What Language Is Spoken in Israel?

Official Language of Israel

✅ Hebrew is the official language of Israel, spoken by the majority of the population.
✅ It is used in government, education, media, and daily life.
✅ Hebrew is a Semitic language, related to Arabic and Aramaic, and is written in the Hebrew alphabet.

📌 Fun Fact: Hebrew was a nearly extinct language for centuries but was revived in the 19th and 20th centuries!

How Many People Speak Hebrew and Other Languages in Israel?

Israel has a population of over 9 million people, and while Hebrew is dominant, many other languages are spoken due to immigration and ethnic diversity.

Category	Number of Speakers
Total population of Israel	~9.7 million
Hebrew speakers	Official language, spoken by ~85% of the population
Arabic speakers	Spoken by ~20% of the population, mainly Arab Israelis
Russian speakers	Over 1 million, due to immigration from the former Soviet Union
English speakers	Widely spoken as a second language, especially in cities
French speakers	Spoken by Jewish immigrants from France and North Africa
Other languages (Yiddish, Amharic, Spanish, etc.)	Spoken by smaller communities

✅ Hebrew is the dominant language across the country.
✅ Arabic is the second most spoken language, used mainly by Arab Israelis.
✅ Russian is widely spoken by immigrants from the former Soviet Union.
✅ English is commonly used in business, tourism, and higher education.

📌 Fun Fact: Hebrew has no vowels in its writing system, but native speakers can still read fluently!

Illustration of What Language Is Spoken in Israel?

Hebrew: The Official Language of Israel

Hebrew is one of the world's oldest languages and was revived in modern times for daily use.

Common Hebrew Words and Phrases

English	Hebrew (Transliteration)	Hebrew (Script)
Hello	Shalom	שלום
How are you?	Ma shlomcha? (to a man) / Ma shlomech? (to a woman)	מה שלומך?
Thank you	Toda	תודה
Yes	Ken	כן
No	Lo	לא

✅ Hebrew is written from right to left!
✅ Modern Hebrew has borrowed many words from English, Arabic, and Russian.
✅ There are no capital letters in Hebrew!

📌 Did you know? The Hebrew word Shalom means both "hello" and "peace"! ☮️

Arabic in Israel: The Second Most Spoken Language

Arabic is spoken by around 20% of Israel's population, mainly by Arab Israelis.

Arabic Dialect	Region Spoken
Palestinian Arabic	Most common, spoken in Arab communities across Israel
Bedouin Arabic	Spoken by Bedouin tribes in the Negev Desert

✅ Arabic is used in some government institutions and appears on official signs.
✅ Many Arab Israelis are bilingual in Arabic and Hebrew.
✅ Arabic has a long history in Israel and was previously an official language until 2018.

📌 Fun Fact: Hebrew and Arabic share many similar words, like "kitab" (book) and "saat" (hour/clock)!

Russian in Israel: A Language of Immigrants

Russian is spoken by over 1 million people in Israel, making it one of the most widely spoken immigrant languages.

✅ Many Russian-speaking immigrants arrived after the fall of the Soviet Union in the 1990s.
✅ Russian-language newspapers, radio stations, and TV channels exist in Israel.
✅ Some government services are available in Russian due to its large-speaking community.

📌 Did you know? Many Russian-speaking Israelis still use Russian at home, even if they speak Hebrew fluently in public!

English in Israel: A Widely Spoken Second Language

While not an official language, English is commonly used in:

✅ Tourism – In major cities like Tel Aviv and Jerusalem.
✅ Business & Technology – Many Israeli tech companies use English.
✅ Education – English is taught in schools and universities.

✅ Many Israelis speak basic English, especially in urban areas.
✅ Government documents often include English translations.
✅ However, English is not widely spoken in rural areas.

📌 Did you know? Street signs in Israel are written in Hebrew, Arabic, and English!

Other Languages Spoken in Israel

Israel is home to many ethnic and immigrant communities, leading to a variety of languages spoken.

Language	Who Speaks It?
French	Jewish immigrants from France and North Africa
Yiddish	Ultra-Orthodox Jewish communities
Amharic	Ethiopian Jewish immigrants
Spanish	Jews from Latin America and Spain
German	Older generations of German-speaking Jews

✅ Yiddish is mainly spoken by Haredi (ultra-Orthodox) Jews.
✅ Amharic is spoken by over 150,000 Ethiopian Jews in Israel.
✅ French is growing due to rising immigration from France.

📌 Fun Fact: Israel is one of the only countries where Yiddish is still actively spoken!

Why Does Israel Have Multiple Languages?

1️⃣ History & Immigration – Israel was founded as a homeland for Jews worldwide, leading to many languages spoken.
2️⃣ Geography – Located in the Middle East, Israel shares linguistic ties with Arabic-speaking neighbors.
3️⃣ Education & Business – English is widely learned for global communication and trade.

📌 Fun Fact: Israel has one of the highest literacy rates in the world at over 97%! 📚

Common Misconceptions About Languages in Israel

❌ "Everyone in Israel speaks only Hebrew."
✅ False! Many people speak Arabic, Russian, English, and other languages.

❌ "Hebrew and Arabic are the same language."
✅ No! Hebrew and Arabic are both Semitic languages but are very different.

❌ "Everyone in Israel speaks English fluently."
✅ Not true! While English is common in cities, many Israelis do not speak it fluently.

❌ "Russian is a rare language in Israel."
✅ Incorrect! Over 1 million people in Israel speak Russian.

FAQs About Languages in Israel

What is the official language of Israel?

➡️ Hebrew is the official language.

Do people in Israel speak English?

➡️ Yes, English is widely spoken, especially in cities and businesses.

Is Arabic spoken in Israel?

➡️ Yes! Arabic is spoken by about 20% of the population, mainly Arab Israelis.

How many languages are spoken in Israel?

➡️ Over 30 languages, including Hebrew, Arabic, Russian, English, Yiddish, and Amharic.

Why is Russian spoken in Israel?

➡️ Many Russian Jews immigrated to Israel after the fall of the Soviet Union.