Real Estate Glossary in Israel: French, Hebrew and English
Real estate in Israel has its own vocabulary. Contracts are in Hebrew, discussions with agents mix Hebrew and English, and legal and tax terms often have no direct equivalent in French. Not mastering this vocabulary means risking signing a document without understanding it or missing crucial information.
This glossary brings together the most important terms you will encounter in any real estate transaction in Israel — purchase, sale, rental or investment. Each term is given in French, Hebrew (with pronunciation in Latin characters) and English.
💡 Tip: Bookmark this page. You will come back to it often — when reading your contract, discussing with your lawyer, or when your real estate agent uses a term you don't know.
📖 This article is part of the Ultimate Guide to Real Estate in Israel
Property types
French | Pronunciation | Hebrew | English |
|---|---|---|---|
Apartment | Dira | דירה | Apartment |
House / Villa | Bait / Vila | בית / וילה | House / Villa |
Penthouse | Penthouse | פנטהאוז | Penthouse |
Duplex | Dupleks | דופלקס | Duplex |
Garden apartment | Dirat gane | דירת גן | Garden apartment |
Cottage (townhouse) | Kotej | קוטג' | Cottage / Townhouse |
Mini-penthouse | Mini-penthouse | מיני פנטהאוז | Mini-penthouse |
Studio | Stoudyo | סטודיו | Studio |
Loft | Loft | לופט | Loft |
Land | Migrash | מגרש | Land / Plot |
Office | Misrad | משרד | Office |
Commercial space | Hanut | חנות | Shop / Commercial space |
Building | Binyan | בניין | Building |
Parking | Hanaya | חנייה | Parking space |
Storage room | Mahsan | מחסן | Storage room |
Rooms and features
French | Pronunciation | Hebrew | English |
|---|---|---|---|
Room | Heder | חדר | Room |
Living room | Salon | סלון | Living room |
Kitchen | Mitbah | מטבח | Kitchen |
Bathroom | Ambatyah | אמבטיה | Bathroom |
Toilet | Sherutim | שירותים | Toilet / WC |
Balcony / Terrace | Mirpesset | מרפסת | Balcony / Terrace |
Safe room (shelter) | Mamad | ממ"ד | Safe room |
Square meters | Meeter ravou'a | מ"ר | Square meters |
Floor | Koma | קומה | Floor |
Elevator | Ma'alit | מעלית | Elevator |
Air conditioning | Mizug avir | מיזוג אוויר | Air conditioning |
Water heater | Doud shemesh / Doud hashmal | דוד שמש / דוד חשמל | Solar / Electric water heater |
Sea view | Nof layam | נוף לים | Sea view |
💡 The mamad: The safe room (mamad) is mandatory in all constructions since 1992. It is a reinforced concrete room that serves as a shelter. In daily life, it is often used as a bedroom, office or storage. Older properties without mamad have a collective shelter (miklat) in the building.
Transactions and operation types
French | Pronunciation | Hebrew | English |
|---|---|---|---|
Sale | Mekhira | מכירה | Sale |
Purchase | Rekhisha | רכישה | Purchase |
Rental | Skhirout | שכירות | Rent / Lease |
Skhirout nofesh | שכירות נופש | Vacation rental | |
New project | Proyekt khadash | פרויקט חדש | New project |
Rekhisha al haniyar | רכישה על הנייר | Off-plan purchase | |
Gift | Matana | מתנה | Gift / Donation |
Inheritance | Yerusha | ירושה | Inheritance |
Legal terms
French | Pronunciation | Hebrew | English |
|---|---|---|---|
Land Registry | Tabu | טאבו | Land Registry (Tabu) |
Land Registry extract | Nesah Tabu | נסח טאבו | Tabu extract |
Sale contract | Hozeh mekhira | חוזה מכירה | Sale contract |
Lease agreement | Hozeh skhirout | חוזה שכירות | Lease agreement |
Lawyer | Orekh din | עורך דין | Lawyer / Attorney |
Power of attorney | Yipuy koah | ייפוי כוח | Power of attorney |
Mortgage lien | Mashkon | משכון | Mortgage lien |
Cautionary note | He'arat azhara | הערת אזהרה | Cautionary note |
Provisional registration | Rishum zmanit | רישום זמני | Provisional registration |
Condominium | Bait meshutar | בית משותף | Condominium |
Building regulations | Takanon | תקנון | Building regulations |
Building permit | Heter bniya | היתר בנייה | Building permit |
Illegal construction | Bniya bilti hukit | בנייה בלתי חוקית | Illegal construction |
Demolition order | Tsav harisa | צו הריסה | Demolition order |
Long-term lease | Hakhira | חכירה | Long-term lease |
Joint ownership | Be'alout meshutefet | בעלות משותפת | Joint ownership |
💡 He'arat azhara: This is the cautionary note registered at the Tabu that protects the buyer from the contract signing. It warns third parties that a right exists on the property. It is your legal shield between signing and final registration.
Taxation and finance
French | Pronunciation | Hebrew | English |
|---|---|---|---|
Purchase tax | Mas rekhisha | מס רכישה | Purchase tax |
Capital gains tax | Mas shevah | מס שבח | Capital gains tax |
Municipal property tax | Arnona | ארנונה | Municipal property tax |
Betterment tax | Hetel hashbaha | היטל השבחה | Betterment tax |
VAT | Ma'am | מע"מ | VAT |
Mortgage | Mashkanta | משכנתא | Mortgage |
Interest rate | Ribit | ריבית | Interest rate |
Fixed rate | Ribit kvua | ריבית קבועה | Fixed rate |
Variable rate | Ribit mishtana | ריבית משתנה | Variable rate |
CPI-linked | Tzamoud lamadad | צמוד למדד | CPI-linked |
Mortgage track | Masloul | מסלול | Mortgage track |
Approval in principle | Ishour ekroni | אישור עקרוני | Approval in principle |
Early repayment | Piraon mukdam | פירעון מוקדם | Early repayment |
Prepayment penalty | Knas piraon mukdam | קנס פירעון מוקדם | Prepayment penalty |
Property appraisal | Shomah / Shmaï | שומה / שמאי | Appraisal / Appraiser |
Single property | Dira yekhida | דירה יחידה | Single property |
Real estate professionals
French | Pronunciation | Hebrew | English |
|---|---|---|---|
Real estate agent | Metavekh | מתווך | Real estate agent / Broker |
Developer / Contractor | Kablan | קבלן | Developer / Contractor |
Mortgage broker | Ya'ats mashkantaot | יועץ משכנתאות | Mortgage broker |
Home inspector | Bodek bait | בודק בית | Home inspector |
Real estate appraiser | Shmaï mekarke'in | שמאי מקרקעין | Real estate appraiser |
Architect | Adrikhal | אדריכל | Architect |
Building committee | Va'ad bait | ועד בית | Building committee |
Rental — Specific terms
French | Pronunciation | Hebrew | English |
|---|---|---|---|
Rent | Skhirat dira | שכר דירה | Rent |
Security deposit | Pikadone | פיקדון | Security deposit |
Bank guarantee | Arevout bankaït | ערבות בנקאית | Bank guarantee |
Promissory note | Shtar hov | שטר חוב | Promissory note |
Guarantor | Arev | ערב | Guarantor |
Hamsha'ot | המחאות | Post-dated checks | |
Standing order | Hora'at keva | הוראת קבע | Standing order |
Building maintenance fees | Tashlumey va'ad bait | תשלומי ועד בית | Building maintenance fees |
Prior notice | Hodaa mukdemet | הודעה מוקדמת | Prior notice |
Construction and renovation
French | Pronunciation | Hebrew | English |
|---|---|---|---|
Structural frame | Shelad | שלד | Structural frame |
Finishing | Gmar | גמר | Finishing |
Seismic reinforcement | Tama 38 | תמ"א 38 | Tama 38 (seismic retrofit) |
Demolish-rebuild | Pinouy Binouy | פינוי בינוי | Urban renewal (demolish & rebuild) |
Purchasing group | Kvoutzat rekhisha | קבוצת רכישה | Purchasing group |
Builder warranty (inspection) | Bdeq | בדק | Inspection warranty |
Structural liability | Ahrayout | אחריות | Structural liability |
Building rights | Zkhuyot bniya | זכויות בנייה | Building rights |
Bank guarantee (developer) | Arevout bankaït | ערבות בנקאית | Bank guarantee (developer) |
Common agent expressions
French | Pronunciation | Hebrew | English |
|---|---|---|---|
Exclusive listing | Bil'adiout | בלעדיות | Exclusive listing |
Asking price | Mekhir mevukash | מחיר מבוקש | Asking price |
Negotiable | Nitan lemisah oumatan | ניתן למשא ומתן | Negotiable |
Renovated | Meshupatz | משופץ | Renovated |
Bright | Bahir | בהיר | Bright |
Quiet | Shaket | שקט | Quiet |
Spacious | Marvah | מרווח | Spacious |
Good location | Mikom tov | מיקום טוב | Good location |
Don't miss | Lo lefahspes | לא לפספס | Don't miss |
Immediate entry | Knisa miyedit | כניסה מיידית | Immediate entry |
Brokerage fee | Dmey tivoukh | דמי תיווך | Brokerage fee |
💡 "Meshupatz" doesn't mean new. In Israel, "renovated" can mean a coat of paint and new tiles, or a complete renovation. Always ask what exactly was done, and check if the work was done with a permit when necessary.
Common abbreviations in listings
Abbreviation | Meaning | Explanation |
|---|---|---|
ח' (het) | חדרים (hadarim) | Number of rooms (ex: 4 ח' = 4 rooms) |
מ"ר (mer) | מטר רבוע | Square meters |
ממ"ד (mamad) | מרחב מוגן דירתי | Safe room |
קומה (koma) | — | Floor |
₪ (NIS) | שקל חדש | New Israeli Shekel |
תמ"א 38 | תכנית מתאר ארצית | National Tama 38 plan |
פינוי בינוי | — | Urban demolish-rebuild |
Must-know terms (top 10)
If you should remember only 10 terms, these are the ones:
# | Term | Hebrew | Why it's essential |
|---|---|---|---|
1 | Tabu | טאבו | The land registry — ultimate proof of ownership |
2 | Mashkanta | משכנתא | The mortgage — your financing |
3 | Mas rekhisha | מס רכישה | Purchase tax — your biggest additional cost |
4 | Orekh din | עורך דין | The lawyer — your protector in the transaction |
5 | Nesah Tabu | נסח טאבו | The land registry extract — the property's X-ray |
6 | He'arat azhara | הערת אזהרה | The cautionary note — your legal shield |
7 | Arnona | ארנונה | Municipal tax — recurring charge to budget |
8 | Mamad | ממ"ד | The safe room — mandatory since 1992 |
9 | Metavekh | מתווך | The real estate agent — 2% + VAT commission |
10 | Kablan | קבלן | The developer — your contact for new properties |
Also read
Each term in this glossary is developed in context in the guide articles:
👉 The Ultimate Guide to Real Estate in Israel
👉 The purchase process — Tabu, Orekh din, Hozeh mekhira
👉 The Mashkanta — Masloul, Ribit, Ishour ekroni
👉 Taxation — Mas rekhisha, Mas shevah, Arnona
👉 New projects — Kablan, Tama 38, Kvoutzat rekhisha
👉 Rental — Pikadone, Shtar hov, Hamsha'ot
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This glossary is regularly updated. If you encounter a real estate term in Hebrew that is not listed, contact us and we will add it. Last update: March 2026.
immobilier.co.il — The real estate portal in Israel since 2004.
