What does אח״כ mean?

אח״כ is short for אחר כך (akhar kakh), "afterward" or "later." Read אח״כ aloud as akhar kakh.

What does בע״ה stand for?

בע״ה stands for בעזרת השם (beezrat hashem), "with God's help." בע״ה is a religious formula, so "hopefully" loses part of the meaning.

What is the difference between a geresh and gershayim?

A geresh (׳) follows the last letter of one shortened word, as in מס׳. Gershayim (״) go before the last letter of an abbreviated phrase, as in אח״כ. Keyboards often use ' and " instead.

What does מס׳ mean on a form?

מס׳ stands for מספר (mispar), "number" or "No." Without the geresh, מס can be read as מס, "tax."

What is the VAT rate in Israel?

Israel's standard מע״מ (VAT) rate rose from 17% to 18% on January 1, 2025. Eilat and exempt or zero-rated cases need separate tax guidance.

Hebrew Abbreviations Guide: אח״כ, וכו׳, מס׳

The Core Four and Their Marks

On the label or sign

אח״כ: Later, preferred Hebrew mark
אח"כ: Later, keyboard quotation mark

אח״כAkhar kakh, later

akhar kakh

US English

Afterward; later

UK English

Afterwards; later

What it is

אח״כ is short for אחר כך (akhar kakh), "afterward" or "later." אח״כ marks sequence in messages, notes and instructions.

The difference

אח״כ is read aloud as akhar kakh, not as letters. The gershayim (״) sit before the last letter because אח״כ shortens a phrase.

Common mistake

Do not spell out the letters of אח״כ; say akhar kakh.

On the label or sign

בע״ה: With God's help

בע״הBeezrat Hashem, God willing

beezrat hashem

US English

With God's help; God willing

UK English

With God's help; God willing

What it is

בע״ה is short for בעזרת השם (beezrat hashem), "with God's help." בע״ה is a religious formula attached to a future plan, common in religious and traditional correspondence.

The difference

A plain "hopefully" loses the explicitly religious content of בע״ה. Usage of בע״ה varies by community and writer.

Common mistake

Do not flatten בע״ה to a secular "hopefully," and do not assume every Israeli writes בע״ה.

On the label or sign

וכו׳: Etc., preferred Hebrew mark
וכו': Etc., keyboard apostrophe

וכו׳Vekhulei, etc.

vekhulei

US English

Etc.

UK English

Etc.

What it is

וכו׳ stands for וכולי (vekhulei), from Aramaic for "and all the rest." וכו׳ ends an open list in prose, forms and notices.

The difference

The established spelling of וכו׳ uses a final geresh (׳). Keyboards often show וכו' with a straight apostrophe, which is a common substitute.

Common mistake

Do not write וכו״ with gershayim; the correct mark for וכו׳ is a single geresh.

וכד׳Vekhadome, and the like

vekhadome

US English

And the like; and similar

UK English

And the like; and similar

What it is

וכד׳ stands for וכדומה (vekhadome), "and the like." וכד׳ follows examples whose similar members are left out.

The difference

וכד׳ overlaps with וכו׳ but points more directly to things of the same kind.

Common mistake

Do not treat וכד׳ as just another spelling of וכו׳; וכד׳ means "and similar things."

On the label or sign

מס׳: No., number
מס': No., keyboard apostrophe

מס׳Mispar, number

mispar

US English

No.; number

UK English

No.; number

What it is

מס׳ stands for מספר (mispar), "number" or "No." מס׳ appears before an ID, house, file, tender, item or serial number.

The difference

The geresh in מס׳ matters. Without the mark, מס can be read מס (mas), "tax." The Academy prefers מס׳ over a period, as in מס.

Common mistake

Do not read an unmarked מס as mispar without checking the context; מס can mean tax.

עמ׳Amud, page or pages

amud, amudim

US English

P. / pp.; page(s)

UK English

P. / pp.; page(s)

What it is

עמ׳ stands for עמוד (amud), "page," or עמודים (amudim), "pages." עמ׳ appears before page references.

The difference

One written form, עמ׳, can mean singular or plural. The surrounding sentence tells you which.

Common mistake

Do not expect עמ׳ to show singular or plural; read the sentence around עמ׳.

Religious Headings

On the label or sign

בס״ד: With the help of Heaven, at the top of a page

בס״דBesiyata dishmaya heading

besiyata dishmaya

US English

With the help of Heaven

UK English

With the help of Heaven

What it is

בס״ד stands for בסייעתא דשמיא (besiyata dishmaya), Aramaic for "with the help of Heaven." בס״ד often appears at the top of a letter or page.

The difference

בס״ד is an Aramaic religious heading, not modern Hebrew and not a government code.

Common mistake

Do not try to decode בס״ד letter by letter as modern Hebrew; בס״ד is a religious heading.

אי״הIm yirtzeh Hashem, God willing

im yirtzeh hashem

US English

God willing

UK English

God willing

What it is

אי״ה stands for אם ירצה השם (im yirtzeh hashem), "God willing." אי״ה appears with future events, dates, invitations and plans in religious writing.

The difference

אי״ה explicitly invokes God's will, so אי״ה is stronger than a casual "maybe."

Common mistake

Do not read אי״ה as a weak "maybe"; אי״ה says "God willing."

Forms, Addresses and Letters

On the label or sign

רח׳: St., before a street name

רח׳Rekhov, street

rekhov

US English

St.; street

UK English

St.; street

What it is

רח׳ stands for רחוב (rekhov), "street." רח׳ appears in address fields and older contact blocks before a street name.

The difference

רח׳ shortens one word, so רח׳ takes a single geresh, not gershayim.

Common mistake

Do not look for a hidden phrase in רח׳; רח׳ is simply "St."

On the label or sign

ת״ז: Israeli ID number
ת.ז.: Israeli ID number, dotted form

ת״ז / ת.ז.Teudat zehut, Israeli ID

teudat zehut

US English

Israeli ID card; ID number

UK English

Israeli identity card; ID number

What it is

ת״ז stands for תעודת זהות (teudat zehut), the Israeli identity card. ת״ז labels a form field for an Israeli identity number.

The difference

Government forms use both ת״ז and the dotted ת.ז. for the same field.

Common mistake

Do not enter a passport number where a form asks for ת״ז, an Israeli ID number.

ת״דTa doar, P.O. box

ta doar

US English

P.O. box

UK English

P.O. box

What it is

ת״ד stands for תא דואר (ta doar), "P.O. box." ת״ד appears in postal addresses followed by a box number.

The difference

ת״ד is a post office box, not a street address. ת״ד and ת״ז look alike but mean different things.

Common mistake

Do not send someone to a ת״ד as if ת״ד were a street address.

On the label or sign

דוא״ל: Email address field

דוא״לDoar elektroni, email

doar elektroni

US English

UK English

What it is

דוא״ל stands for דואר אלקטרוני (doar elektroni), "email." דוא״ל is the email field on government, employment, medical and business forms.

The difference

Hebrew forms often label the email field דוא״ל, not with the English word.

Common mistake

Do not skip the field marked דוא״ל; דוא״ל asks for your email address.

On the label or sign

מצ״ב קו״ח: CV attached

מצ״בMetsoraf bazeh, attached

metsoraf bazeh

US English

Attached; enclosure(s)

UK English

Attached; enclosure(s)

What it is

מצ״ב stands for מצורף בזה (metsoraf bazeh), "attached." מצ״ב introduces an attachment in letters and email, such as מצ״ב קו״ח, "CV attached."

The difference

מצ״ב announces an attachment, not a file type or department name.

Common mistake

When you see מצ״ב, open the attachment.

On the label or sign

נ״ב: P.S.

נ״בNikhtav batsad, P.S.

nikhtav batsad

US English

P.S.; note well

UK English

P.S.; note well

What it is

נ״ב opens an afterthought or marginal note, like P.S. The conventional Hebrew expansion of נ״ב is נכתב בצד (nikhtav batsad), "written at the side," and people often say the letters, nun bet.

The difference

The widely reported history is that Hebrew נ״ב was fitted to Latin N.B., nota bene, and then given a Hebrew expansion. נזכרתי בדבר is a later folk explanation.

Common mistake

Do not write נ.ב. with periods, and do not present נזכרתי בדבר as the history of נ״ב.

Everyday Prose and Messages

בד״כBederekh klal, usually

bederekh klal

US English

Usually; generally

UK English

Usually; generally

What it is

בד״כ stands for בדרך כלל (bederekh klal), "usually." בד״כ is common in instructions, questionnaires, medical information and messages.

The difference

בד״כ is read aloud as the full phrase bederekh klal.

Common mistake

Do not read the letters of בד״כ separately; say bederekh klal.

ע״יAl yedei, by or via

al yedei

US English

By; via; through

UK English

By; via; through

What it is

ע״י stands for על ידי (al yedei), "by" or "via." ע״י marks who did something or how, as in submitted by or sent via.

The difference

ע״י and ע״פ look alike, but ע״י means "by" and ע״פ means "according to."

Common mistake

Do not translate ע״י literally as "on the hands of"; say "by."

On the label or sign

עפ״י: According to, alternate form

ע״פ / עפ״יAl pi, according to

al pi

US English

According to; under; pursuant to

UK English

According to; under; pursuant to

What it is

ע״פ and עפ״י stand for על פי (al pi), "according to." ע״פ appears before a law, rule, instruction or source, and both forms occur in official material.

The difference

ע״פ is about a rule or source, while ע״י names who did something.

Common mistake

Do not confuse ע״פ, "according to," with ע״י, "by."

On the label or sign

כנ״ל: As above, ditto

הנ״לHanal, the above

hanizkar leeil, hanal

US English

The above-mentioned; aforesaid

UK English

The above-mentioned; aforesaid

What it is

הנ״ל stands for הנזכר לעיל (hanizkar leeil), "the above-mentioned," and is often read hanal. הנ״ל refers back to a person, object or clause in official and legal prose.

The difference

הנ״ל points backward in the text. The related כנ״ל means "as above" or "ditto."

Common mistake

Do not translate הנ״ל as "the following"; look back up the page.

סופ״שSofash, weekend

sof shavua, sofash

US English

Weekend

UK English

Weekend

What it is

סופ״ש stands for סוף שבוע (sof shavua), "weekend," often spoken sofash. סופ״ש appears in messages, advertising, opening hours and schedules.

The difference

סופ״ש has no single fixed boundary for every business, so actual business and transport hours still need checking.

Common mistake

Do not assume סופ״ש hours mean the same days everywhere; check the listed hours.

לו״זLooz, schedule

luakh zemanim, looz

US English

Schedule; timetable

UK English

Schedule; timetable

What it is

לו״ז stands for לוח זמנים (luakh zemanim), "schedule," often spoken looz. לו״ז is used for work plans, courses, events, construction, travel and messages.

The difference

לו״ז covers any schedule, not only a transport timetable.

Common mistake

Do not read לו״ז as bus times only; a לו״ז can be any plan with dates.

Money and Business

On the label or sign

סה״כ: Total, amount due

סה״כSakh hakol, total

sakh hakol

US English

Total; grand total

UK English

Total; grand total

What it is

סה״כ stands for סך הכול (sakh hakol), "total." סה״כ marks the total row on receipts, quotes, tables and reports.

The difference

The total on an Israeli receipt is labeled סה״כ, not with the English word.

Common mistake

On a receipt, look for סה״כ to find the amount due.

On the label or sign

בע״מ: Ltd., after a company name

בע״מBeeravon mugbal, Ltd.

beeravon mugbal

US English

Ltd.; limited company

UK English

Ltd.; limited company

What it is

בע״מ stands for בערבון מוגבל (beeravon mugbal), "limited." בע״מ is a legal company suffix after a company name on invoices, contracts, signs and records.

The difference

בע״מ is not part of the brand name. בע״מ does not match a US LLC in every legal respect.

Common mistake

Do not read בע״מ as part of the brand; בע״מ marks a limited company.

מע״מMas erekh musaf, VAT

mas erekh musaf

US English

VAT; not the same as US sales tax

UK English

VAT

What it is

מע״מ stands for מס ערך מוסף (mas erekh musaf), "value added tax." מע״מ appears on receipts, invoices, quotes and tax pages. Israel's standard VAT rate rose from 17% to 18% on January 1, 2025.

The difference

מע״מ is a value added tax, not US sales tax. Eilat and exempt or zero-rated cases need separate tax guidance.

Common mistake

Do not rely on an older explainer of מע״מ that still gives 17%.

ש״חShekel khadash, NIS

shekel khadash

US English

NIS; new Israeli shekel

UK English

NIS; new Israeli shekel

What it is

ש״ח stands for שקל חדש (shekel khadash), the new Israeli shekel. ש״ח is printed near amounts on invoices, budgets, notices and prices.

The difference

ש״ח names one currency, written NIS in English.

Common mistake

Do not read ש״ח as two separate currencies; ש״ח is the shekel.

Places, Transport and Health

חו״לKhuts laarets, abroad

khuts laarets

US English

Abroad; overseas

UK English

Abroad; overseas

What it is

חו״ל stands for חוץ לארץ (khuts laarets), "abroad." חו״ל is common in travel, customs, study, banking, news and forms.

The difference

חו״ל simply means anywhere outside Israel.

Common mistake

Do not translate חו״ל word for word; say "abroad."

On the label or sign

ת״צ: Public transport, preferred form
תח״צ: Public transport, still in use

ת״צ / תח״צTakhbura tsiburit, transit

takhbura tsiburit

US English

Public transit

UK English

Public transport

What it is

ת״צ and תח״צ both stand for תחבורה ציבורית (takhbura tsiburit), "public transport." Both appear in bus, rail, planning, road and city documents.

The difference

A Ministry of Transport terminology document prefers ת״צ and labels תח״צ the former form, but government material still uses תח״צ.

Common mistake

Do not treat ת״צ and תח״צ as different services; both mean public transport.

On the label or sign

בי״ח: Hospital, not the health fund

קופ״חKupat kholim, health fund

kupat kholim

US English

Health fund; roughly an HMO

UK English

Health fund; no exact NHS equivalent

What it is

קופ״ח stands for קופת חולים (kupat kholim), "health fund." קופ״ח appears on referrals, registration, insurance and medical forms.

The difference

קופ״ח is a generic label, not the name of one fund. Do not confuse קופ״ח with בי״ח, a hospital.

Common mistake

Do not read קופ״ח as one specific fund, and do not equate קופ״ח directly with the NHS.

On the label or sign

ממ״ק: Shared floor protected space
מקלט: Shelter

ממ״דMamad, apartment safe room

merkhav mugan dirati, mamad

US English

Apartment protected room; safe room

UK English

Residential safe room

What it is

ממ״ד stands for מרחב מוגן דירתי (merkhav mugan dirati), spoken mamad. A ממ״ד is a protected room inside an apartment, listed in property ads, building plans and emergency instructions.

The difference

A ממ״ד is inside the apartment. A ממ״ק is a shared protected space on the floor, and a מקלט is a shelter.

Common mistake

Do not call every shelter a ממ״ד; check whether a listing means ממ״ד, ממ״ק or מקלט.

English meaning	Hebrew abbreviation	Keep in mind
Later	אח״כakhar kakh	Say the full words, not the letters.
With God's help	בע״הbeezrat hashem	Religious, not a neutral "hopefully."
Etc.	וכו׳vekhulei	A single geresh, not gershayim.
No., number	מס׳mispar	Unmarked מס can mean tax.
Israeli ID number	ת״זteudat zehut	Not your passport number.
Email	דוא״לdoar elektroni	The email field on forms.
Attached	מצ״בmetsoraf bazeh	Open the attachment.
P.S.	נ״בnikhtav batsad	Written without periods.
Total	סה״כsakh hakol	The amount due on a receipt.
VAT	מע״מmas erekh musaf	18% since January 1, 2025.
Abroad	חו״לkhuts laarets	Anywhere outside Israel.
Apartment safe room	ממ״דmamad	Not a shared shelter.

Mix-Ups to Avoid

The Core Four and Their Marks

אח״כAkhar kakh, later

What it is

The difference

Common mistake

בע״הBeezrat Hashem, God willing

What it is

The difference

Common mistake

וכו׳Vekhulei, etc.

What it is

The difference

Common mistake

וכד׳Vekhadome, and the like

What it is

The difference

Common mistake

מס׳Mispar, number

What it is

The difference

Common mistake

עמ׳Amud, page or pages

What it is

The difference

Common mistake

Religious Headings

בס״דBesiyata dishmaya heading

What it is

The difference

Common mistake

אי״הIm yirtzeh Hashem, God willing

What it is

The difference

Common mistake

Forms, Addresses and Letters

רח׳Rekhov, street

What it is

The difference

Common mistake

ת״ז / ת.ז.Teudat zehut, Israeli ID

What it is

The difference

Common mistake

ת״דTa doar, P.O. box

What it is

The difference

Common mistake

דוא״לDoar elektroni, email

What it is

The difference

Common mistake

מצ״בMetsoraf bazeh, attached

What it is

The difference

Common mistake

נ״בNikhtav batsad, P.S.

What it is

The difference

Common mistake

Everyday Prose and Messages

בד״כBederekh klal, usually

What it is

The difference

Common mistake

ע״יAl yedei, by or via

What it is

The difference

Common mistake

ע״פ / עפ״יAl pi, according to

What it is

The difference

Common mistake

הנ״לHanal, the above

What it is

The difference

Common mistake

סופ״שSofash, weekend

What it is

The difference