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PlansAboutSupportWhat gamba, kishu'a, batata and kolarabi mean in English.
On the label or sign
artishok; kinras
US English
Globe artichoke
UK English
Globe artichoke
ארטישוק is the immature flower head of a thistle relative. The edible part is not a root vegetable.
ארטישוק is a green or purple layered head. ארטישוק ירושלמי is a separate knobbly tuber.
Buy ארטישוק for artichoke hearts, not the tubers labelled ארטישוק ירושלמי.
On the label or sign
artishok yerushalmi; batata kasbiya
US English
Jerusalem artichoke or sunchoke
UK English
Jerusalem artichoke
ארטישוק ירושלמי is the edible tuber of a sunflower relative. The small irregular tan tubers can resemble ginger.
ארטישוק ירושלמי is neither a globe artichoke nor from Jerusalem.
Do not substitute a globe artichoke or ginger for ארטישוק ירושלמי.
On the label or sign
gamba
US English
Sweet or bell pepper
UK English
Sweet pepper
גמבה is usually a red sweet pepper in everyday retail. Israel's quality specification uses גמבה for a flattened sweet pepper shape.
Color alone is not the formal definition of גמבה. Stores may label the same shelf פלפל אדום instead.
Do not assume every red sweet pepper is formally גמבה or that גמבה covers every color.
On the label or sign
pilpel matok; pilpel shushka; pilpelonim
US English
Sweet pepper, long sweet pepper, or mini peppers
UK English
Sweet pepper, long pointed sweet pepper, or mini peppers
פלפל מתוק is the broad sweet pepper category. פלפל שושקה is long and pointed, while פלפלונים are small sweet peppers.
פלפל שושקה and פלפלונים are not shape synonyms for formal גמבה.
Check the shape before buying a pointed pepper for a recipe that needs a thick walled bell pepper.
On the label or sign
pilpel harif / chili
US English
Hot pepper or chile
UK English
Chilli
פלפל חריף is a category of heat bearing Capsicum peppers. The label does not name one cultivar or guarantee one heat level.
פלפל חריף is broader than jalapeño, serrano, or another named chile.
Do not substitute פלפל חריף one for one for a named chile without a more specific label.
On the label or sign
batata
US English
Sweet potato
UK English
Sweet potato
בטטה is a sweet potato, Ipomoea batatas. Israeli commercial production is mainly orange fleshed, with white and purple types described as niche crops.
בטטה is neither a potato nor a true yam. True yams are Dioscorea species.
Translate בטטה as sweet potato, not yam.
On the label or sign
fakus / pakus; melafefon armeni
US English
Armenian cucumber or snake melon
UK English
Armenian cucumber or snake melon
פקוס is eaten like cucumber but is botanically Cucumis melo var. flexuosus. The fruit is long, pale or striped, and often curved or ribbed.
פקוס is not the ordinary cucumber Cucumis sativus and is not bought for melon sweetness.
Do not choose an ordinary dark cucumber when a recipe expects the texture of פקוס.
On the label or sign
kishu'a bahir / kishu'a baladi
US English
Light green summer squash or vegetable marrow type
UK English
Pale courgette or small marrow type
קישוא בהיר is the common pale Israeli summer squash. The pale green to cream fruit is shorter and more bulbous than dark zucchini.
קישוא בהיר is a vegetable marrow or baladi type, not a fully mature British marrow. Dark or yellow cylindrical zucchini is labelled זוקיני.
Do not expect the dark green zucchini pictured in many US recipes when a shelf says only קישוא.
On the label or sign
zukini kehe / zukini tsahov
US English
Zucchini or yellow zucchini
UK English
Courgette or yellow courgette
זוקיני is a long cylindrical summer squash. Israeli stores list dark green and yellow זוקיני separately from pale קישוא.
Courgette is the UK word for the vegetable called zucchini in the US.
Do not treat קישוא and זוקיני as unrelated vegetables, but check which fruit type the recipe expects.
On the label or sign
dla'at
US English
Pumpkin or winter squash
UK English
Pumpkin or squash
דלעת is a broad Hebrew market category for pumpkin or winter squash. Stores often sell דלעת as an orange fleshed cut wedge.
דלעת alone does not identify a US carving pumpkin or a specific cultivar.
Do not buy an unnamed דלעת wedge for a recipe that requires a whole sugar pumpkin or a named squash texture.
On the label or sign
dalorit
US English
Butternut squash
UK English
Butternut squash
דלורית is the standard Israeli name for butternut squash. The whole squash is tan, smooth, and pear shaped, with orange flesh.
דלורית is a specific squash, while דלעת is a broad market category.
Buy דלורית for butternut squash instead of a generic דלעת wedge.
On the label or sign
dla'at armonim
US English
Acorn squash
UK English
Acorn squash
דלעת ערמונים is an Israeli acorn squash cultivar or type. The small squash is deeply ribbed and usually dark green.
The word ערמונים is part of the name. דלעת ערמונים does not contain chestnuts and is not butternut squash.
Buy דלעת ערמונים for acorn squash, not for chestnuts or butternut squash.
On the label or sign
kolarabi / kolorabi; kruv ha-kelah
US English
Kohlrabi
UK English
Kohlrabi
קולרבי is a cabbage relative grown for an enlarged stem above the ground. Pale green or purple stems have leaf stalks emerging around them and white flesh.
קולרבי is not a root or a turnip. כרוב הקלח is the Hebrew equivalent recorded by the Academy of the Hebrew Language.
Do not buy לפת when a recipe asks for קולרבי.
On the label or sign
lefet
US English
Turnip
UK English
Turnip
לפת is a turnip. The smooth round root is usually white with a purple or green shoulder.
לפת is distinct from kohlrabi and from the larger yellow fleshed rutabaga or swede.
Do not substitute קולרבי or assume לפת means rutabaga or swede.
On the label or sign
tsnon
US English
Large radish, often daikon type when long and white
UK English
Large radish, often daikon type when long and white
צנון is the general or large radish shelf term. The root may be large and elongated or round.
צנון does not guarantee a daikon cultivar unless the label names the type. Small salad radishes are צנונית.
Do not assume every צנון is a small red salad radish.
On the label or sign
tsnonit
US English
Small radish
UK English
Small radish
צנונית is the term for small salad radishes. The roots are small, round, and red or pink.
צנונית is sold separately from the larger radish called צנון.
Do not buy a large white צנון for a recipe that expects small red radishes.
On the label or sign
selek adom / selek
US English
Beet or beetroot
UK English
Beetroot
סלק is the dark red swollen root sold raw or cooked. Fresh roots and peeled cooked roots are both sold.
סלק is different from the leafy vegetable מנגולד, which can also be labelled סלק עלים.
Do not buy leafy סלק עלים when a recipe calls for beet roots.
On the label or sign
seleri alim / seleri amerikani / shoresh seleri
US English
Leaf celery, celery stalks, or celery root
UK English
Leaf celery, celery, or celeriac
Israeli shelves distinguish leafy סלרי עלים, thick crisp stalks called סלרי אמריקאי, and the swollen root called שורש סלרי or סלרי ראש.
The three celery labels identify different retail forms. Celery root is also called celeriac in English.
Do not buy leafy celery for crisp sticks or mistake knobbly celeriac for parsley root.
On the label or sign
shoresh petrozelia
US English
Parsley root
UK English
Parsley root
Israeli retailers label parsley root as שורש פטרוזיליה. The Academy records גזר לבן for parsnip.
Parsley root is not the same root as גזר לבן, the Academy term for parsnip.
Do not translate שורש פטרוזיליה as parsnip.
On the label or sign
gezer lavan
US English
Parsnip
UK English
Parsnip
גזר לבן is the Hebrew term recorded for parsnip, Pastinaca sativa.
גזר לבן means parsnip in this produce term, not a white carrot or parsley root.
Do not substitute שורש פטרוזיליה when a recipe needs parsnip.
On the label or sign
shumar
US English
Florence fennel or fennel bulb
UK English
Florence fennel or fennel bulb
שומר is the swollen layered bulb and feathery tops of fennel. Stores sell the white bulb with green stalks and fine fronds.
שומר is distinct from שמיר, dill, and is more than dried fennel seed.
Do not confuse שומר with שמיר because both have aromatic feathery leaves.
On the label or sign
krisha / prasa / luf krisha
US English
Leek
UK English
Leek
כרישה, פראסה, and לוף כרישה are retail names for leek. כרישה is the Academy's standard culinary term.
A leek has a long white shaft that grades into flat dark green leaves. בצל ירוק has a small white base and hollow green leaves.
Do not buy spring onions or interpret לוף כרישה as a separate vegetable.
On the label or sign
batsal yarok
US English
Scallion or green onion
UK English
Spring onion
בצל ירוק is a young onion sold with a small white base and long hollow green leaves.
US English usually says scallion or green onion, while UK English says spring onion. Regional English usage overlaps.
Do not buy leek, chives, or a full bulb onion for בצל ירוק.
On the label or sign
lubya / rubia
US English
Cowpea or black eyed pea
UK English
Cowpea or black eyed bean
לוביה is a cowpea species or category. Fresh לוביה is sold as long green pods, while dried seeds may appear as black eyed peas or beans.
Fresh cowpea pods and dried cowpea seeds have different culinary uses. לוביה is not simply another name for the common green bean.
Check whether a recipe needs fresh לוביה pods or dried seeds before substituting green beans.
On the label or sign
shu'it yeruka
US English
Green bean or string bean
UK English
Green bean
שעועית ירוקה is the common bean sold as thin edible green pods.
שעועית ירוקה is separate from the cowpea לוביה and the fava bean פול.
Do not treat green beans, לוביה, and פול as interchangeable because all can be sold in pods.
On the label or sign
pol
US English
Fava bean
UK English
Broad bean
פול is fava bean in US English and broad bean in UK English. Fresh פול has larger, plumper pods whose developed beans are usually shelled.
פול is separate from common green beans and cowpeas.
Do not substitute שעועית ירוקה or לוביה when a recipe calls for fresh פול.
On the label or sign
mangold / selek alim
US English
Swiss chard or chard
UK English
Swiss chard or chard
מנגולד is a leafy vegetable with broad leaves and thick pale or colored stalks. Israeli labels also use סלק עלים.
סלק עלים is chard, not the beet root called סלק.
Do not buy beet roots or spinach when a recipe needs chard leaves and stalks.
On the label or sign
hasa aravit
US English
Romaine lettuce
UK English
Cos lettuce
חסה ערבית is the upright romaine or cos lettuce type. The lettuce has long upright leaves and a tall heart.
חסה ערבית is not a literal English variety name. Iceberg is labelled חסה עגולה or אייסברג.
Choose חסה ערבית or לבבות קיסר for romaine instead of a tight iceberg head.
On the label or sign
hasa agula / aysberg
US English
Iceberg lettuce
UK English
Iceberg lettuce
חסה עגולה is a compact crisp lettuce head. Israeli retail also uses the borrowed name אייסברג.
Iceberg forms a tight round head, unlike the long upright leaves of חסה ערבית.
Do not buy iceberg when a Caesar style recipe expects romaine hearts.
On the label or sign
kruv sini / napa
US English
Chinese or Napa cabbage
UK English
Chinese or Napa cabbage
כרוב סיני is Chinese or Napa cabbage. Napa forms a tall dense pale head.
כרוב סיני is related to bok choy but is not the same market form.
Do not buy bok choy when a recipe asks for a dense head of Napa or Chinese cabbage.
On the label or sign
bok choy / pak choi
US English
Bok choy
UK English
Pak choi
באק צ׳וי forms an open cluster of spoon shaped green leaves on thick white or pale green stalks.
Bok choy is related to Napa cabbage but does not form the same tall dense pale head.
Do not treat כרוב סיני as a guaranteed synonym for bok choy.
On the label or sign
olesh / endiv
US English
Chicory or Belgian endive, depending on the product
UK English
Chicory or Belgian endive, depending on the product
Israeli retail often pairs עולש and אנדיב on compact white or red pointed heads.
The English words chicory and endive cover several related cultivated forms. The Hebrew label alone may not identify the precise botanical group.
Do not expect loose curly endive or frisée when the pack contains tight pointed heads.
On the label or sign
rukola / roket / arugula
US English
Arugula
UK English
Rocket
רוקולה, רוקט, and ארוגולה are shelf names for the same peppery salad green. The leaves are small and deeply lobed.
US English usually says arugula, while UK English says rocket.
Search all three shelf names and do not confuse the leaves with גרגיר הנחלים, watercress.
On the label or sign
hatsil
US English
Eggplant
UK English
Aubergine
חציל is the glossy purple elongated or oval vegetable called eggplant in US English and aubergine in UK English.
Eggplant and aubergine are two standard English names for the same vegetable.
Look for חציל whether an English recipe says eggplant or aubergine.
On the label or sign
kusbara
US English
Cilantro for leaves, coriander for seed
UK English
Coriander or coriander leaf
כוסברה is the fresh leafy herb called cilantro in US English and coriander in UK English. The leaves are flat, delicate, and lobed.
The dried seed is a different product and use. US English commonly reserves coriander for the seed.
A US shopper should ask for fresh כוסברה leaves to avoid receiving coriander seeds or flat leaf parsley.
| Recipe says | Look for in Israel | Keep in mind |
|---|---|---|
| Sweet potato | בטטהbatata | Not a true yam |
| Dark zucchini or courgette | זוקיני כההzukini kehe | Long and dark green |
| Butternut squash | דלוריתdalorit | Tan and pear shaped |
| Acorn squash | דלעת ערמוניםdla'at armonim | Small and deeply ribbed |
| Kohlrabi | קולרבי / קולורביkolarabi / kolorabi | An enlarged stem |
| Turnip | לפתlefet | A root, unlike kohlrabi |
| Celeriac | שורש סלריshoresh seleri | Celery root |
| Swiss chard | מנגולד / סלק עליםmangold / selek alim | Leaves and thick stalks |
| Leek | כרישה / פראסהkrisha / prasa | Both labels mean leek |
| Arugula or rocket | רוקולה / רוקטrukola / roket | The same salad green |
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By the baba team. Checked on against 55 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.
גמבה usually means a red sweet pepper in Israeli retail. Israel's quality specification defines גמבה by its flattened shape, so not every red sweet pepper is formally gamba.
קישוא often means the pale Israeli vegetable marrow or baladi summer squash. Stores use זוקיני for the long cylindrical dark green or yellow type called zucchini in the US and courgette in the UK.
בטטה is sweet potato, Ipomoea batatas. A true yam belongs to the Dioscorea species, so yam is a misleading translation for בטטה.
ארטישוק ירושלמי is a tuber of a sunflower relative. ארטישוק is the layered flower head to buy when a recipe needs globe artichoke.
קולרבי is an enlarged cabbage stem above the ground, not a root. לפת is the Hebrew label for turnip.
What afarsemon, shesek, pomelit and anona mean in English.
Romaine, rocket, chard, spinach and baby leaves in Israel.
What p'titim, bulgur, buckwheat and Persian rice mean.
What hummus, adashim, pol and she'uit mean in English.