Most Israeli hotel staff, especially in Tel Aviv, Jerusalem and other major tourist centres, work comfortably in English. This page is most useful for smaller guesthouses, kibbutz accommodation, and situations where a little Hebrew makes a request land faster and friendlier — plus it covers the handful of words you'll want if you ever need to report a problem with the room.
Booking and checking in
| Hebrew | Transliteration | English |
|---|---|---|
| הַזְמָנָה | hazmanah | reservation / booking |
| יֵשׁ לִי הַזְמָנָה עַל שֵׁם... | yesh li hazmanah al shem... | I have a reservation under the name... |
| חֶדֶר זוּגִי | cheder zugi | double room |
| חֶדֶר יָחִיד | cheder yachid | single room |
| כְּנִיסָה | knisah | check-in |
| יְצִיאָה | yetzi'ah | check-out |
| מַפְתֵּחַ | maftei'ach | key |
Types of accommodation you'll encounter
Israel's accommodation options go well beyond standard hotels, and it's worth knowing the Hebrew terms for the ones you're likely to book. A צִימֶר (zimmer, borrowed from German) is a private countryside cabin or cottage, common in the Galilee and Golan — genuinely popular with Israelis for weekend trips and increasingly with tourists. A stay on a קִבּוּץ (kibbutz) often means a kibbutz guesthouse (אַכְסַנְיַת קִבּוּץ, achsaniyat kibbutz), usually simpler and quieter than a city hotel. אַכְסַנְיָה (achsaniyah) on its own generally means hostel. Knowing these terms helps you understand listings and confirmations even when browsing in Hebrew or speaking with a host directly.
Early check-in and late check-out
Room features and requests
| Hebrew | Transliteration | English |
|---|---|---|
| מִזְגָּן | mazgan | air conditioning |
| וַיְפַיי / אִינְטֶרְנֶט | waifai / internet | wifi / internet |
| מִגְבּוֹת | migbot | towels |
| מִקְלַחַת | miklachat | shower |
| אֲרוּחַת בֹּקֶר | aruchat boker | breakfast |
| חֲנָיָה | chanayah | parking |
| אֶפְשָׁר עוֹד...? | efshar od...? | could I get more...? |
Reporting a problem
| Hebrew | Transliteration | English |
|---|---|---|
| זֶה לֹא עוֹבֵד | zeh lo oved | this isn't working |
| אֵין מַיִם חַמִּים | ein mayim chamim | there's no hot water |
| הַחֶדֶר לֹא נָקִי | hacheder lo naki | the room isn't clean |
| רַעֲשָׁנִי | ra'ashani | noisy |
| אֶפְשָׁר לְהַחְלִיף חֶדֶר? | efshar lehachlif cheder? | could I change rooms? |
| מִישֶׁהוּ יָכוֹל לָבוֹא לְתַקֵּן? | mishehu yachol lavo letaken? | could someone come fix it? |
Checking out
| Hebrew | Transliteration | English |
|---|---|---|
| אֲנִי רוֹצֶה לְשַׁלֵּם | ani rotzeh leshalem | I'd like to pay (masc.) |
| אֶפְשָׁר חֶשְׁבּוֹנִית? | efshar cheshbonit? | can I get an invoice/tax receipt? |
| בְּאֵיזוֹ שָׁעָה הַיְּצִיאָה? | be'eizo sha'ah hayetzi'ah? | what time is checkout? |
| אֶפְשָׁר לְהַשְׁאִיר מִזְוָדוֹת? | efshar lehash'ir mizvadot? | can I leave my luggage here? |
Practice you can do right now
- Rehearse the check-in dialogue with your own actual booking name.
- Practise reporting three different room problems using the table above.
- Ask for three different amenities using "efshar od...?" (could I get more...?).
- Say the checkout lines out loud until "efshar cheshbonit?" feels automatic — useful for expense claims.
Frequently asked questions
Do small guesthouses and kibbutz stays require more Hebrew than city hotels?
Often, yes — smaller, family-run accommodation and rural kibbutz guesthouses are less likely to have staff fluent in English around the clock compared to major city hotels. This is exactly where the phrases on this page pay off most.
Is tipping expected at Israeli hotels?
Tipping housekeeping and porters is appreciated but not as rigidly expected as in some countries; it's a discretionary courtesy rather than an obligation. Restaurant tipping norms are covered on the Restaurant Hebrew page.
What if I need something urgently and no one speaks English?
Lead with זֶה חֵרוּם (zeh cherum, "this is urgent") followed by the simplest description you can manage, or use a translation app as a backup — most hotel staff will work with you patiently either way.