"Shalom" (shah-lohm) is a common greeting for all situations in Hebrew. Although it literally means "peace," it is also used as a greeting when meeting and parting with someone. However, there are also other ways to greet people in Hebrew, depending on the time of day. Some time-specific expressions are used to say "hello," while others are more appropriate when ending a conversation and saying goodbye.
Step
Method 1 of 3: Greet People in Hebrew
Step 1. Say "shalom" in any situation
When greeting someone in Hebrew, the most common greeting is "shalom" (shah-lohm). This word is an appropriate greeting, regardless of the context, the age of the person you are speaking to, or how well you know him or her.
On the Sabbath (Saturday), you can also say "Shabbat Shalom" (shah-baht shah-lohm), which literally means "Peaceful Sabbath" or "Peaceful Sabbath."
Step 2. Switch to saying "shalom aleikhem" (shah-lohm ah-ley-khem)
This greeting is commonly used in Israel. Like "shalom" itself, this greeting is appropriate in all situations when greeting anyone.
This greeting is related to the Arabic greeting "salaam alaikum" and both have the same meaning: "peace be upon you." There is overlap between Arabic and Hebrew because both languages belong to the same language family
Pronunciation Tips:
In Hebrew words, the last syllable is usually stressed, regardless of the number of syllables in the word.
Step 3. Use "ahlan" (ah-hah-lahn) to say "hi" in a more relaxed atmosphere
"Ahlan" comes from Arabic. Hebrew-speaking people use it like Arabic-speaking people, as a mere "hi". While this word is more casual than "shalom," you can still use it to greet anyone, young and old, in a casual context.
In a more formal situation, or when the person you're speaking to is a person in a high position, this may sound too casual
Tip:
You can also say "hey" or "hi" as in Indonesian. However, this greeting is considered too casual and is only appropriate when spoken to people who are well known and are of the same age or younger.
Method 2 of 3: Using Time Based Greetings
Step 1. Say "boker tov" (boh-kehr tahv) to greet people in the morning
"Boker tov" is a common greeting that can be used in addition to "shalom" as long as it's not yet noon. This greeting is suitable for any context, regardless of who you are addressing.
Israelis might reply with "boker or," which means "morning light." This word is only used in response to "boker tov." You can also reply by simply saying "boker tov."
Step 2. Try saying "tzoharaim tovim" (tsoh-hah-rye-ihm tahv-ihm) as a greeting around noon
The expression "tzoharaim tovim" literally means "good afternoon." While you'll likely hear it any time between noon and just before sunset, it's generally more appropriate to use it early in the day.
If you want to use this expression in the afternoon, but before the evening, add the word "akhar" (ahk-hahr) at the beginning. Since "tzoharaim tovim" means "good afternoon," "akhar tzoharaim tovim" means "happy post-midday" or "good evening." This expression can be used until the sun goes down
Pronunciation Tips:
The word "tzoharaim" can be difficult to pronounce if you are new to Hebrew. Remember that the word has four syllables. The "ts" part at the beginning sounds like the "ts" in "cats." In English
Step 3. Switch to saying "erev tov" (ehr-ehv tahv) after sunset
This expression means "good evening," and is appropriate as a greeting after sunset, but before it's too late. This is a more formal expression that you may not need to use around friends or people your age. However, it's a great expression to use in a shop, restaurant, or when greeting a stranger-especially if he or she is older than you and you want to be polite.
In return for saying "erev tov," many people simply say "erev tov" back. They can also say "shalom" or ask how you're doing or if there's anything they can help you with
Step 4. Use "lilah tov" (lie-lah tahv) late at night
This expression means "good night," and is used as a greeting when meeting and parting in Hebrew. This greeting is appropriate in any context, regardless of who you are addressing.
If someone says "lilah tov" to you, the correct response is to say "lilah tov" back. You can also simply say "shalom."
Method 3 of 3: Saying Goodbye
Step 1. Use "shalom" (shah-lohm) which also means "goodbye."
"In Hebrew, "shalom" is a greeting for any situation that can be used when meeting someone or parting ways. If you're not sure what to say, this is the right word to use.
"Shalom" is the right word to say to anyone, regardless of age or how well you know the person you're talking to
Step 2. Try saying "lehitra'ot" (leh-hiht-rah-oht) as an alternative to saying "shalom
"Lehitra'ot" is more like saying "see you later," but is also used as the standard way of saying "goodbye" in Israel. If you want to learn another way to say "goodbye" besides "shalom," learn this.
This word is a bit more difficult to pronounce than other basic Hebrew words, such as "shalom," but if you've been to Israel, you'll hear it quite often. Start slowly and practice your pronunciation. A native speaker can help you
Step 3. Switch to saying "yom tov" (yahm tahv) to say good afternoon to someone
Just like saying "good morning" in Indonesian when parting with someone, Hebrew speakers say "yom tov." Although this expression means "good day," literally, it is used only as a goodbye, and never as a greeting.
You can also say "yom nifla" (yahm nee-flah), which means "have a nice day." It's more cheerful than "yom tov," but it's also appropriate in any context with anyone
Alternative:
After the end of Shabbat or during the first few days of the week, replace "yom" with "shavua" (shah-vooh-ah) to wish someone a happy week.
Step 4. Say "bye" or "yalla bye" to your friends
The word "yalla" is of Arabic origin and has no exact equivalent in English. However, it is a word often used by people who speak Hebrew. Basically, this word means "time to go" or "time to move on."
