Which blessing do I say?
Type a food or an occasion and get the bracha, before and after, in Hebrew, transliteration and English. Switch between Ashkenazi and Sephardi where the two customs differ.
hamotzi
בָּרוּךְ אַתָּה יְיָ אֱלֹהֵינוּ מֶלֶךְ הָעוֹלָם הַמּוֹצִיא לֶחֶם מִן הָאָרֶץ
barukh ata adonai eloheinu melekh ha'olam hamotzi lekhem min ha'aretz
Blessed are You, Lord our God, King of the universe, who brings forth bread from the earth.
Before eating bread or a meal-sized baked product of the five grains (wheat, barley, spelt, rye, oats).
Examples: bread, challah, pita, bagel, baguette, sourdough bread
mezonot
בָּרוּךְ אַתָּה יְיָ אֱלֹהֵינוּ מֶלֶךְ הָעוֹלָם בּוֹרֵא מִינֵי מְזוֹנוֹת
barukh ata adonai eloheinu melekh ha'olam borei minei mezonot
Blessed are You, Lord our God, King of the universe, who creates species of nourishment.
Before cakes, cookies, pasta, cooked grain dishes, and other non-bread foods of the five grains; also rice in Ashkenazi practice.
Examples: egg matza, pizza, thin-crust pizza, calzone, breadsticks, stuffing
hagafen
בָּרוּךְ אַתָּה יְיָ אֱלֹהֵינוּ מֶלֶךְ הָעוֹלָם בּוֹרֵא פְּרִי הַגָּפֶן
barukh ata adonai eloheinu melekh ha'olam borei pri hagafen
Blessed are You, Lord our God, King of the universe, who creates the fruit of the vine.
Before wine or grape juice (not grape soda or most grape flavorings).
Examples: grape juice, wine, red wine, white wine, champagne, port wine
haetz
בָּרוּךְ אַתָּה יְיָ אֱלֹהֵינוּ מֶלֶךְ הָעוֹלָם בּוֹרֵא פְּרִי הָעֵץ
barukh ata adonai eloheinu melekh ha'olam borei pri ha'etz
Blessed are You, Lord our God, King of the universe, who creates the fruit of the tree.
Before fruit that grows on a perennial woody tree or shrub.
Examples: apple, pear, peach, plum, apricot, cherry
haadama
בָּרוּךְ אַתָּה יְיָ אֱלֹהֵינוּ מֶלֶךְ הָעוֹלָם בּוֹרֵא פְּרִי הָאֲדָמָה
barukh ata adonai eloheinu melekh ha'olam borei pri ha'adama
Blessed are You, Lord our God, King of the universe, who creates the fruit of the ground.
Before vegetables, legumes, and produce that does not grow on a tree.
Examples: muesli, quinoa, buckwheat, millet, amaranth, corn on the cob
shehakol
בָּרוּךְ אַתָּה יְיָ אֱלֹהֵינוּ מֶלֶךְ הָעוֹלָם שֶׁהַכֹּל נִהְיָה בִּדְבָרוֹ
barukh ata adonai eloheinu melekh ha'olam shehakol nihya bidvaro
Blessed are You, Lord our God, King of the universe, through whose word all things come to be.
Before foods and drinks that do not fit the other before-blessings: meat, fish, eggs, dairy, water, juices (other than grape), candy, and many processed foods.
Examples: corn flakes, protein bar, ice cream cone, polenta, grits, fruit leather
al hamichya
בָּרוּךְ אַתָּה יְיָ אֱלֹהֵינוּ מֶלֶךְ הָעוֹלָם עַל הַמִּחְיָה וְעַל הַכַּלְכָּלָה
barukh ata adonai eloheinu melekh ha'olam al hamikhya ve'al hakalkala
Blessed are You, Lord our God, King of the universe, for the nourishment and for the sustenance. (Opening of the short after-blessing for grain foods.)
After a kezayit of mezonot from the five grains (not rice). The full me-ein shalosh continues with the land of Israel and a closing formula.
al hagefen
בָּרוּךְ אַתָּה יְיָ אֱלֹהֵינוּ מֶלֶךְ הָעוֹלָם עַל הַגֶּפֶן וְעַל פְּרִי הַגָּפֶן
barukh ata adonai eloheinu melekh ha'olam al hagefen ve'al pri hagafen
Blessed are You, Lord our God, King of the universe, for the vine and for the fruit of the vine. (Opening of the short after-blessing for wine.)
After drinking a reviit of wine or grape juice.
al haetz
בָּרוּךְ אַתָּה יְיָ אֱלֹהֵינוּ מֶלֶךְ הָעוֹלָם עַל הָעֵץ וְעַל פְּרִי הָעֵץ
barukh ata adonai eloheinu melekh ha'olam al ha'etz ve'al pri ha'etz
Blessed are You, Lord our God, King of the universe, for the tree and for the fruit of the tree. (Opening of the short after-blessing for the fruits of the seven species.)
After a kezayit of grapes, figs, pomegranates, olives, or dates (the tree fruits among the seven species). Other tree fruit takes borei nefashot.
borei nefashot
בָּרוּךְ אַתָּה יְיָ אֱלֹהֵינוּ מֶלֶךְ הָעוֹלָם בּוֹרֵא נְפָשׁוֹת רַבּוֹת וְחֶסְרוֹנָן עַל כָּל מַה שֶּׁבָּרָאתָ לְהַחֲיוֹת בָּהֶם נֶפֶשׁ כָּל חָי בָּרוּךְ חֵי הָעוֹלָמִים
barukh ata adonai eloheinu melekh ha'olam borei nefashot rabot vekhesronan al kol ma shebarata lehakhayot bahem nefesh kol khai barukh khai ha'olamim
Blessed are You, Lord our God, King of the universe, who creates many living beings and their needs, for all that You have created to keep every living being alive. Blessed is the Life of the worlds.
After a kezayit of food (or a reviit of drink) whose before-blessing was shehakol, haadama, or haetz other than the seven-species fruits; also after rice.
shehecheyanu
בָּרוּךְ אַתָּה יְיָ אֱלֹהֵינוּ מֶלֶךְ הָעוֹלָם שֶׁהֶחֱיָנוּ וְקִיְּמָנוּ וְהִגִּיעָנוּ לַזְּמַן הַזֶּה
barukh ata adonai eloheinu melekh ha'olam shehekheyanu vekiyemanu vehigi'anu lazman hazeh
Blessed are You, Lord our God, King of the universe, who has kept us alive, sustained us, and brought us to this time.
On reaching a festival, wearing a significant new garment, or eating a fruit for the first time that season.
thunder
בָּרוּךְ אַתָּה יְיָ אֱלֹהֵינוּ מֶלֶךְ הָעוֹלָם שֶׁכֹּחוֹ וּגְבוּרָתוֹ מָלֵא עוֹלָם
barukh ata adonai eloheinu melekh ha'olam shekokho ugevurato male olam
Blessed are You, Lord our God, King of the universe, whose strength and might fill the world.
On hearing thunder. If lightning and thunder come together, many say only one blessing (often oseh maaseh vereshit).
lightning
בָּרוּךְ אַתָּה יְיָ אֱלֹהֵינוּ מֶלֶךְ הָעוֹלָם עוֹשֶׂה מַעֲשֵׂה בְרֵאשִׁית
barukh ata adonai eloheinu melekh ha'olam oseh ma'aseh vereshit
Blessed are You, Lord our God, King of the universe, who makes the work of creation.
On seeing lightning (and some other striking sights of creation, such as great mountains or a river, in some practices).
rainbow
בָּרוּךְ אַתָּה יְיָ אֱלֹהֵינוּ מֶלֶךְ הָעוֹלָם זוֹכֵר הַבְּרִית וְנֶאֱמָן בִּבְרִיתוֹ וְקַיָּם בְּמַאֲמָרוֹ
barukh ata adonai eloheinu melekh ha'olam zokher habrit vene'eman bivrito vekayam bema'amaro
Blessed are You, Lord our God, King of the universe, who remembers the covenant, is faithful in His covenant, and keeps His word.
On seeing a rainbow.
sea
בָּרוּךְ אַתָּה יְיָ אֱלֹהֵינוּ מֶלֶךְ הָעוֹלָם שֶׁעָשָׂה אֶת הַיָּם הַגָּדוֹל
barukh ata adonai eloheinu melekh ha'olam she'asa et hayam hagadol
Blessed are You, Lord our God, King of the universe, who made the great sea.
On seeing the ocean or the Mediterranean after an interval of thirty days. Some say oseh maaseh vereshit instead; practice is not uniform.
great scholar
בָּרוּךְ אַתָּה יְיָ אֱלֹהֵינוּ מֶלֶךְ הָעוֹלָם שֶׁחָלַק מֵחָכְמָתוֹ לִירֵאָיו
barukh ata adonai eloheinu melekh ha'olam shekhalak mekhokhmato lire'av
Blessed are You, Lord our God, King of the universe, who has given of His wisdom to those who fear Him.
On seeing an outstanding Torah scholar. A different formula (she-natan mekhokhmato levasar vadam) is used for a renowned secular sage.
good news
בָּרוּךְ אַתָּה יְיָ אֱלֹהֵינוּ מֶלֶךְ הָעוֹלָם הַטּוֹב וְהַמֵּטִיב
barukh ata adonai eloheinu melekh ha'olam hatov vehametiv
Blessed are You, Lord our God, King of the universe, who is good and does good.
On hearing good news that benefits oneself and others (for example a communal benefit). News that benefits only oneself often takes shehekheyanu instead.
dayan ha emet
בָּרוּךְ אַתָּה יְיָ אֱלֹהֵינוּ מֶלֶךְ הָעוֹלָם דַּיַּן הָאֱמֶת
barukh ata adonai eloheinu melekh ha'olam dayan ha'emet
Blessed are You, Lord our God, King of the universe, the true Judge.
On hearing of a death, or other genuinely bad news. Said by mourners at the tearing of the garment.
new fruit
בָּרוּךְ אַתָּה יְיָ אֱלֹהֵינוּ מֶלֶךְ הָעוֹלָם שֶׁהֶחֱיָנוּ וְקִיְּמָנוּ וְהִגִּיעָנוּ לַזְּמַן הַזֶּה
barukh ata adonai eloheinu melekh ha'olam shehekheyanu vekiyemanu vehigi'anu lazman hazeh
Blessed are You, Lord our God, King of the universe, who has kept us alive, sustained us, and brought us to this time.
Before eating a fruit for the first time that season. Whether shehekheyanu is said before or after the fruit’s own before-blessing is a known dispute.
tzitzit
בָּרוּךְ אַתָּה יְיָ אֱלֹהֵינוּ מֶלֶךְ הָעוֹלָם אֲשֶׁר קִדְּשָׁנוּ בְּמִצְוֹתָיו וְצִוָּנוּ לְהִתְעַטֵּף בְּצִיצִית
barukh ata adonai eloheinu melekh ha'olam asher kideshanu bemitzvotav vetzivanu lehit'atef betzitzit
Blessed are You, Lord our God, King of the universe, who has made us holy with His commandments and commanded us to wrap ourselves in tzitzit.
When putting on a tallit. For a tallit katan some say this, others say al mitzvat tzitzit; follow your community.
tefillin
בָּרוּךְ אַתָּה יְיָ אֱלֹהֵינוּ מֶלֶךְ הָעוֹלָם אֲשֶׁר קִדְּשָׁנוּ בְּמִצְוֹתָיו וְצִוָּנוּ לְהַנִּיחַ תְּפִלִּין
barukh ata adonai eloheinu melekh ha'olam asher kideshanu bemitzvotav vetzivanu lehaniakh tefillin
Blessed are You, Lord our God, King of the universe, who has made us holy with His commandments and commanded us to put on tefillin.
When placing the arm tefillin (shel yad).
tefillin shel rosh
בָּרוּךְ אַתָּה יְיָ אֱלֹהֵינוּ מֶלֶךְ הָעוֹלָם אֲשֶׁר קִדְּשָׁנוּ בְּמִצְוֹתָיו וְצִוָּנוּ עַל מִצְוַת תְּפִלִּין
barukh ata adonai eloheinu melekh ha'olam asher kideshanu bemitzvotav vetzivanu al mitzvat tefillin
Blessed are You, Lord our God, King of the universe, who has made us holy with His commandments and commanded us concerning the mitzvah of tefillin.
When placing the head tefillin (shel rosh), in rites that say a second blessing. Some communities do not say this second blessing.
mezuzah
בָּרוּךְ אַתָּה יְיָ אֱלֹהֵינוּ מֶלֶךְ הָעוֹלָם אֲשֶׁר קִדְּשָׁנוּ בְּמִצְוֹתָיו וְצִוָּנוּ לִקְבּוֹעַ מְזוּזָה
barukh ata adonai eloheinu melekh ha'olam asher kideshanu bemitzvotav vetzivanu likboa mezuzah
Blessed are You, Lord our God, King of the universe, who has made us holy with His commandments and commanded us to affix a mezuzah.
When affixing a mezuzah to a doorway.
netilat yadayim
בָּרוּךְ אַתָּה יְיָ אֱלֹהֵינוּ מֶלֶךְ הָעוֹלָם אֲשֶׁר קִדְּשָׁנוּ בְּמִצְוֹתָיו וְצִוָּנוּ עַל נְטִילַת יָדָיִם
barukh ata adonai eloheinu melekh ha'olam asher kideshanu bemitzvotav vetzivanu al netilat yadayim
Blessed are You, Lord our God, King of the universe, who has made us holy with His commandments and commanded us concerning washing the hands.
After washing the hands with a cup, before drying, when about to eat bread. Also used (with different customs) on waking.
asher yatzar
בָּרוּךְ אַתָּה יְיָ אֱלֹהֵינוּ מֶלֶךְ הָעוֹלָם אֲשֶׁר יָצַר אֶת הָאָדָם בְּחָכְמָה וּבָרָא בוֹ נְקָבִים נְקָבִים חֲלוּלִים חֲלוּלִים גָּלוּי וְיָדוּעַ לִפְנֵי כִסֵּא כְבוֹדֶךָ שֶׁאִם יִפָּתֵחַ אֶחָד מֵהֶם אוֹ יִסָּתֵם אֶחָד מֵהֶם אִי אֶפְשַׁר לְהִתְקַיֵּם וְלַעֲמוֹד לְפָנֶיךָ בָּרוּךְ אַתָּה יְיָ רוֹפֵא כָל בָּשָׂר וּמַפְלִיא לַעֲשׂוֹת
barukh ata adonai eloheinu melekh ha'olam asher yatzar et ha'adam bekhokhma uvara vo nekavim nekavim khalulim khalulim galuy veyadua lifnei khise khevodekha she'im yipateakh ekhad mehem o yisatem ekhad mehem i efshar lehitkayem vela'amod lefaneikha barukh ata adonai rofe kol basar umafli la'asot
Blessed are You, Lord our God, King of the universe, who formed the human being with wisdom and created in him many openings and cavities. It is revealed and known before Your throne of glory that if one of them were opened or closed, it would be impossible to exist and stand before You. Blessed are You, Lord, who heals all flesh and acts wondrously.
After using the bathroom, once one is clean and decent.
The order of blessings
When several foods are on the table, bread generally covers the rest of a bread meal, so hamotzi is said first and no other blessing is needed for foods eaten as part of that meal. Outside of a bread meal, a blessing for a more specific category is usually said before a more general one: haetz or haadama before shehakol, for instance. When two foods share a category and neither is clearly primary, many say the blessing on whichever food is preferred, or eat one first. These are general patterns, not rulings, and customs vary by community and situation.