What does sababa mean?

סבבה (sababa) means okay, cool or all good. Sababa ranges from a mild "sure" to real enthusiasm and stays colloquial.

What does yalla mean in Hebrew?

יאללה (yalla) means come on or let's go, and יאללה ביי closes a call like "okay, bye." A repeated, clipped yalla can mean "move it."

What does khaval al hazman mean?

חבל על הזמן (khaval al hazman) can mean "amazing" or literally "a waste of time." The abbreviation חבל״ז usually means the positive slang, and context decides the rest.

No. באסה (basa) is a mild noun for disappointment, and איזה באסה is like "what a bummer."

What does walla mean in Israeli slang?

וואלה (walla) is an interjection for surprise, being impressed, doubt or confirmation. The tone tells you which, so do not translate walla as "by God."

Israeli Slang Guide: Sababa, Yalla, Basa

The Big Four

On the label or sign

הכול סבבה: All good
סבבה, קבענו: Okay, it's a plan

סבבהSababa, okay or cool

sababa

US English

Okay; cool; all good

UK English

Okay; nice; all good

What it is

סבבה (sababa) is a stand-alone acceptance or reassurance and an informal positive adjective: הכול סבבה, מקום סבבה, סבבה, קבענו. In the Academy of the Hebrew Language's 2021 public poll, respondents ranked sababa as the slang word they could not do without.

The difference

Sababa ranges from merely satisfactory to enthusiastic. Sababa can approve a suggestion, reassure, or praise something.

Common mistake

Do not translate every sababa as "awesome"; sababa often just means "okay," and sababa stays colloquial.

On the label or sign

יאללה ביי: Okay, bye
יאללה יאללה: Move it, impatient

יאללהYalla, come on

yalla

US English

Come on; let's go; okay, bye

UK English

Come on; let's get going; right, bye

What it is

יאללה (yalla) is an Arabic-origin word that hurries someone, launches the next step, announces departure, or closes a call as יאללה ביי.

The difference

Yalla does far more than "let's go." Yalla can start or resume an activity and can end a conversation.

Common mistake

Do not assume yalla is always friendly: יאללה יאללה or a clipped yalla can mean "move it" or "get lost."

On the label or sign

איזה באסה: What a bummer
מבואס/ת: Bummed out, disappointed

באסה / איזה באסהBasa, a bummer

basa, eize basa

US English

Bummer; that sucks

UK English

What a pain; that's rubbish

What it is

באסה (basa) is a feminine colloquial noun for disappointment, sadness, frustration, or an unpleasant state. The common reaction is איזה באסה, and מבואס/ת describes a disappointed person.

The difference

Basa is a noun, not a full sentence. Basa is not a strong obscenity.

Common mistake

Do not treat basa as a swearword; איזה באסה is as mild as "what a bummer."

On the label or sign

היה חבל על הזמן: It was amazing
חבל על הזמן שלך: Not worth your time
חבל״ז: Amazing, written abbreviation

חבל על הזמן / חבל״זKhaval al hazman, amazing

khaval al hazman, khavlaz

US English

Amazing; or a waste of time

UK English

Brilliant; or not worth the time

What it is

חבל על הזמן (khaval al hazman) has two opposed readings: positive slang for "excellent" and literal "the time would be wasted." The abbreviation חבל״ז (khavlaz) usually means the positive slang.

The difference

היה חבל על הזמן may praise an event, while חבל על הזמן שלך warns you not to spend your time on something.

Common mistake

Do not guess khaval al hazman from the words alone; check the surrounding evaluation, the possessive form and the intonation.

Reactions and Replies

On the label or sign

אחלה מקום: A great place

אחלהAkhla, great

akhla

US English

Great; excellent

UK English

Great; brilliant

What it is

אחלה (akhla) is a positive response or modifier, as in אחלה מקום, "a great place." Akhla comes from Arabic aḥla, and its Hebrew meaning shifted to "great."

The difference

Akhla does not change form to match the following noun. Akhla is informal praise, not formal commendation.

Common mistake

Do not add gender endings to akhla; akhla stays the same before any noun.

On the label or sign

וואלה?: Really?
וואלה, רעיון טוב: Actually, good idea

וואלהWalla, really?

walla

US English

Really?; wow; actually

UK English

Really?; wow; fair enough

What it is

וואלה (walla) is a spoken interjection whose force comes from context and intonation: surprise, impressed acknowledgement, doubt, or confirmation.

The difference

וואלה? on its own is a reaction, while וואלה, רעיון טוב is reconsidered approval.

Common mistake

Do not translate every walla as the Arabic oath "by God"; read walla from the tone.

On the label or sign

נו?: Well? Go on

נוNu, well? or come on

US English

Well?; come on; go on

UK English

Well?; come on; go on then

What it is

נו (nu) is a very frequent conversation word. Nu can hurry an action, prompt the next part of a story, grant permission, or cue teasing.

The difference

A rising נו? asks you to continue, while a drawn-out nu often signals impatience. Student-to-teacher nu can sound impolite.

Common mistake

Do not hear only rudeness in nu; relationship, tone and setting decide what nu means.

On the label or sign

כל הכבוד: Well done, the dictionary gloss

סחתייןSakhtayn, good for you

sakhtayn

US English

Good for you; nice one

UK English

Well done; fair play

What it is

סחתיין (sakhtayn) is praise or admiring acknowledgement, which the dictionary glosses as כל הכבוד, נהדר. Sakhtayn is common after someone reports an achievement.

The difference

Sakhtayn is praise, not an ordinary "thank you."

Common mistake

Use sakhtayn to congratulate someone, not to thank someone.

On the label or sign

די: Enough, the neutral word

חלאסKhalas, enough

khalas

US English

Enough; stop; done

UK English

Enough; pack it in; finished

What it is

חלאס (khalas) marks a boundary: "enough," "that's it," and sometimes "finished." The dictionary's core gloss is מספיק! די!

The difference

A playful khalas among friends and an angry khalas as a command sound very different.

Common mistake

In formal service situations, use neutral די instead of khalas.

On the label or sign

מה פתאום, הכול בסדר: Of course not, everything's fine

מה פתאוםMa pitom, no way

ma pitom

US English

No way; of course not; what makes you think that?

UK English

Not at all; don't be daft; of course not

What it is

מה פתאום (ma pitom) forcefully rejects an assumption, often to reassure rather than in anger: מה פתאום, הכול בסדר.

The difference

A rising, surprised ma pitom and a firm denial use the same words but sound different.

Common mistake

Do not translate ma pitom literally as "what suddenly?"; say "of course not."

בכיףBekef, gladly

bekef

US English

Gladly; sure; you're welcome

UK English

Gladly; no problem; pleasure

What it is

בכיף (bekef) is a willing acceptance and a common reply to thanks. Bekef can also mean doing something with pleasure.

The difference

Bekef is not always a literal "for fun." In a service exchange, bekef may simply mean "you're welcome."

Common mistake

When someone answers your thanks with bekef, read bekef as "you're welcome."

On the label or sign

עזוב, לא משנה: Forget it, never mind
עזוב אותי: Leave me alone

עזוב / עזביAzov, forget it

azov, izvi

US English

Forget it; never mind; leave it

UK English

Forget it; leave it; never mind

What it is

עזוב (azov), the command form of "leave," also closes a topic or dismisses a concern: עזוב, לא משנה. עזבי (izvi) is the form for a woman.

The difference

A sharp עזוב אותי means "leave me alone," which is stronger than conversational azov.

Common mistake

Match azov or izvi to the person you are speaking to.

Calling People

On the label or sign

כפרה עליך: Darling, said to a man
כפרה עלייך: Darling, said to a woman

כפרה / כפרה עליך־עלייךKapara, darling

kapara, kapara alekha, alayikh

US English

Darling; love; you sweetheart

UK English

Darling; love

What it is

כפרה (kapara) is an affectionate way to address someone, often shortened from כפרה עליך or כפרה עלייך. Research traces kapara to Judeo-Maghrebi endearment formulas that later spread through Israeli Hebrew.

The difference

Kapara can be intimate, camp, ironic, or patronizing.

Common mistake

Do not use kapara indiscriminately with strangers.

On the label or sign

מה נשמע, אחי?: How's it going, bro?

אחי / אחותיAkhi, bro

akhi, akhoti

US English

Bro / sis

UK English

Mate / sis

What it is

אחי (akhi) and אחותי (akhoti) are familiar ways to address a man or a woman with no family tie: מה נשמע, אחי? and תירגעי, אחות.

The difference

Akhi and akhoti do not prove friendship or family.

Common mistake

Do not take akhi from a stranger as a sign of real closeness.

Judging People and Things

On the label or sign

איזה פדיחה!: How embarrassing!

פדיחהFadikha, embarrassment

fadikha

US English

Embarrassment; epic fail

UK English

Embarrassment; howler

What it is

פדיחה (fadikha) is a socially embarrassing incident or remark: איזה פדיחה! The embarrassment is central, not merely the error.

The difference

A private typo is a mistake, while a typo displayed to an audience can be a fadikha.

Common mistake

Do not call every mistake a fadikha; keep fadikha for public embarrassment.

On the label or sign

השירות על הפנים: The service is awful
אני מרגיש על הפנים: I feel lousy

על הפניםAl hapanim, awful

al hapanim

US English

Awful; terrible; feeling lousy

UK English

Awful; rubbish; feeling rough

What it is

על הפנים (al hapanim) is a very negative judgment of quality or condition: השירות על הפנים, אני מרגיש על הפנים.

The difference

The literal image "on the face" is irrelevant. Al hapanim can describe a service, plan, mood, health, or performance.

Common mistake

Do not translate al hapanim literally; say "awful" or "feeling lousy."

פראייר / פראייריתFrayer, sucker

frayer, frayerit

US English

Sucker; pushover

UK English

Mug; pushover

What it is

פראייר (frayer) is someone easily exploited, overcharged, or loaded with obligations because they do not resist.

The difference

Frayer is not simply "nice person." The sting of frayer is that someone let others take advantage.

Common mistake

Do not hear frayer as a compliment; frayer is an insult.

On the label or sign

הוא חופר לי: He's going on and on at me

חופר / חופרתKhofer, goes on and on

khofer, khoferet

US English

Someone who goes on and on; nag

UK English

Bore; someone banging on

What it is

חופר (khofer), from the verb "dig," describes someone who repeats a topic excessively and bothers others: הוא חופר לי. Khofer can also mean researching deeply.

The difference

Calling a person khofer is a complaint, not praise for thoroughness, unless the context is clearly about research.

Common mistake

Do not take khofer as a compliment about your diligence.

On the label or sign

אל תעשה ראש קטן: Don't just do the bare minimum

ראש קטןRosh katan, minimal effort

rosh katan

US English

Minimal-effort mindset; do only what's asked

UK English

Jobsworth mentality; lack of initiative

What it is

ראש קטן (rosh katan) is an attitude of minimizing responsibility or initiative and doing as little as possible. אל תעשה ראש קטן asks someone to engage with the real problem.

The difference

Rosh katan is about attitude, not intelligence or head size. UK "jobsworth" overlaps but adds a rule-bound officiousness that rosh katan need not imply.

Common mistake

Do not translate rosh katan as "small head"; say "doing the bare minimum."

Wants, Chances and Plans

On the label or sign

יש מצב שנצא מוקדם: There's a chance we'll leave early

יש מצבYesh matzav, maybe

yesh matzav

US English

Maybe; there's a chance

UK English

Maybe; there's a chance

What it is

יש מצב (yesh matzav), literally "there is a situation," means a possibility: יש מצב שנצא מוקדם, "there's a chance we'll leave early."

The difference

In yesh matzav, the word מצב does not mean a physical situation.

Common mistake

Hear yesh matzav as "maybe" or "there's a chance," not as a report about a situation.

On the label or sign

אתה בטח צוחק: You must be joking

אין מצבEin matzav, no way

ein matzav

US English

No way; you're kidding

UK English

No chance; you're joking

What it is

אין מצב (ein matzav) is an emphatic rejection or disbelief formula. The dictionary paraphrases ein matzav as אתה עובד עליי or אתה בטח צוחק.

The difference

Ein matzav is stronger and more colloquial than a neutral לא.

Common mistake

Do not use ein matzav when a polite לא is enough.

On the label or sign

בא לי קפה: I feel like a coffee
לא בא לי לצאת: I don't feel like going out

בא לי / לא בא ליBa li, I feel like

ba li, lo ba li

US English

I feel like; I want / I don't feel like it

UK English

I fancy; I feel like / I can't be bothered

What it is

בא לי (ba li), literally "comes to me," expresses a want: בא לי קפה, לא בא לי לצאת. The pronoun changes with the person: בא לך? בא לנו.

The difference

Ba li is about wanting, while מגיע לי means "I deserve" or "I am entitled to."

Common mistake

Do not say מגיע לי when you mean ba li; ba li is "I feel like."

On the label or sign

אני זורם: I'm up for it

זורם / זורמת; לזרוםZorem, easygoing

zorem, zoremet; lizrom

US English

Easygoing; up for it; go along with it

UK English

Easygoing; game; go along with it

What it is

זורם (zorem), beyond literal flowing, describes a relaxed, adaptable person or willingness to join a plan: אני זורם.

The difference

The dictionary also records a sexual-compliance sense, so comments about whether a woman is זורמת can carry an unwanted implication.

Common mistake

Say אני זורם about yourself freely, but avoid labeling someone else zoremet.

Talking Straight

On the label or sign

דבר איתי דוגרי: Talk to me straight

דוגריDugri, straight up

dugri

US English

Straight up; honestly

UK English

Straight; honestly

What it is

דוגרי (dugri) means direct, frank speech without games: דבר איתי דוגרי. Scholars treat dugri as a culturally salient Israeli style of directness.

The difference

Dugri is not "rude" by default. Directness may be valued, but tone can still make dugri confrontational.

Common mistake

Do not hear dugri speech as an attack; dugri means "let's be frank."

On the label or sign

הוא אשכרה עשה את זה: He actually did it

אשכרהAshkara, seriously

ashkara

US English

Actually; seriously; literally

UK English

Actually; seriously; genuinely

What it is

אשכרה (ashkara) is an intensifier meaning clearly, really, or without doubt: הוא אשכרה עשה את זה.

The difference

English "literally" matches ashkara only where "literally" intensifies a surprising fact.

Common mistake

Do not confuse ashkara with אזכרה (azkara), a memorial service.

On the label or sign

הקטע הוא: The thing is, the catch is
אני בקטע של צילום: I'm into photography

קטע / בקטע שלKeta, thing or catch

keta, beketa shel

US English

Thing; bit; catch / into

UK English

Thing; bit; catch / into

What it is

קטע (keta) is a very productive colloquial noun: a gag or stunt, the key point or catch (הקטע הוא), or an interest (אני בקטע של צילום, "I'm into photography").

The difference

Keta does not always mean a physical segment. Beketa shel tells you what someone is into.

Common mistake

Do not translate every keta as "segment"; check whether keta means a joke, a catch or an interest.

Mess and Workarounds

On the label or sign

החדר בלגן: The room is a mess
עשה בלגן: Made a mess, caused chaos

בלגןBalagan, mess

balagan

US English

Mess; chaos; commotion

UK English

Mess; chaos; palaver

What it is

בלגן (balagan) is disorder that can be physical, organizational, or social: החדר בלגן, עשה בלגן. Hebrew also turns balagan into a verb.

The difference

Balagan need not mean catastrophe. Balagan often describes an ordinary mess or administrative confusion.

Common mistake

Do not panic when someone calls a process a balagan; balagan usually means confusion, not disaster.

קומבינהKombina, a scheme

kombina

US English

Scheme; workaround; shady arrangement

UK English

Fiddle; wheeze; dodgy arrangement

What it is

קומבינה (kombina) is a contrivance that combines people or means to get a result, often by unofficial or improper methods.

The difference

English "combination" is a false friend for kombina. Some uses of kombina admire ingenuity, but the dictionary includes improper means.

Common mistake

Do not assume a kombina is innocent; kombina often implies a shady workaround.

In English	In Israeli slang	Keep in mind
Okay, sure	סבבהsababa	Can be mild acceptance, not only "awesome."
Okay, bye	יאללה בייyalla bye	Closes a call or chat.
What a bummer	איזה באסהeize basa	Mild, not a swearword.
It was amazing	היה חבל על הזמןhaya khaval al hazman	Also can mean a waste of time.
A great place	אחלה מקוםakhla makom	Akhla does not change form.
You're welcome	בכיףbekef	A warm reply to thanks.
Of course not	מה פתאוםma pitom	Often reassuring.
I feel like a coffee	בא לי קפהba li kafe	Not מגיע לי, I deserve.
There's a chance	יש מצבyesh matzav	Possibility, not a situation.
No way	אין מצבein matzav	Stronger than a plain לא.
How embarrassing!	איזה פדיחה!eize fadikha	Public embarrassment.
Forget it	עזוב, לא משנהazov, lo meshane	Use עזבי for a woman.

Mix-Ups to Avoid

The Big Four

סבבהSababa, okay or cool

What it is

The difference

Common mistake

יאללהYalla, come on

What it is

The difference

Common mistake

באסה / איזה באסהBasa, a bummer

What it is

The difference

Common mistake

חבל על הזמן / חבל״זKhaval al hazman, amazing

What it is

The difference

Common mistake

Reactions and Replies

אחלהAkhla, great

What it is

The difference

Common mistake

וואלהWalla, really?

What it is

The difference

Common mistake

נוNu, well? or come on

What it is

The difference

Common mistake

סחתייןSakhtayn, good for you

What it is

The difference

Common mistake

חלאסKhalas, enough

What it is

The difference

Common mistake

מה פתאוםMa pitom, no way

What it is

The difference

Common mistake

בכיףBekef, gladly

What it is

The difference

Common mistake

עזוב / עזביAzov, forget it

What it is

The difference

Common mistake

Calling People

כפרה / כפרה עליך־עלייךKapara, darling

What it is

The difference

Common mistake

אחי / אחותיAkhi, bro

What it is

The difference

Common mistake

Judging People and Things

פדיחהFadikha, embarrassment

What it is

The difference

Common mistake

על הפניםAl hapanim, awful

What it is

The difference

Common mistake

פראייר / פראייריתFrayer, sucker

What it is

The difference

Common mistake

חופר / חופרתKhofer, goes on and on

What it is

The difference

Common mistake

ראש קטןRosh katan, minimal effort

What it is

The difference