Hebrew for Asking Prices in Israel

When you shop in Israel, one of the most useful things you can say is simply: How much does it cost? Price questions come up everywhere — at the market, in a clothing store, with a repair person, or when you are asking about a service. If you know a few basic Hebrew phrases, these conversations get much easier.

The main question

The most common way to ask about price is:

כמה זה עולה?
How much does it cost?

You can use it for almost anything:

• כמה זה עולה? — How much does it cost?
• כמה זה? — How much is it?
• כמה עולה החולצה? — How much does the shirt cost?
• כמה עולה זה? — How much does this cost?

In everyday speech, people often shorten things. If you are pointing at an item, כמה זה? is usually enough.

Useful words for shopping and prices

Here are some words you will hear a lot:

• מחיר — price
• זול — cheap
• יקר — expensive
• מבצע — sale / special offer
• הנחה — discount
• כמה — how much
• עולה — costs

Examples:

• מה המחיר? — What is the price?
• יש הנחה? — Is there a discount?
• זה במבצע? — Is this on sale?
• זה יקר. — This is expensive.
• זה זול יותר. — This is cheaper.

Talking about numbers

Price questions usually lead straight into numbers, so it helps to be comfortable with them. If you are still building confidence with numbers, it is worth reviewing Numbers. Even a small number range can help you handle basic shopping and market conversations.

A few examples:

• עשר שקלים — ten shekels
• עשרים שקלים — twenty shekels
• מאה שקלים — one hundred shekels

In Israel, prices are often said with שקלים or ש״ח in writing.

Common real-life phrases

These are the kinds of phrases you will actually use:

• אפשר לשלם במזומן? — Can I pay in cash?
• אפשר בכרטיס? — Can I pay by card?
• זה כולל מע״מ? — Does that include VAT?
• אפשר לקבל קבלה? — Can I get a receipt?
• אפשר פחות? — Can it be less? / Can you lower the price?

That last one can sound direct, so use it carefully. In a market or with small independent sellers, bargaining may be possible. In many stores, it is not.

Shopping situations where this helps

You will use these phrases in places like:

• clothing stores
• open markets
• electronics shops
• salons and service businesses
• taxi or delivery situations

If you are shopping for clothes, it helps to know the basic store language too, like in Hebrew for Clothing Stores in Israel. If you need to return something after buying it, Hebrew for Returning Items in Stores covers the next step.

A simple conversation

אתה: כמה זה עולה?
מוכר: מאה ועשרים שקלים.
אתה: יש הנחה?
מוכר: כן, עשרה אחוז.

This is a very normal pattern: ask the price, hear the number, then ask if there is a discount.

Quick tip

If you are nervous, start with the shortest version:

כמה זה?

Point to the item, smile, and listen for the number. That is often enough to get the answer you need.

Once you are comfortable with price questions, you will notice how often they connect to other everyday situations — clothes, repairs, services, and even errands like Hebrew for Movers and Deliveries.