains Guide

Israeli Legumes Guide

Israeli Nuts and Seeds

Israeli Spreads Guide