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PlansAboutSupportRead Hebrew road signs, text plates, exits and place names.
On the label or sign
mekhes
US English
CUSTOMS / stop for customs
UK English
CUSTOMS / stop for customs
מכס appears above CUSTOMS on a red-bordered round sign with a black horizontal bar. The sign orders drivers to stop at a customs checkpoint.
CUSTOMS can look like a notice for nearby facilities. מכס on sign 438 is a stop instruction.
Do not read only CUSTOMS and drive on; stop at the checkpoint.
On the label or sign
tamrur 439: meser mehayev
US English
regulatory text plate
UK English
regulatory text plate
Sign 439 is a yellow rectangle with black text. The plate gives a binding permission, prohibition or restriction when no pictogram can express the rule.
The yellow wording is legally operative. The plate may stand alone or qualify the sign above.
Do not skim a yellow 439 plate as explanatory small print; read every condition and exception.
On the label or sign
yamim alef ad vav
US English
Sunday through Friday
UK English
Sunday to Friday
ימים א׳ עד ו׳ is a standard day range on a yellow 439 plate. א׳ is Sunday, ב׳ Monday, ג׳ Tuesday, ד׳ Wednesday, ה׳ Thursday and ו׳ Friday.
Hebrew letters number Israeli weekdays. The range does not mean Monday through Saturday.
Start the range with Sunday, then read the hours and vehicle conditions on the full plate.
On the label or sign
bi-yemei ha-menuha
US English
on statutory rest days
UK English
on statutory rest days
בימי המנוחה is the official compact formula for days covered by a rest-day rule. The rest of the plate gives the hours and any exception.
The phrase does not simply mean an English-language weekend. The full plate controls the rule.
Do not assume Saturday and Sunday; read the hours and exception written on the plate.
On the label or sign
moniyot
US English
taxis / taxi stand
UK English
taxis / taxi rank
מוניות or TAXI appears in a yellow header on taxi-station signs. Sign 507 starts a regulated taxi station, 508 ends the station and 509 marks pickup or drop-off for service taxis.
The taxi wording does not invite private-car pickup. The central no-stopping symbol applies to other vehicles.
Do not stop a private car at the signed taxi area merely because TAXI is readable.
On the label or sign
tahana
US English
bus stop information
UK English
bus stop information
Sign 505 shows a stop name, route number, destination and operator information. Service symbols can mark accessibility, rail connections and night routes.
The national sign does not depend on one large תחנת אוטובוס label. The visible wording may be a street name, stop name or destination.
Check the route number, destination and bus-stop design instead of searching only for תחנת אוטובוס.
On the label or sign
tahana
US English
light-rail / tram stop
UK English
tram / light-rail stop
Sign 506 is a local-rail stop-information sign. The sign carries the stop name and service information, with another language on the reverse.
Route strips also appear at bus stops. The rail symbol and platform context identify local rail.
Do not assume every sign with route strips is a bus stop; check the service symbol.
On the label or sign
yetsia
US English
EXIT
UK English
EXIT
יציאה appears with Arabic and EXIT on a yellow rectangular gore sign with a diagonal arrow. Sign 608 marks the place where traffic leaves the main road.
יציאה marks the departure point. יציאה בלבד means that a lane is committed to the exit.
Do not confuse the gore sign יציאה with the lane instruction יציאה בלבד.
On the label or sign
ha-yetsiot ha-baot
US English
NEXT EXITS
UK English
NEXT JUNCTIONS / next exits
היציאות הבאות heads a blue freeway or green other-road sequence sign. The sign lists following exits and their distances.
The official English line is NEXT EXITS. The numbers on the chart are kilometres to each exit, not exit numbers.
Read the listed numbers as distances to exits, not as exit numbers.
On the label or sign
yetsia bilvad
US English
EXIT ONLY
UK English
exit lane only
יציאה בלבד is a destination-guide legend for a lane that leaves the through road. בלבד means only.
The wording assigns the lane to the exit. A familiar destination name does not make the lane continue straight.
Leave the lane before the split when the intended route continues straight.
On the label or sign
tamrur 629: hodaa
US English
informational text plate
UK English
information plate
Sign 629 is a white rectangle with black text, either static or light-emitting. The plate gives non-binding information when no pictogram exists or supplements another sign.
White 629 text informs. Yellow 439 text states a permission, prohibition or restriction.
Use the plate color to separate white information from yellow regulation.
On the label or sign
hizaharu ba-esh
US English
BEWARE OF FIRE / fire danger
UK English
BEWARE OF FIRE / fire danger
היזהרו באש appears on a yellow diagonal ribbon over a green tree-and-flame emblem. Sign 635 warns of fire danger along the road and nearby.
The catalogue describes the legal meaning as fire danger. The words physically printed on the ribbon are היזהרו באש.
Look for היזהרו באש rather than a guessed phrase such as סכנת שריפות.
On the label or sign
tamrur 915
US English
orange work-zone text sign
UK English
orange roadworks text sign
Sign 915 is an orange open-text sign at a roadwork site. The wording can warn, direct, prohibit or inform when no standard sign expresses the message.
Orange does more than change the background of an ordinary warning. Sign 915 can carry a bespoke instruction.
Read the full orange message instead of relying only on the sign color.
On the label or sign
godesh lefanekha
US English
electronic message sign
UK English
variable message sign
גודש לפניך is the chart example for a light-emitting 629 traffic message. Electronic or prismatic displays can show changing traffic messages.
Variable wording changes with the traffic condition. A mandatory changing message keeps the appropriate sign form and color.
Read the current display every time instead of memorizing one photographed phrase.
On the label or sign
mahlaf
US English
interchange
UK English
grade-separated junction
מחלף names a grade-separated interchange. The abbreviation is מ׳, and a symbol may replace the word.
מחלף is not the same as צומת. צומת is an at-grade intersection or junction.
Use interchange for מחלף and junction or intersection for צומת.
On the label or sign
tsomet
US English
intersection / junction
UK English
junction
צומת names an at-grade junction. The abbreviation is צ׳, and a layout symbol may replace the word.
צומת differs from מחלף, which is grade-separated.
Do not assume a destination labeled צומת has grade-separated ramps.
On the label or sign
tahana merkazit
US English
central bus station
UK English
central bus / coach station
תחנה מרכזית usually names the main bus terminal. The official abbreviation is ת״מ.
תחנה מרכזית does not automatically mean the main railway station.
Check the service symbol before assuming the destination is a railway station.
On the label or sign
masof
US English
terminal
UK English
terminus / terminal
מסוף names a transport terminal or end facility. The official Latin abbreviation is Term.
מסוף is a terminal or end facility. תחנה is an individual station or stop.
Do not use מסוף and תחנה as interchangeable labels.
On the label or sign
ezor taasiya
US English
industrial zone / industrial park
UK English
industrial estate / industrial area
אזור תעשייה names an industrial district. The official abbreviation is א״ת, and an industrial symbol may replace the words.
The words label a destination district. The wording is not a warning that the road itself is industrial.
Read אזור תעשייה as an industrial destination, not as a road warning.
On the label or sign
rehov / sdera / sderot
US English
street / boulevard / avenue
UK English
street / boulevard / avenue
רחוב is a street-name prefix. שדרה and שדרות are singular and plural or construct forms for boulevard or avenue.
שדרות can also be the proper name of the city Sderot. The following name and sign context determine the reading.
Do not translate every שדרות as boulevard; check whether the sign names the city.
On the label or sign
agam / maagar
US English
lake / reservoir
UK English
lake / reservoir
אגם means lake. מאגר means water reservoir.
The destination manual keeps lake and reservoir as distinct generic terms.
Do not translate both אגם and מאגר as lake.
On the label or sign
nahal
US English
river / wadi
UK English
river / wadi
נחל is an official generic term for a river or wadi. A symbol may replace the word.
No single English word fits every named נחל. The approved Latin name supplies the official form for each destination.
Follow the Latin line instead of forcing river or wadi onto every name.
On the label or sign
makhtesh
US English
Makhtesh
UK English
Makhtesh
מכתש is a geographical destination term. The official English deliberately keeps Makhtesh.
The official English does not replace Makhtesh with crater.
Keep Makhtesh in an English map label or caption.
On the label or sign
mitspe
US English
lookout
UK English
lookout
מצפה can name a lookout or viewpoint. A symbol may replace the generic word.
מצפה can also be part of a locality's proper name. Proper names are transliterated rather than translated mechanically.
Use the sign context and official Latin line before translating מצפה as lookout.
On the label or sign
shmura / shmurat-
US English
nature reserve
UK English
nature reserve
שמורה means nature reserve. שמורת־ is the construct form used before the following name, and a symbol may replace the wording.
שמורת־ must be read together with the proper name that follows.
Do not read שמורת־ and the following name as separate destinations.
| English meaning | Hebrew to look for | Keep in mind |
|---|---|---|
| Customs stop | מכסmekhes | The sign requires a stop |
| Exit | יציאהyetsia | Marks departure from the main road |
| Exit only | יציאה בלבדyetsia bilvad | The lane leaves the through road |
| Next exits | היציאות הבאותha-yetsiot ha-baot | Numbers are distances to exits |
| Interchange | מחלףmahlaf | Grade-separated |
| Junction | צומתtsomet | At-grade |
| Central bus station | תחנה מרכזיתtahana merkazit | Not automatically a railway station |
| Industrial zone | אזור תעשייהezor taasiya | A destination district |
| River or wadi | נחלnahal | Follow the approved Latin name |
| Reservoir | מאגרmaagar | Distinct from אגם, lake |
| Lookout | מצפהmitspe | Can also be part of a proper name |
| Nature reserve | שמורהshmura | שמורת־ comes before a name |
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By the baba team. Checked on against 11 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.
No. Most national guide messages use Hebrew, Arabic and Latin letters, but public-utility destinations use Hebrew and Arabic, defence facilities use Hebrew, and attraction languages are chosen during sign planning.
A yellow 439 plate gives a binding permission, prohibition or restriction. A white 629 plate gives non-binding information or supplements another sign.
יציאה marks the place where traffic leaves the main road. יציאה בלבד means the lane is committed to the exit.
מחלף is a grade-separated interchange. צומת is an at-grade junction or intersection.
Follow the Latin line on the sign for the ministry's official place-name spelling. Generic descriptors such as מחלף, צומת and נחל are translated when a symbol does not replace them.
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