How do you say prices in Hebrew?

In full, say the shekels and agorot: ארבעה שקלים ותשעים ותשע אגורות is 4.99. In casual speech Israelis drop the units, so ארבע תשעים ותשע is 4.99 and שקל תשעים is 1.90.

Is it twenty shekel or twenty shekels in Hebrew?

Both. From 11 upward, עשרים שקל and עשרים שקלים are standard, while 2 to 10 take the plural: שני שקלים.

Does Israel still have prices ending in .99?

Yes. A displayed price such as 9.99 is legal, and card payments are charged exactly. Only a final cash total is rounded to the nearest 10 agorot.

ILS is the ISO 4217 currency code. NIS, new Israeli shekel, is a common English abbreviation but not the ISO code.

Do Israeli prices include VAT?

Displayed consumer prices must be the total price, including compulsory taxes. The standard VAT rate has been 18% since 1 January 2025, and Eilat has its own VAT rules with exceptions.

Israeli Money Slang: Saying Prices in Hebrew

The Currency

On the label or sign

שקל אחד: One shekel

שקל / שקליםShekel, shekels

shekel, shkalim

US English

Shekel; shekels

UK English

Shekel; shekels

What it is

שקל (shekel) is the currency unit, pronounced roughly SHEH-kel, and שקלים (shkalim) is the plural. Shekel is masculine, so numbers use their masculine forms.

The difference

The plural shkalim reduces its first vowel: say shkalim, not "shekelim." A 1-shekel coin is marked 1 שקל.

Common mistake

Do not say "shee-kel"; say SHEH-kel, and shkalim for the plural.

שקל חדשShekel khadash, new shekel

shekel khadash

US English

New Israeli shekel

UK English

New Israeli shekel

What it is

שקל חדש (shekel khadash) is the full official name of the currency, which began in 1985. One shekel khadash is divided into 100 agorot.

The difference

"New" in shekel khadash is part of the name, not a description of a newly issued note.

Common mistake

In normal speech say שקל; keep shekel khadash for when the currency must be named in full.

On the label or sign

ש״ח: New shekels, written
₪: Shekel sign

ש״ח / ₪Written shekel signs

shekel khadash; shekel sign

US English

NIS or ILS notation

UK English

NIS or ILS notation

What it is

ש״ח abbreviates שקל חדש, and ₪ is the shekel sign. Both are written price notation, and stores may put ₪ before or after the number because Hebrew runs right to left.

The difference

ש״ח is notation, not the normal spoken price word. Spoken prices use שקל or שקלים, or leave the currency out when context makes it obvious.

Common mistake

Do not read ש״ח aloud as "shakh" in a price; say שקל or שקלים.

ILS / NISILS and NIS codes

I-L-S, N-I-S

US English

ISO currency code; common English abbreviation

UK English

ISO currency code; common English abbreviation

What it is

ILS is the ISO 4217 currency code used on forms and exchange systems. NIS means new Israeli shekel and is common in English-language Israeli material.

The difference

NIS is a common abbreviation but not the ISO code. ILS is the official code.

Common mistake

When a form asks for an ISO currency code, enter ILS, not NIS.

On the label or sign

10 אג׳: 10 agorot coin

אגורה / אגורותAgora, agorot

agora, agorot

US English

Cent-like subunit

UK English

Penny-like subunit

What it is

One אגורה (agora) is one hundredth of a shekel, and אגורות (agorot) is the plural. The smallest current coin is 10 agorot.

The difference

There is no 1-agora coin in circulation, and the 5-agorot coin stopped being legal tender on 1 January 2008. Single agorot still appear in prices and bank records.

Common mistake

Do not use agorot as a singular; one is agora, two or more are agorot.

On the label or sign

יש לך שטר קטן יותר?: Do you have a smaller note?
שטר של מאתיים: A 200-shekel note

שטר / שטרותShtar, banknote

shtar, shtarot

US English

Bill; banknote

UK English

Note; banknote

What it is

שטר (shtar) is a banknote. The current Series C shtarot are 20, 50, 100 and 200 shekels.

The difference

שטר של מאתיים is specifically a 200-shekel note. In other contexts, shtar can also mean a legal instrument.

Common mistake

If a cashier asks יש לך שטר קטן יותר?, offer a smaller shtar.

שנקלShnekel, 2-shekel coin

shnekel

US English

Two-shekel coin

UK English

Two-shekel coin

What it is

שנקל (shnekel) is a colloquial blend for the 2-shekel coin, documented as מטבע של שני שקלים.

The difference

Shnekel is slang for the coin, not the wording for a formal amount.

Common mistake

Do not write shnekel on a receipt or formal amount; say שני שקלים.

חצי שקלKhatsi shekel, half shekel

khatsi shekel

US English

Half a shekel

UK English

Half a shekel

What it is

חצי שקל (khatsi shekel) is both the current half-shekel coin, marked 1/2, and an amount of 50 agorot.

The difference

Khatsi shekel keeps the singular שקל.

Common mistake

Say khatsi shekel, not חצי שקלים.

Saying Amounts Out Loud

On the label or sign

שני שקלים: Two shekels, standard
שתי שקל: Two shekels, colloquial

שני שקלים / שלושה שקלים / עשרה שקלים2 to 10 shekels

shnei shkalim, shlosha shkalim, asara shkalim

US English

Two to ten shekels

UK English

Two to ten shekels

What it is

For 2 to 10, standard Hebrew uses the masculine number and the plural שקלים: שני שקלים, שלושה שקלים, עשרה שקלים.

The difference

Forms like שתי שקל and עשר שקל are widespread in speech but nonstandard.

Common mistake

Recognize שתי שקל when you hear it, but say שני שקלים yourself.

On the label or sign

עשרים שקל: Twenty shekels

עשרים שקל / עשרים שקלים11 shekels and up

esrim shekel, esrim shkalim

US English

Twenty shekels

UK English

Twenty shekels

What it is

From 11 upward, the counted noun can be singular or plural: עשרים שקל and עשרים שקלים are both standard.

The difference

After 11 and up, singular שקל is correct Hebrew, not an error.

Common mistake

Do not correct someone who says esrim shekel; both forms are standard.

On the label or sign

מאתיים שקל: 200 shekels
אלפיים שקל: Two thousand shekels

מאה / מאתיים / אלף / אלפייםHundreds and thousands

mea, matayim, elef, alpayim

US English

Hundred; two hundred; thousand; two thousand

UK English

Hundred; two hundred; thousand; two thousand

What it is

מאה (mea), מאתיים (matayim), אלף (elef) and אלפיים (alpayim) are common price building blocks: מאה שקל, מאתיים שקל, אלף שקל, אלפיים שקל.

The difference

Two thousand is alpayim, not שני אלף. Because מאה is feminine, 300 is שלוש מאות.

Common mistake

Say alpayim for two thousand and matayim for two hundred.

On the label or sign

ארבעה שקלים ותשעים ותשע אגורות: 4.99, said in full

ארבע תשעים ותשעFour ninety-nine

arba tishim vatesha

US English

"Four ninety-nine"

UK English

"Four ninety-nine"

What it is

ארבע תשעים ותשע (arba tishim vatesha) is the conversational way to say 4.99, with the units left out. The full form is ארבעה שקלים ותשעים ותשע אגורות.

The difference

Shortened prices like arba tishim vatesha drop both שקלים and אגורות. 28.52 can likewise be said עשרים ושמונה וחמישים ושתיים.

Common mistake

In legal, banking or teaching contexts, state the units instead of saying arba tishim vatesha.

On the label or sign

שבע שמונים: 7.80

שקל תשעיםShekel tishim, 1.90

shekel tishim

US English

"One ninety"

UK English

"One ninety"

What it is

שקל תשעים (shekel tishim), literally "a shekel ninety," means 1.90. In the same pattern, שבע שמונים (sheva shmonim) means 7.80.

The difference

In shekel tishim, ninety is agorot, not shekels.

Common mistake

Do not hear shekel tishim as 90 shekels; shekel tishim is 1.90.

Price Labels and Rounding

עיגול סכום סופי במזומןCash total rounding

igul skhum sofi bemezuman

US English

Rounding the final cash total

UK English

Rounding the final cash total

What it is

Igul means rounding: only the final cash total is rounded to the nearest 10 agorot. Endings of 1 to 4 agorot round down, and 5 to 9 round up.

The difference

A displayed price like 9.99 is still legal. Card and cheque payments are charged the exact amount, and individual items are never rounded.

Common mistake

Do not expect igul on a card payment or on each line item; igul applies only to the final cash total.

On the label or sign

מחיר כולל: Total price

המחיר המוצג / המחיר בקופהShelf price and till price

hamekhir hamutsag, hamekhir bakupa

US English

Shelf price; register price

UK English

Shelf price; till price

What it is

המחיר המוצג (hamekhir hamutsag) is the displayed price, and המחיר בקופה (hamekhir bakupa) is the price at the till. Consumer law requires the displayed price to be the total price in shekels, including compulsory taxes and payments.

The difference

When the till price is higher, hamekhir hamutsag is binding. Israeli consumer prices normally include VAT, unlike US prices with tax added at checkout.

Common mistake

If the till charges more than hamekhir hamutsag, point to the shelf price.

On the label or sign

לק״ג: Per kilogram
ל-100 גרם: Per 100 grams
ליחידה: Each

מחיר ליחידת מידהUnit price

mekhir liyekhidat mida

US English

Unit price

UK English

Unit price

What it is

מחיר ליחידת מידה (mekhir liyekhidat mida) is the comparison price per kilogram, liter, 100 g or another set unit, shown beside the product price.

The difference

Mekhir liyekhidat mida is not necessarily what you pay for the package in your hand.

Common mistake

Compare unit prices in the same unit; per 100 g and per kilogram differ by a factor of ten.

On the label or sign

3 ב-10: Three for 10
הנחה: Discount

מחיר רגיל / מחיר מבצעRegular and sale price

mekhir ragil, mekhir mivtsa

US English

Regular price; sale price

UK English

Regular price; sale price

What it is

מחיר רגיל (mekhir ragil) is the regular price and מחיר מבצע (mekhir mivtsa) the sale price. A מבצע (mivtsa) is the promotion, and a הנחה (hanakha) is the discount.

The difference

A mivtsa sign should show the products included, the earlier price, the discount, and the conditions. In 3 ב-10, the ב means "for."

Common mistake

Check a mivtsa for member-only, quantity and minimum-spend conditions before you rely on it.

On the label or sign

זה מאוד יקר, אפשר קצת הנחה?: That's very expensive, can I get a discount?

כמה זה עולה? / כמה זה?Kama ze ole, how much?

kama ze ole?, kama ze?

US English

How much is it?

UK English

How much is it?

What it is

כמה זה עולה? (kama ze ole?) and כמה זה? (kama ze?) are the ordinary ways to ask a price.

The difference

עולה also means "goes up," but in kama ze ole it means "costs."

Common mistake

Use kama ze ole to ask a price; the reply may come as a shortened number like שקל תשעים.

Paying

On the label or sign

במזומן: In cash

מזומן / מזומניםMezuman, cash

mezuman, mezumanim

US English

Cash

UK English

Cash

What it is

מזומן (mezuman) means notes and coins rather than card or cheque, and checkout wording uses במזומן, "in cash."

The difference

כסף means money in general and does not always mean physical cash. Say במזומן when the payment method matters.

Common mistake

Do not confuse מזומן, cash, with מוזמן, invited.

On the label or sign

באשראי: By card

אשראי / כרטיס אשראיAshray, card payment

ashray, kartis ashray

US English

Card; credit card

UK English

Card; credit card

What it is

At checkout, באשראי (beashray) means paying by card. Bank of Israel distinguishes delayed-debit credit cards from immediate-debit cards.

The difference

Not every ashray payment is borrowing: there are delayed debit, debit, revolving credit and prepaid cards.

Common mistake

Say באשראי when you want to pay by card.

On the label or sign

בכמה תשלומים?: In how many installments?
קרדיט: Interest-bearing card credit

תשלומיםTashlumim, installments

tashlumim

US English

Installments

UK English

Instalments

What it is

תשלומים (tashlumim) splits a purchase into several card charges, as in בכמה תשלומים?, "in how many installments?"

The difference

Tashlumim alone does not guarantee no interest. קרדיט (kredit) is a financed installment deal that can carry interest.

Common mistake

Ask whether tashlumim are merchant installments or קרדיט before you agree.

On the label or sign

יש לך עודף משטר של מאתיים?: Do you have change for a 200?

עודףOdef, change

odef

US English

Change

UK English

Change

What it is

עודף (odef) is the money returned after a cash payment. יש לך עודף משטר של מאתיים? asks if the seller can make change from a 200-shekel note.

The difference

Odef also means surplus, but at a checkout odef means your change.

Common mistake

Do not translate odef only as "surplus"; at the till odef is change.

כסף קטן / לפרוטKesef katan, small change

kesef katan, lifrot

US English

Small change; break a bill

UK English

Small change; change a note

What it is

כסף קטן (kesef katan) means coins or small denominations, and לפרוט (lifrot) means exchanging a larger note for smaller money.

The difference

עודף is change from a purchase, while kesef katan and lifrot are about swapping denominations.

Common mistake

Ask to lifrot a note when you want smaller money without buying anything.

On the label or sign

חשבון בבקשה: The check, please

חשבוןKheshbon, the bill

kheshbon

US English

Check; account

UK English

Bill; account

What it is

חשבון (kheshbon) is the restaurant bill, as in חשבון בבקשה. At a bank, kheshbon means an account.

The difference

Kheshbon is the bill you pay, not the receipt you get after paying.

Common mistake

Ask for kheshbon to pay, and for קבלה when you want proof of payment.

קבלה / חשבוניתKabala, receipt

kabala, kheshbonit

US English

Receipt; invoice

UK English

Receipt; invoice

What it is

קבלה (kabala) is a receipt, proof of payment, and חשבונית (kheshbonit) is an invoice or tax invoice.

The difference

Bill, receipt and invoice are three different documents: חשבון, kabala and kheshbonit.

Common mistake

Ask for a kheshbonit, not a kabala, when you need a tax invoice.

Money Slang

On the label or sign

אין לי גרוש: I don't have a penny
בגרושים: Dirt cheap

גרוש / בגרושיםGrush, a penny

grush, bigrushim

US English

A penny; dirt cheap

UK English

A penny; for next to nothing

What it is

גרוש (grush) is a historical coin word that survives in אין לי גרוש, "I don't have a penny," and בגרושים, "for next to nothing." Modern media still uses bigrushim.

The difference

Grush is not a current denomination, and how often people use grush varies by speaker and age.

Common mistake

Do not ask for a grush at the till; grush lives only in idioms.

On the label or sign

עלה לי בוכטה: It cost me a fortune

בוכטהBukhta, a fortune

bukhta

US English

A fortune; a pile of money

UK English

A fortune; a pile of money

What it is

בוכטה (bukhta), also spelled בוחטה, is slang for a large amount, especially of money: עלה לי בוכטה, "it cost me a fortune."

The difference

Bukhta is not a neutral word for money and not a denomination.

Common mistake

Use bukhta only for a big sum, not as a general word for money.

ג׳ובה / ג׳ובותJubot, old banknote slang

juba, jubot

US English

Old slang: bills

UK English

Old slang: notes

What it is

ג׳ובה (juba), plural ג׳ובות (jubot), is documented as an old nickname for a banknote.

The difference

Jubot is old slang, not the everyday equivalent of "bucks."

Common mistake

Do not use jubot as everyday money slang; jubot sounds old.

On the label or sign

אין לי כסף: I have no money

תפרן / תפרניתTafran, broke

tafran, tafranit

US English

Broke; penniless

UK English

Skint; penniless

What it is

תפרן (tafran) is a colloquial adjective, from colloquial Arabic, for someone with no money.

The difference

Tafran is informal and aimed at a person. Neutral alternatives are חסר אמצעים or אין לי כסף.

Common mistake

Do not call someone tafran in a formal setting; say אין לי כסף about yourself instead.

Written price	Said out loud	Keep in mind
1.90	שקל תשעיםshekel tishim	Ninety is agorot.
4.99	ארבע תשעים ותשעarba tishim vatesha	Units dropped in casual speech.
7.80	שבע שמוניםsheva shmonim	Informal and unitless.
2 shekels	שני שקליםshnei shkalim	Standard; שתי שקל is colloquial.
20 shekels	עשרים שקלesrim shekel	Singular is fine from 11 up.
200 shekels	מאתיים שקלmatayim shekel	One word, matayim.
Two thousand shekels	אלפיים שקלalpayim shekel	Not שני אלף.
Half a shekel	חצי שקלkhatsi shekel	Singular שקל.
2-shekel coin	שנקלshnekel	Slang for the coin.
ש״ח on a label	שקליםshkalim	Say shkalim, not shakh.

Mix-Ups to Avoid

The Currency

שקל / שקליםShekel, shekels

What it is

The difference

Common mistake

שקל חדשShekel khadash, new shekel

What it is

The difference

Common mistake

ש״ח / ₪Written shekel signs

What it is

The difference

Common mistake

ILS / NISILS and NIS codes

What it is

The difference

Common mistake

אגורה / אגורותAgora, agorot

What it is

The difference

Common mistake

שטר / שטרותShtar, banknote

What it is

The difference

Common mistake

שנקלShnekel, 2-shekel coin

What it is

The difference

Common mistake

חצי שקלKhatsi shekel, half shekel

What it is

The difference

Common mistake

Saying Amounts Out Loud

שני שקלים / שלושה שקלים / עשרה שקלים2 to 10 shekels

What it is

The difference

Common mistake

עשרים שקל / עשרים שקלים11 shekels and up

What it is

The difference

Common mistake

מאה / מאתיים / אלף / אלפייםHundreds and thousands

What it is

The difference

Common mistake

ארבע תשעים ותשעFour ninety-nine

What it is

The difference

Common mistake

שקל תשעיםShekel tishim, 1.90

What it is

The difference

Common mistake

Price Labels and Rounding

עיגול סכום סופי במזומןCash total rounding

What it is

The difference

Common mistake

המחיר המוצג / המחיר בקופהShelf price and till price

What it is

The difference

Common mistake

מחיר ליחידת מידהUnit price

What it is

The difference

Common mistake

מחיר רגיל / מחיר מבצעRegular and sale price

What it is

The difference

Common mistake

כמה זה עולה? / כמה זה?Kama ze ole, how much?

What it is

The difference

Common mistake

Paying

מזומן / מזומניםMezuman, cash

What it is

The difference