Hebrew is full of colourful idioms that reflect Israel’s unique blend of humour, history, and daily life. Some are so bizarre they sound like punchlines to jokes you’ve never heard. Here are a few favourites that’ll give you a taste of how Israelis play with language.
1. “נפל לי הקפה” (Nafal li ha-kafe) – “My coffee fell”
נפל לי הקפה
/naˈfal li haˈkafe/“My coffee fell”
Literally means “my coffee fell,” but it’s used to describe a moment of sudden realisation or shock - like when you finally understand something obvious. The imagery of spilled coffee perfectly captures that “oh no” moment.
2. “נפל עליו הפלאפל” (Nafal alav ha-falafel) – “The falafel fell on him”
נפל עליו הפלאפל
/naˈfal aˈlav hafaˈlafel/“The falafel fell on him”
A playful way to say someone got lucky - like stumbling into good fortune as if a falafel just dropped into their lap. It’s the Israeli version of “falling into the gravy train.”
3. “הוא לא הכי חכם בעיר” (Hu lo hachi hakham ba-ir) – “He’s not the smartest in town”
הוא לא הכי חכם בעיר
/hu lo haˈχi ħaˈχam baˈʔir/“He’s not the smartest in town”
A polite understatement for calling someone a bit dim. It’s the kind of phrase you’d use when someone does something baffling, like trying to microwave a metal spoon.
4. “עושה ממנו פלאפל” (Ose mimenu falafel) – “Making falafel out of him”
עושה ממנו פלאפל
/ˈose miˈmenu faˈlafel/“Making falafel out of him”
This means tearing someone apart, either verbally or physically. The idea is that the person is being ground up like chickpeas in a falafel maker. Not a pleasant image, but undeniably vivid.
5. “יש לו בורג חסר” (Yesh lo borg chaser) – “He’s missing a screw”
יש לו בורג חסר
/jeʃ lo boʁɡ ħaˈseʁ/“He’s missing a screw”
The Hebrew equivalent of “a few sandwiches short of a picnic.” It’s used to describe someone who’s a bit eccentric or just plain nonsensical.
6. “זה לא החומוס שלי” (Ze lo ha-hummus sheli) – “That’s not my hummus”
זה לא החומוס שלי
/ze lo haˈħumus ʃeˈli/“That’s not my hummus”
A way to say “that’s not my problem” or “not my circus, not my monkeys.” The humour comes from the idea of refusing to claim ownership over a bad batch of hummus - or, by extension, any messy situation.
Pro tip: If you’re learning Hebrew, mastering these idioms will make you sound more natural - and give you a glimpse into the Israeli sense of humour. For more on Hebrew phrases, check out our guide on Hebrew for Business.
7. “הוא עף על עצמו” (Hu af al atzmo) – “He’s flying on himself”
הוא עף על עצמו
/hu af al at͡sˈmo/“He’s flying on himself”
A sarcastic way to say someone is full of themselves. The image of someone literally floating on their own ego is hard to beat.
8. “יצא לו הסמויה” (Yatza lo ha-smoya) – “His hidden one came out”
יצא לו הסמויה
/jaˈt͡sa lo hasmoˈja/“His hidden one came out”
This means someone’s true colours have been revealed - usually not in a good way. It’s like saying, “Ah, so that’s who you really are.”
Hebrew idioms often mix the mundane with the absurd, turning everyday things like coffee and falafel into metaphors for life’s little dramas. If you enjoyed these, you might also like our article on Hungarian humour or Croatian idioms for more linguistic quirks.
