Hebrew for Lost Items

Losing something in Israel is common enough that it helps to know a few key words right away. Whether you left your phone on a bus, forgot a bag in a café, or are asking at a police station, the basic Hebrew is simple and very useful.

Core words

• lost = אבוד (avud)
• found = נמצא (nimtza)
• item / object = חפץ (chefetz)
• bag = תיק (tik)
• wallet = ארנק (arnak)
• phone = טלפון (telefon)
• keys = מפתחות (mafte'khot)

If you are trying to describe what happened, the most useful phrase is:

• איבדתי את... = I lost...

Examples:

• איבדתי את הטלפון שלי — I lost my phone.
• איבדתי את התיק שלי — I lost my bag.
• איבדתי את הארנק — I lost the wallet.

Asking if something was found

If you think someone may have found your item, you can ask:

• האם מצאתם... ? = Did you find...?
• מצאתם תיק? = Did you find a bag?
• מצאתם טלפון? = Did you find a phone?

If you are speaking to one person, מצאת? works too, but in public places people often use the plural מצאתם politely, even when speaking to one employee.

Useful lost-and-found phrases

Here are practical phrases you can use in a shop, bus station, or office:

• איבדתי את המפתחות שלי — I lost my keys.
• אני מחפש את התיק שלי — I’m looking for my bag.
• איפה המחלקה של האבידות? — Where is the lost and found department?
• יש כאן אבידות? — Is there a lost and found here?
• מצאתי תיק — I found a bag.
• זה שלי — This is mine.

The word אבידות means lost items or lost property. In many places, especially at stations or offices, you may hear מחלקת אבידות or אבדות ומציאות for lost and found.

A simple conversation

שלום, איבדתי את הטלפון שלי.
Hello, I lost my phone.

איפה איבדת אותו?
Where did you lose it?

במונית.
In a taxi.

יש לך מספר טלפון?
Do you have a phone number?

כן, הנה המספר שלי.
Yes, here is my number.

What to say if you need help

If you want someone to check a back office, call a driver, or look at a list of found items, these phrases help:

• אפשר לבדוק? — Can we check?
• אפשר להתקשר? — Can we call?
• אני חושב/ת שזה נשאר שם — I think it was left there.
• אני צריך/ה עזרה — I need help.

If you also need to explain where you were or how you feel while dealing with the loss, it can help to know phrases from Hebrew for Israeli Service Calls and Hebrew for Asking Someone How They Are. Those can make the conversation smoother when you are speaking to staff.

Small grammar note

In Hebrew, you often use את before a definite direct object:

• איבדתי את הטלפון
• מצאתי את התיק

That את is very common in everyday speech, so it is worth getting used to early.

Quick practice

Try saying these out loud:

1. איבדתי את הארנק שלי.
2. מצאתם מפתחות?
3. אני מחפש את התיק שלי.
4. איפה האבידות?

For related everyday situations, you may also find Hebrew for ATMs and Cash Withdrawals useful if your wallet is missing, and Hebrew for Israeli Service Calls helpful if you need to call somewhere and ask about a found item.

The main thing is to keep it short and clear. In a lost-and-found situation, simple Hebrew is usually enough to get help fast.