Learning a new language can be an exciting journey, especially when it comes to practical vocabulary that you can use in everyday situations. Whether you’re planning a trip to Israel, studying Hebrew for educational purposes, or simply want to expand your linguistic skills, mastering shopping and commerce vocabulary in Hebrew is incredibly useful. This article will guide you through essential Hebrew words and phrases related to shopping and commerce, helping you navigate markets, stores, and commercial transactions with ease.
Basic Shopping Vocabulary
When you step into a shop or market in Israel, knowing some basic vocabulary can make your experience much more enjoyable. Here are some fundamental words to get you started:
– חנות (chanut) – Shop
– שוק (shuk) – Market
– קניון (kanyon) – Mall
– מוכר (mocher) – Salesman
– מוכרת (mocheret) – Saleswoman
– לקוח (lakoach) – Customer
– לקוחה (lakocha) – Female Customer
– מחיר (mechir) – Price
– הנחה (hanacha) – Discount
– מבצע (mivtza) – Sale
Types of Stores
Different types of stores have specific names in Hebrew. Here are some common ones:
– סופרמרקט (supermarket) – Supermarket
– מכולת (makolet) – Grocery Store
– קצביה (katzavia) – Butcher Shop
– מאפיה (ma’afiyah) – Bakery
– חנות בגדים (chanut bgadim) – Clothing Store
– חנות נעליים (chanut na’alaim) – Shoe Store
– חנות ספרים (chanut sfarim) – Bookstore
– חנות צעצועים (chanut tza’atzuaim) – Toy Store
– קיוסק (kiosk) – Kiosk
Common Phrases for Shopping
Knowing how to ask questions and make requests is crucial when shopping. Here are some useful phrases:
– כמה זה עולה? (kama ze oleh?) – How much does it cost?
– אפשר לקבל הנחה? (efshar lekabel hanacha?) – Can I get a discount?
– יש לכם את זה בצבע אחר? (yesh lachem et ze b’tzeva acher?) – Do you have this in another color?
– אני מחפש/ת… (ani mechapes/m’chapeset…) – I’m looking for…
– אפשר לנסות את זה? (efshar lenasot et ze?) – Can I try this on?
– איפה הקופה? (eifo hakupah?) – Where is the checkout?
– אני רק מסתכל/ת (ani rak mistakel/mistakelet) – I’m just looking
Numbers and Prices
Understanding numbers is essential for dealing with prices. Here are the Hebrew numbers from 1 to 10:
1. אחת (achat)
2. שתיים (shtaim)
3. שלוש (shalosh)
4. ארבע (arba)
5. חמש (chamesh)
6. שש (shesh)
7. שבע (sheva)
8. שמונה (shmone)
9. תשע (tesha)
10. עשר (eser)
For prices, you will often hear:
– שקל (shekel) – Shekel (singular)
– שקלים (shkalim) – Shekels (plural)
For example, 20 shekels would be עשרים שקלים (esrim shkalim).
Payment Methods
When it comes to paying, you might need to use different methods. Here are some relevant words:
– מזומן (mezuman) – Cash
– כרטיס אשראי (kartis ashrai) – Credit Card
– צ’ק (tchek) – Check
– תשלומים (tashlumim) – Installments
Here are some useful phrases related to payment:
– אפשר לשלם במזומן? (efshar leshalem b’mezuman?) – Can I pay in cash?
– אפשר לשלם בכרטיס אשראי? (efshar leshalem b’kartis ashrai?) – Can I pay by credit card?
– כמה תשלומים? (kama tashlumim?) – How many installments?
Shopping for Clothes
Clothing shopping has its own set of vocabulary. Here are some essential words and phrases:
– מידה (mida) – Size
– קטן (katan) – Small
– בינוני (beinoni) – Medium
– גדול (gadol) – Large
– צבע (tzeva) – Color
– מכנסיים (michnasaim) – Pants
– חולצה (chultza) – Shirt
– שמלה (simla) – Dress
– חצאית (chatza’it) – Skirt
– נעליים (na’alaim) – Shoes
Useful phrases:
– אני צריך/ה מידה קטנה/בינונית/גדולה (ani tzarih/tzricha mida ktana/beinoni/gdola) – I need a small/medium/large size
– יש לכם את זה בצבע אחר? (yesh lachem et ze b’tzeva acher?) – Do you have this in another color?
– איפה תאי המדידה? (eifo ta’ei hamdida?) – Where are the fitting rooms?
Food and Grocery Shopping
When shopping for food, specific vocabulary will come in handy:
– ירקות (yerakot) – Vegetables
– פירות (peirot) – Fruits
– לחם (lechem) – Bread
– חלב (chalav) – Milk
– ביצים (beitzim) – Eggs
– גבינה (gvina) – Cheese
– בשר (basar) – Meat
– עוף (of) – Chicken
– דגים (dagim) – Fish
Useful phrases:
– איפה מחלקת הירקות? (eifo machleket ha’yerakot?) – Where is the vegetable section?
– אני צריך/ה חצי קילו עגבניות (ani tzarih/tzricha chatzi kilo agvaniot) – I need half a kilo of tomatoes
– יש לכם לחם טרי? (yesh lachem lechem tari?) – Do you have fresh bread?
Shopping in Markets
Markets, or שוקים (shukim), in Israel are vibrant places where you can find a variety of goods. Here’s some useful vocabulary for market shopping:
– דוכן (duchan) – Stall
– סוחר (socher) – Merchant
– פירות יבשים (peirot yevashim) – Dried Fruits
– תבלינים (tavlinim) – Spices
– מוצרים טריים (motzrim traim) – Fresh Products
Useful phrases:
– כמה זה עולה לקילו? (kama ze oleh le’kilo?) – How much is it per kilo?
– אפשר לטעום? (efshar lita’om?) – Can I taste?
– תעשה לי מחיר טוב (ta’ase li mechir tov) – Give me a good price
After Your Purchase
After shopping, you may need to discuss or ask about returns, exchanges, or warranties. Here’s some relevant vocabulary:
– קבלה (kabala) – Receipt
– החלפה (hachlafa) – Exchange
– החזר (hachezer) – Refund
– אחריות (achrayut) – Warranty
Useful phrases:
– איפה אפשר להחזיר מוצרים? (eifo efshar lehachzir motzarim?) – Where can I return items?
– אני רוצה להחליף את זה (ani rotze/rotza lehachlif et ze) – I want to exchange this
– המוצר הזה בא עם אחריות? (hamotzar hazeh ba im achrayut?) – Does this product come with a warranty?
Conclusion
Mastering shopping and commerce vocabulary in Hebrew can significantly enhance your experience whether you are living in Israel, visiting, or just learning the language. Familiarize yourself with these words and phrases, practice them in real-life situations, and soon you’ll find that shopping in Hebrew is not only manageable but also enjoyable.
Remember, language learning is a gradual process, and the key to success is consistent practice. Happy shopping, or as they say in Hebrew, קניות נעימות (kniyot ne’imot)!
