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Israeli Paper and Wraps, in Plain English

What Israeli paper, foil and food-wrap labels mean in English.

Kitchen paper and wraps: paper towels, cling film, foil, parchment and napkins

Mix-Ups to Avoid

  1. In a supermarket, נייר סופג means paper towels or kitchen roll, not blotting paper. Look for absorbent household paper.
  2. נייר כסף is the everyday name for aluminium foil, but the package may say רדיד אלומיניום. Check for both names.
  3. נייר אפייה is parchment paper, not wax paper. Follow the package limits for temperature and use.
In This Guide10 entries

Household Paper

A roll of paper towels, niyar sofeg

On the label or sign

נייר סופג
Paper towels or kitchen roll
מגבות נייר
Paper towels
מגבת נייר בגליל
Paper towel on a roll

נייר סופגPaper towels

niyar sofeg

US English

Paper towels

UK English

Kitchen roll

What it is

נייר סופג is absorbent disposable household paper. מגבות נייר is another name for the same broad category.

The difference

נייר סופג means paper towels or kitchen roll in a supermarket, not blotting paper. Packages may use several Hebrew names for the same broad category.

Common mistake

Do not search only for מגבות נייר, because a paper towel package may say נייר סופג.

A stack of paper napkins, mapiyot niyar

On the label or sign

מפיות נייר
Paper napkins or serviettes

מפיות ניירPaper napkins

mapiyot niyar

US English

Paper napkins

UK English

Paper serviettes

What it is

מפיות נייר are table napkins. Packages state the ply, dimensions and count.

The difference

מפיות נייר are distinct from absorbent paper towels or kitchen roll.

Common mistake

Do not buy מפיות נייר when absorbent paper for kitchen cleanup is needed.

Food Wraps

Cling film pulled across a bowl, naylon nitsmad

On the label or sign

ניילון נצמד
Plastic wrap or cling film
ללא PVC
Without PVC

ניילון נצמדPlastic wrap

naylon nitsmad

US English

Plastic wrap

UK English

Cling film

What it is

ניילון נצמד is flexible food wrap sold on a boxed roll. Formulation and suitability claims vary by product.

The difference

The word ניילון in everyday Israeli usage does not establish that the material is chemically nylon. Some packages say ללא PVC, meaning without PVC.

Common mistake

Do not assume every ניילון נצמד product is suitable for a microwave or freezer without reading the label.

An elasticated plastic cover over a bowl

On the label or sign

כיסוי ניילון עם גומי
Plastic cover with an elastic edge

כיסוי ניילון עם גומיElasticated food cover

kisui naylon im gumi

US English

Elasticated bowl cover

UK English

Elasticated bowl cover

What it is

כיסוי ניילון עם גומי is a preformed plastic food cover with an elastic edge. Packs may contain mixed sizes or covers made for trays.

The difference

כיסוי ניילון עם גומי covers a bowl or tray but is not a storage lid that makes a tight seal.

Common mistake

Do not buy כיסוי ניילון עם גומי when a tight storage lid is needed.

A roll of aluminium foil, niyar kesef

On the label or sign

נייר כסף
Everyday name for aluminium foil
רדיד אלומיניום
Formal name for aluminium foil

נייר כסףAluminium foil

niyar kesef

US English

Aluminum foil

UK English

Aluminium foil

What it is

נייר כסף is the everyday Hebrew name for aluminium foil. The literal meaning is silver paper.

The difference

A foil package usually uses the formal name רדיד אלומיניום. Foil width and thickness vary between products.

Common mistake

Do not look only for a package labelled נייר כסף, because the box may say רדיד אלומיניום.

Clear plastic food bags and a bagged sandwich

On the label or sign

שקיות אוכל
Food bags
סנדוויצ׳ים
Sandwiches

שקיות אוכל / סנדוויצ׳יםFood and sandwich bags

sakiyot okhel / sandvichim

US English

Sandwich bags or food bags

UK English

Sandwich bags or food bags

What it is

שקיות אוכל and שקיות סנדוויצ׳ים are lightweight bags for packing food. Packages may contain tied bags or pull-out bags.

The difference

שקיות אוכל do not automatically have freezer, resealing or heat suitability.

Common mistake

Do not assume שקיות אוכל are freezer safe, resealable or heat safe without checking the package.

Baking and Roasting

Baking parchment on a baking tray, niyar afiya

On the label or sign

נייר אפייה
Parchment paper or baking parchment
דפי נייר אפייה
Precut parchment sheets
כשר לפסח
Kosher for Passover

נייר אפייהParchment paper

niyar afiya

US English

Parchment paper

UK English

Baking parchment

What it is

נייר אפייה is heat-resistant release paper for lining baking trays. נייר אפייה is sold on rolls or as precut sheets in brown and white versions.

The difference

נייר אפייה is parchment paper, not wax paper. Temperature and use limits depend on the package.

Common mistake

Do not use נייר אפייה beyond the temperature or use stated on the package.

A paper liner in a loaf tin

On the label or sign

נייר אפייה לתבנית אינגליש קייק
Parchment liner for a loaf-shaped tin

נייר אפייה לתבנית אינגליש קייקLoaf-tin parchment liner

niyar afiya le-tavnit English cake

US English

Loaf-pan parchment liner

UK English

Loaf-tin parchment liner

What it is

נייר אפייה לתבנית אינגליש קייק is a narrow, shaped parchment liner for a loaf-shaped baking tin.

The difference

אינגליש קייק is the local name for the loaf-shaped tin, not a cake flavor.

Common mistake

Do not read אינגליש קייק as a cake flavor when shopping for a shaped parchment liner.

A chicken in a roasting bag on a tray, sakit tsliya

On the label or sign

שקיות צלייה
Oven bags or roasting bags

שקית צלייהOven bag

sakit tsliya

US English

Oven roasting bag

UK English

Roasting bag

What it is

שקית צלייה is a heat-rated bag for oven roasting according to the package instructions.

The difference

שקית צלייה is made for oven roasting, unlike an ordinary food-storage bag.

Common mistake

Do not replace שקית צלייה with an ordinary food-storage bag.

A disposable foil tray with baked food

On the label or sign

תבנית אלומיניום
Aluminium baking or serving tray

תבנית אלומיניוםDisposable foil tray

tavnit aluminium

US English

Disposable aluminum tray

UK English

Disposable aluminium tray

What it is

תבנית אלומיניום is an aluminium tray for baking or serving. Trays may be rectangular, round or loaf shaped.

The difference

A תבנית אלומיניום may be disposable or reusable when the label says so. Size labels such as S, M and L do not represent universal dimensions.

Common mistake

Do not rely on S, M or L alone when choosing a תבנית אלומיניום, because dimensions vary.

Your Recipe or Shopping List Says This. Look for This Hebrew.

Your recipe or shopping list says this. Look for this Hebrew.
English saysLook for in IsraelKeep in mind
Paper towelsנייר סופגniyar sofegPackages may also say מגבות נייר.
Plastic wrap or cling filmניילון נצמדnaylon nitsmadRead the suitability claims.
Elasticated bowl coverכיסוי ניילון עם גומיkisui naylon im gumiChoose the needed bowl or tray size.
Aluminium foilרדיד אלומיניוםredid aluminiumנייר כסף is the everyday name.
Parchment paperנייר אפייהniyar afiyaParchment paper is not wax paper.
Precut parchment sheetsדפי נייר אפייהdapey niyar afiyaCheck the sheet dimensions against the tray.
Loaf-tin parchment linerנייר אפייה לתבנית אינגליש קייקniyar afiya le-tavnit English cakeאינגליש קייק refers to the loaf-shaped tin.
Oven roasting bagשקית צלייהsakit tsliyaFollow the package instructions.
Sandwich bagsשקיות אוכל / סנדוויצ׳יםsakiyot okhel / sandvichimCheck freezer, resealing and heat claims.
Disposable foil trayתבנית אלומיניוםtavnit aluminiumCheck the dimensions, not only S, M or L.

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How we checked this guide

By the baba team. Checked on against 6 sources, mostly Israeli retailers, manufacturers and government pages, and updated . Products, labels and rules change, so check the pack or the office before you rely on a detail. Our methodology.

Frequently Asked Questions

What does niyar sofeg mean in English?

נייר סופג means paper towels or kitchen roll in a supermarket. מגבות נייר is another name for the same broad category.

Is niyar kesef aluminium foil?

Yes. נייר כסף is the everyday Hebrew name for aluminium foil, while packages usually use the formal name רדיד אלומיניום.

Is niyar afiya the same as wax paper?

No. נייר אפייה is parchment paper or baking parchment. Follow the temperature and use limits on the package.

Does naylon nitsmad mean the wrap is made from nylon?

No such conclusion follows from the Hebrew name. ניילון נצמד means plastic wrap or cling film, and the word ניילון does not establish the chemical material.

What does English cake mean on baking paper in Israel?

אינגליש קייק is the local name for a loaf-shaped baking tin, not a cake flavor. נייר אפייה לתבנית אינגליש קייק is a shaped parchment liner for that tin.

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