Is leben the same as yogurt?

No. לבן (leben) is a soft cultured or soured milk in the wider fermented milk family. Yogurt is one specific fermented milk type with a narrower culture definition.

What is the difference between Eshel and Gil?

Both are familiar Tnuva leben products. גיל (Gil) has 3% fat, while אשל (Eshel) is richer at 4.5% fat.

Does BIO yogurt mean organic in Israel?

No. BIO is a culture or range cue on Israeli yogurt. Read the named culture and ingredient statement for the exact product.

Is PRO always yogurt?

No. PRO is a protein focused range marker. The product can be yogurt, whipped yogurt, a crunchy cup or a dairy pudding, so read the descriptive product name.

Is ma'adan the Hebrew word for yogurt?

No. מעדן is a prepared treat or dessert in the chilled dairy aisle. Read יוגורט for yogurt, מעדן חלב for a milk dessert and מעדן גבינה for a sweet cheese dessert.

Israeli Yogurt Guide: Hebrew Names in English

Cultured Milk

On the label or sign

לבן: cultured or soured milk

לבןIsraeli cultured milk

leben

US English

Cultured milk or mild soured milk

UK English

Soured milk or cultured buttermilk

What it is

Leben is a mild, tangy milk fermented with lactic cultures. The Israeli cup is usually spoonable or softly set.

The difference

Leben belongs to the wider fermented milk family. Yogurt is one specific type in that family, and ordinary milk is not the closest comparison.

Common mistake

Do not read לבן as lavan, meaning white, or assume every leben cup is plain yogurt.

On the label or sign

גיל 3%: Gil with 3% fat
מוצר בפיקוח: price controlled product

גילGil cultured milk

Gil

US English

3% cultured milk or mild soured milk

UK English

3% cultured milk or mild soured milk

What it is

Gil is a familiar 3% leben product from Tnuva. Gil is a product name within the leben family, not a universal dairy style.

The difference

The standard 200 ml plain Gil cup is a defined price controlled product. The official maximum price for that cup is ₪1.78 from 1 May 2026.

Common mistake

Ask for גיל שלושה אחוז when the exact plain cup is wanted instead of looking for an English dairy style called Gil.

On the label or sign

אשל 4.5%: Eshel with 4.5% fat
פיקוח: price controlled

אשלEshel cultured milk

Eshel

US English

4.5% cultured milk or rich soured milk

UK English

4.5% cultured milk or rich soured milk

What it is

Eshel is a richer Tnuva leben product with 4.5% fat. Eshel belongs to the fermented milk family.

The difference

Eshel is separate from sour cream. The official maximum price for the standard 200 ml cup is ₪1.99 from 1 May 2026.

Common mistake

Check the fat level and cultured texture before using Eshel in place of yogurt or sour cream.

Yogurt Styles

Plain yogurt, yogurt tiv'i, in a cup with a spoon

On the label or sign

יוגורט טבעי: natural or plain yogurt
יוגורט לבן: plain white yogurt

יוגורט טבעי / יוגורט לבןPlain yogurt

yogurt tivi / yogurt lavan

US English

Plain yogurt

UK English

Natural yoghurt or plain yoghurt

What it is

Plain yogurt is milk fermented with yogurt cultures. The yogurt culture definition is narrower than the general fermented milk family.

The difference

A white cup is not enough to identify plain yogurt. Read יוגורט, the fat percentage, the ingredients and modifiers such as טבעי or לבן.

Common mistake

Do not treat every plain looking yogurt, leben or dessert cup as interchangeable.

On the label or sign

ביו: Bio range or culture cue
פרוביוטי: probiotic

יוגורט ביו / פרוביוטיProbiotic yogurt

yogurt bio / probioti

US English

Probiotic yogurt

UK English

Probiotic yoghurt

What it is

Bio yogurt has named additional cultures or belongs to a probiotic positioned range. Current examples include products with added bifidus cultures.

The difference

BIO is a culture or range cue on Israeli yogurt. BIO is not the English word organic.

Common mistake

Read the exact culture and ingredient statement instead of assuming all yogurt has the same added probiotic strain.

Fruit yogurt, yogurt im pri, with strawberry on the bottom

On the label or sign

מתיקות מעודנת: gently sweetened
עם פרי: with fruit

יוגורט במתיקות מעודנת / יוגורט עם פריFruit or sweetened yogurt

yogurt be-metikut meudenet / yogurt im pri

US English

Lightly sweetened yogurt or fruit yogurt

UK English

Lightly sweetened yoghurt or fruit yoghurt

What it is

Fruit yogurt is flavoured or sweetened fermented yogurt. Israeli food classification places flavoured yogurt under milk based desserts even though the food remains yogurt.

The difference

The word מעודן means mild or gently sweetened in these lines. The word does not mean plain.

Common mistake

Check the ingredient list and nutrition panel for fruit, sugar and sweeteners before choosing a cup.

Thick Greek-style yogurt, yogurt be-signon yevani, with a spoon standing in it

On the label or sign

בסגנון יווני: Greek style

יוגורט בסגנון יווניGreek style yogurt

yogurt be-signon yevani

US English

Greek style yogurt

UK English

Greek style yoghurt

What it is

Greek style yogurt is a thicker, richer yogurt style. Current Israeli cups are often small and full fat.

The difference

The words בסגנון יווני promise the style stated on the label. The words alone do not prove a particular straining method or a nonfat, high protein formula.

Common mistake

Read the fat, protein, ingredients and product name instead of assuming every Greek style cup matches US Greek yogurt.

On the label or sign

סקיר: skyr

סקירSkyr

skyr

US English

Skyr or Icelandic style cultured dairy

UK English

Skyr or Icelandic style cultured dairy

What it is

Skyr is a very thick, protein focused cultured dairy style. Current Israeli shelf evidence shows 150 g cups, including fruit and lemon cream flavours.

The difference

Skyr is a separate named style, not the Hebrew word for Greek yogurt. Current shelf evidence is much narrower than for national plain yogurt lines.

Common mistake

Look for SKYR or סקיר and check branch stock instead of expecting every supermarket to stock skyr.

Yogurt Drinks

A bottle and glass of drinkable yogurt, yogurt lishtiya

On the label or sign

לשתייה: for drinking
משקה יוגורט: yogurt drink

יוגורט לשתייה / משקה יוגורטDrinkable yogurt

yogurt lishtiya / mashke yogurt

US English

Drinkable yogurt or yogurt drink

UK English

Drinking yoghurt or yoghurt drink

What it is

Drinkable yogurt is a fluid fermented milk drink. The bottle can be plain, flavoured or protein focused.

The difference

Drinkable yogurt is sold as a beverage rather than a spoonable cup. Flavour and sugar vary widely.

Common mistake

Read לשתייה or משקה יוגורט instead of buying the bottle as ordinary milk or spoonable yogurt.

Small probiotic drink bottles, mashke probioti

On the label or sign

משקה פרוביוטי: probiotic drink

אקטימל / משקה פרוביוטיProbiotic cultured milk shot

Actimel / mashke probioti

US English

Probiotic cultured milk shot

UK English

Probiotic yoghurt or cultured milk shot

What it is

A probiotic shot is a small portion fermented dairy drink sold in multipacks. Current Actimel packs contain eight 108 g bottles.

The difference

Actimel is one format and brand family. Actimel is not a synonym for every probiotic yogurt.

Common mistake

Check the serving size and ingredients before comparing one small bottle with a full yogurt cup.

On the label or sign

קפיר: kefir

קפירKefir

kefir

US English

Kefir

UK English

Kefir

What it is

Kefir is fermented milk made with a mixed culture that includes bacteria and yeasts. Kefir has a different culture definition from yogurt.

The difference

Current Israeli listings commonly show kefir in 500 or 900 ml bottles. Kefir has stronger representation in specialist chains than in the mainstream yogurt set.

Common mistake

Do not call every tangy dairy drink kefir or assume kefir and yogurt use the same cultures.

On the label or sign

איירן: ayran
בסגנון בלקני: Balkan style

איירןAyran

ayran

US English

Ayran or salted yogurt drink

UK English

Ayran or salted yoghurt drink

What it is

Ayran is a savory, thinned yogurt drink. Ayran's salty Balkan or Middle Eastern profile differs from sweet fruit drinking yogurt.

The difference

A current shelf example is made from cow milk in a Balkan style. Ayran belongs with yogurt beverages but is served as a savory drink.

Common mistake

Read איירן and בסגנון בלקני instead of expecting a sweet smoothie.

Milk Sources and Claims

On the label or sign

יוגורט עיזים: goat milk yogurt
יוגורט כבשים: sheep milk yogurt

יוגורט עיזים / יוגורט כבשיםGoat or sheep milk yogurt

yogurt izim / yogurt kvasim

US English

Goat or sheep milk yogurt

UK English

Goat's or sheep's milk yoghurt

What it is

Goat yogurt is made from goat milk, while sheep yogurt is made from sheep milk. The animal name identifies the milk source, not a separate fermentation category.

The difference

Goat yogurt can appear in cups, bottles and larger containers. Current sheep yogurt listings show richer, larger tubs than many basic cow milk cups.

Common mistake

Read עיזים for goats and כבשים for sheep, then confirm that the product noun says יוגורט.

On the label or sign

נטול לקטוז: lactose free
דל לקטוז: low lactose
מכיל: חלב: contains milk

יוגורט נטול לקטוז / דל לקטוזLactose free yogurt

yogurt netul laktoz / dal laktoz

US English

Lactose free or low lactose yogurt

UK English

Lactose free or low lactose yoghurt

What it is

Lactose free or low lactose is a claim layered onto yogurt. Milk remains the base ingredient and allergen in dairy versions.

The difference

Lactose free dairy is not automatically vegan, pareve or suitable for a milk allergy.

Common mistake

Check נטול לקטוז or דל לקטוז together with the ingredient and allergen statement.

A plate of labneh with olive oil and za'atar, labaneh

On the label or sign

לבנה: labneh
לאבנה: labneh, alternate spelling
לבאנה: labneh, alternate spelling

לבנה / לאבנה / לבאנהLabneh

labaneh / labneh

US English

Labneh or strained yogurt cheese

UK English

Labneh or strained yoghurt

What it is

Labneh is a concentrated fermented milk or yogurt product. Labneh is commonly drained and sold as a thick spread.

The difference

Labneh is often sold with soft cheeses. Leben is the softer cultured milk cup, while labneh is the concentrated spread.

Common mistake

Do not confuse leben with labneh when reading a recipe or shelf label.

Protein Products

On the label or sign

יוגורט חלבון: protein yogurt
יוגורט: yogurt

יוגורט חלבון / דנונה PROHigh protein yogurt

yogurt helbon / Danone PRO

US English

High protein yogurt

UK English

High protein yoghurt

What it is

High protein yogurt is yogurt formulated and marketed for more protein. Current Danone PRO, GO and Müller Protein ranges include yogurt products.

The difference

PRO, GO and Protein are front label positioning, not one legal dairy category. A prominent 20 or 25 often gives grams of protein in the whole cup, so verify the unit and serving panel.

Common mistake

Do not read a large 20 as 20% fat or assume every product in a protein range is yogurt.

On the label or sign

מעדן חלבון: protein dessert
פודינג: pudding

מעדן חלבון / פודינג חלבוןHigh protein pudding

ma'adan helbon / pudding helbon

US English

High protein pudding

UK English

High protein pudding or protein dessert

What it is

A protein pudding is a spoonable dairy dessert with a protein claim. Some cups in the protein section are puddings rather than yogurt.

The difference

Protein branding does not establish live yogurt cultures. Read מעדן חלב, מעדן חלבון or פודינג instead of relying on shelf position.

Common mistake

Do not buy protein pudding for a yogurt recipe or probiotic culture without reading the product type.

Desserts and Alternatives

A chocolate pudding cup with a cream layer, ma'adan chalav

On the label or sign

מעדן חלב: milk based dairy dessert
בטעם שוקולד: chocolate flavoured
בטעם וניל: vanilla flavoured

מעדן חלבDairy pudding cup

ma'adan halav

US English

Dairy pudding or pudding cup

UK English

Chilled dairy dessert or dessert pot

What it is

Ma'adan halav is the broad Israeli term for a prepared milk based dessert. The dessert can be thickened, gelled, whipped or otherwise set.

The difference

Fermentation cannot be assumed. Current smooth dessert families include Dani, Carlo, Ma'adan HaGolan and Buddy.

Common mistake

Translate מעדן חלב by texture and product type instead of calling every ma'adan yogurt.

On the label or sign

מילקי: Milky dessert

מילקיPudding with whipped cream

Milky

US English

Chocolate or vanilla pudding with whipped cream

UK English

Chocolate dairy dessert pot with whipped cream

What it is

Milky is a Strauss two layer dairy dessert. A pudding or cream base sits under a separate whipped cream top.

The difference

Milky is a dessert, not yogurt. The closest comparison is a chilled pudding or dessert pot with whipped cream.

Common mistake

Do not use Milky as a plain yogurt substitute just because the cup sits in the yogurt aisle.

On the label or sign

יולו: YOLO dessert
שוקולד לבן: white chocolate
שכבות: layers

YOLO / יולוPremium chocolate dessert

YOLO

US English

Premium chocolate pudding or layered dessert

UK English

Premium chocolate dessert pot

What it is

YOLO is a premium Tnuva chocolate dessert range. Current cups include white chocolate and layered dark and white chocolate desserts.

The difference

YOLO belongs to the dessert family. Prominent Latin lettering does not make the cup imported or a protein yogurt.

Common mistake

Read the chocolate description and dairy dessert type before grouping YOLO with yogurt.

On the label or sign

מוס: mousse
מוקצף: whipped
מרקם אוורירי: airy texture

מוס / מעדן מוקצףDairy mousse

mus / ma'adan muktzaf

US English

Dairy mousse or whipped dairy dessert

UK English

Dairy mousse or whipped dessert

What it is

Mousse is an aerated dessert. The base can be milk, cream, yogurt or cheese, as stated on the cup.

The difference

Whipped describes texture rather than flavour or product family. Some products are whipped yogurt, while others are dairy desserts.

Common mistake

Read the base product noun before treating every whipped cup as yogurt.

On the label or sign

מעדן גבינה: cheese dessert
גבינה מוקצפת: whipped cheese

מעדן גבינה / גבינה מוקצפתSweet cheese dessert

ma'adan gevina / gevina muktzefet

US English

Sweet cheese or quark style dessert

UK English

Sweet quark, fromage frais or cheese dessert

What it is

A cheese dessert is a sweet fresh cheese based dessert. Current Daniela cups are small flavoured examples in the category.

The difference

A cheese dessert is distinct from yogurt and milk pudding. The word גבינה identifies cheese as the base.

Common mistake

Read גבינה before choosing a small children's cup as a yogurt substitute.

A cup of rice pudding, ma'adan orez, dusted with cinnamon

On the label or sign

מעדן אורז: rice dessert
אורז בחלב: rice in milk

מעדן אורז / אורז בחלבRice pudding

ma'adan orez / orez be-halav

US English

Rice pudding

UK English

Rice pudding

What it is

Rice pudding is a cooked milk and rice dessert. Rice pudding is not fermented merely because the cup is refrigerated beside yogurt.

The difference

The word אורז and visible rice grains distinguish rice pudding from plain yogurt and labneh.

Common mistake

Read אורז before choosing a white cup from the yogurt cabinet.

On the label or sign

ג'לי: jelly

ג'לי חלב / מעדן ג'ליMilk jelly

jeli halav / ma'adan jeli

US English

Milk jelly or gelatin dessert

UK English

Milk jelly or set dairy dessert

What it is

Milk jelly is a gelled dairy dessert. Israel's food classification lists jellied milk among milk based desserts.

The difference

Milk jelly is a set dessert rather than a cultured yogurt. A brightly coloured cup can still be a dairy product.

Common mistake

Read ג'לי and the product type line instead of assuming every cup in the yogurt cabinet is fermented.

On the label or sign

מעדן צמחי: plant based dessert
טבעוני: vegan
סויה / שקדים / קוקוס: soy, almond or coconut

מעדן צמחי / יוגורט צמחיPlant based dairy alternative

ma'adan tzimhi / yogurt tzimhi

US English

Plant based dessert or non dairy yogurt alternative

UK English

Plant based dessert or dairy free yoghurt alternative

What it is

A plant based cup is a soy, almond, coconut or other plant analogue. Retailers place these products in a separate alternatives category.

The difference

A lactose free label alone does not prove that a product is plant based. A plant cup near dairy is not dairy when the ingredients and allergen statement say otherwise.

Common mistake

Check טבעוני and the named plant source together with the ingredient and allergen statements.

Recipe says	Look for in Israel	Keep in mind
Plain yogurt	יוגורט טבעיyogurt tivi	Check the fat percentage and ingredients.
Cultured buttermilk	לבןleben	Leben is the nearest common comparison, but the Israeli cup is usually spoonable or softly set.
Greek style yogurt	יוגורט בסגנון יווניyogurt be-signon yevani	Check fat, protein and ingredients.
Drinkable yogurt	יוגורט לשתייהyogurt lishtiya	Look for a bottle and check flavour and sugar.
Kefir	קפירkefir	Kefir uses a mixed culture that includes bacteria and yeasts.
Labneh	לבנהlabaneh	Choose the concentrated spread, not leben.
High protein yogurt	יוגורט חלבוןyogurt helbon	Confirm that the product noun says yogurt.
Dairy pudding cup	מעדן חלבma'adan halav	The exact texture can be pudding, custard style, gelled or whipped.

Mix-Ups to Avoid

Cultured Milk

לבןIsraeli cultured milk

What it is

The difference

Common mistake

גילGil cultured milk

What it is

The difference

Common mistake

אשלEshel cultured milk

What it is

The difference

Common mistake

Yogurt Styles

יוגורט טבעי / יוגורט לבןPlain yogurt

What it is

The difference

Common mistake

יוגורט ביו / פרוביוטיProbiotic yogurt

What it is

The difference

Common mistake

יוגורט במתיקות מעודנת / יוגורט עם פריFruit or sweetened yogurt

What it is

The difference

Common mistake

יוגורט בסגנון יווניGreek style yogurt

What it is

The difference

Common mistake

סקירSkyr

What it is

The difference

Common mistake

Yogurt Drinks

יוגורט לשתייה / משקה יוגורטDrinkable yogurt

What it is

The difference

Common mistake

אקטימל / משקה פרוביוטיProbiotic cultured milk shot

What it is

The difference

Common mistake

קפירKefir

What it is

The difference

Common mistake

איירןAyran

What it is

The difference

Common mistake

Milk Sources and Claims

יוגורט עיזים / יוגורט כבשיםGoat or sheep milk yogurt

What it is

The difference

Common mistake

יוגורט נטול לקטוז / דל לקטוזLactose free yogurt

What it is

The difference

Common mistake

לבנה / לאבנה / לבאנהLabneh

What it is

The difference

Common mistake

Protein Products

יוגורט חלבון / דנונה PROHigh protein yogurt

What it is

The difference

Common mistake

מעדן חלבון / פודינג חלבוןHigh protein pudding

What it is

The difference

Common mistake

Desserts and Alternatives

מעדן חלבDairy pudding cup

What it is

The difference

Common mistake

מילקיPudding with whipped cream