Language/Hebrew/Vocabulary/Drinks

Hebrew Vocabulary - Drinks

Hi Hebrew learners! 😊
In this lesson, we will focus on common drinks in Hebrew. You will learn their vocabulary and pronunciation. Additionally, we will explore some cultural aspects and interesting facts related to these drinks. By the end of the lesson, you will be able to order a drink in Hebrew like a pro!

Take some time to dive into these other pages after completing this lesson: Fruits, Countries, Animals & How to Say Hello and Greetings.

Important vocabulary words

The first step in learning Hebrew vocabulary related to drinks is to memorize the following words:

Hebrew	Pronunciation	English
קפה	kafe	coffee
תה	te	tea
מים	mayim	water
מיץ	meitz	juice
קולה	kola	cola
בירה	beera	beer
יין	yayin	wine
טוניק	tonik	tonic

Some notes on pronunciation: - "כ" is pronounced as "k" as in "key". - "פ" is pronounced as "f" as in "fog". - "ה" at the end of a word is often silent, sounding like a breath out.

Now, let's take a closer look at each of these words.

קפה (kafe)

קפה (coffee) is a popular drink in Israeli culture. Israelis love coffee and you can find many cafes and coffee places in the streets of Tel Aviv, Jerusalem, and other cities. The most common way to order coffee in Israel is "Hafuh" (translated as "upside down"). It means that the milk is heated and mixed with the espresso before pouring it in the cup. If you want to order a cappuccino or a latte, you can simply use the Italian names or ask for them in Hebrew:

• Person 1: אני רוצה קפה ('ani rotse kafe') - (I want coffee)
• Person 2: איזה סטייל קפה? ('eize stealth kafe?') - (What style of coffee?)
• Person 1: קפוצ'ינו, בבקשה ('kapuchino, bevakasha') - (Cappuccino, please)

תה (te)

תה (tea) is another popular drink in Israel. However, the most common way to order tea in Israel is "lemon tea". It means that the tea is served with a slice of fresh lemon inside the cup. Popular flavors include mint tea, chamomile tea, and green tea. Here is an example dialogue:

• Person 1: מה זה שם המשקה החם הנהדר ביותר? ('ma ze shem hamashkeh hacham hanehedar beyoter?') - (What is the name of the most wonderful hot drink?)
• Person 2: תה לימון ('te lemon') - (Lemon tea)

מים (mayim)

מים (water) is a simple and essential drink that doesn't need much explanation. However, it's important to know that tap water in Israel is generally safe to drink. So, if you want to save some money, you can simply ask for "mayim" and get a glass of tap water in a restaurant.

מיץ (meitz)

מיץ (juice) is a popular drink for breakfast or brunch. You can find many types of fruit juices in Israel, such as orange juice, grapefruit juice, pomegranate juice, and more. One interesting fact is that a famous Israeli brand of juice is called "Prigat", which is a combination of the Hebrew words for fruit (pri) and good (tov). Here is an example dialogue:

• Person 1: מה האוכל המומלץ כאן? ('ma haokhel hamumakzar kan?') - (What is the recommended food here?)
• Person 2: הסנדוויץ' התפוחים והמיץ האננס ('hasandwich hatapuchim vehameitz haananas') - (The apple sandwich and the pineapple juice)

קולה (kola)

קולה (cola) is a popular soft drink all over the world, and Israel is no exception. As you probably know, the most famous brand of cola is Coca-Cola, but you can also find Pepsi and other brands in Israel. One interesting fact is that there is a special kosher version of Coca-Cola that is sold in Israel during Passover. Here is an example dialogue:

• Person 1: נוסעים למסעדה, מה אתה מבקש לשתות? ('nosim lemisada, ma ata mevakesh leshot?' - (We're going to a restaurant, what do you want to drink?)
• Person 2: קולה, בבקשה ('kola, bevakasha') - (Cola, please)

בירה (beera)

בירה (beer) is a popular alcoholic drink in Israel, especially during holidays and celebrations. There are many types of beer in Israel, ranging from light lagers to dark stouts. One popular Israeli beer brand is "Goldstar". Here is an example dialogue:

• Person 1: היכן אנחנו יכולים להשיג בירה טובה? ('heikhan anachnu yakholim lehashig beera tova?') - (Where can we get good beer?)
• Person 2: הביתה, יש לי מהצאן! ('habayta, yesh li mahatsan!') - (At home, I have a stock!)

יין (yayin)

יין (wine) is another popular alcoholic drink in Israel. In fact, Israel is one of the oldest wine-producing regions in the world, with a history that dates back to biblical times. Today, Israeli wines are internationally recognized for their quality and diversity. Here is an example dialogue:

• Person 1: מה היין הטוב ביותר במסעדה הזאת? ('ma hayayin hatov beyoter bamisada hazot?') - (What is the best wine in this restaurant?)
• Person 2: נווי, אדום ('novi, adom') - (Novi, red)

טוניק (tonik)

טוניק (tonic) is a carbonated soft drink that is often mixed with gin or vodka to make cocktails. In Hebrew, the word "tonik" is used both for the soft drink and for the mixed drink. Here is an example dialogue:

• Person 1: אני רוצה להזמין קוקטייל, אבל איני יודע מה לבחור ('ani rotse lehazmin koktail, aval eni yodea ma levakhor') - (I want to order a cocktail, but I don't know what to choose)
• Person 2: מה דעתך על פינט של ג'ין עם טוניק? ('ma de'atekh al pint shel gin im tonik?') - (How about a gin and tonic?)

Conclusion

That's it for our Hebrew Vocabulary - Drinks lesson! Now, you know how to order common drinks in Hebrew and some interesting cultural facts related to them. Keep practicing and don't forget to check out the Polyglot Club website to find native speakers and ask them any questions you have about Hebrew vocabulary. You can also improve your Hebrew vocabulary by visiting our [Language/Hebrew/Vocabulary|Vocabulary] page.

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➡ Feel free to edit this wiki page if you think it can be improved. 😎

Finished this lesson? Check out these related lessons: Family, Hebrew Vocabulary → Everyday Hebrew Vocabulary → Food and ..., Family Members & Demonstrative.

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Sources

• Hebrew Vocabulary: Drinks & Drinkables - Rosen School of Hebrew
• Essential Hebrew Vocabulary For Talking about Drinks
• beverage, drink (noun) - מַשְׁקֶה - Hebrew Word of the Day