Hebrew for Police Situations in Israel

If you need to speak with police in Israel, short and clear Hebrew is usually best. You do not need perfect grammar. The most useful things are: say who you are, show ID if asked, explain the problem simply, and ask for English if needed.

This page focuses on practical, formal Hebrew for police and emergency situations.

The most useful phrases

• אֲנִי צָרִיךְ עֶזְרָה. — I need help.
• אֲנִי צְרִיכָה עֶזְרָה. — I need help.
• אֲנִי לֹא מֵבִין. — I do not understand.
• אֲנִי לֹא מְבִינָה. — I do not understand.
• אֶפְשָׁר בְּאַנְגְּלִית? — Can we speak in English?
• תּוּכַל לְדַבֵּר יָשָׁר יוֹתֵר לְאַט? — Can you speak more slowly?
• תּוּכְלִי לְדַבֵּר יָשָׁר יוֹתֵר לְאַט? — Can you speak more slowly?

If a police officer stops you

You may hear:

• תְּעוּדַת זֶהוּת, בְּבַקָּשָׁה. — ID, please.
• אֵיפֹה אַתָּה גָּר? — Where do you live?
• מֵאַיִן אַתָּה? — Where are you from?
• מָה קָרָה? — What happened?
• לַעֲצֹר. — Stop.
• לִפְנוֹת לְכָאן. — Turn this way / go this way.

Useful replies:

• הִנֵּה תְּעוּדַת הַזֶּהוּת שֶׁלִּי. — Here is my ID.
• הַדַּרְכּוֹן שֶׁלִּי. — My passport.
• אֲנִי תּוֹשָׁב / תּוֹשֶׁבֶת. — I am a resident.
• אֲנִי תּוּרִיסְט / תּוּרִיסְטִית. — I am a tourist.
• אֲנִי לֹא מֵבִין. אֶפְשָׁר בְּאַנְגְּלִית? — I do not understand. Can we speak in English?

If you are nervous, these are useful too:

• בְּבַקָּשָׁה, לְאַט. — Please, slowly.
• תּוּכַל לַחְזוֹר עַל זֶה? — Can you repeat that?
• אֲנִי רוֹצֶה לַעֲשׂוֹת מַה שֶּׁאַתֶּם אוֹמְרִים. — I want to do what you are saying.
• אֲנִי רוֹצָה לַעֲשׂוֹת מַה שֶּׁאַתֶּן אוֹמְרוֹת. — I want to do what you are saying.

If you need to report something

Keep it short and factual.

• אֲנִי רוֹצֶה לְהַגִּישׁ תְּלוּנָה. — I want to file a complaint.
• אֲנִי רוֹצָה לְהַגִּישׁ תְּלוּנָה. — I want to file a complaint.
• נִגְנַב לִי הַטֶּלֶפוֹן. — My phone was stolen.
• אָבַד לִי הַדַּרְכּוֹן. — My passport was lost.
• הָיָה כָּאן רִיב. — There was a fight here.
• הָיָה כָּאן וִיכּוּחַ. — There was an argument here.
• הָיָה כָּאן אִיּוּם. — There was a threat here.
• אֲנִי רָאִיתִי אֶת הַמִּקְרֶה. — I saw the incident.
• זֶה הָיָה בְּ... — It was at...

If someone was hurt, you may also need words for pain or injury. See Hebrew for Describing Pain.

At the police station

At a station, you may need more formal, practical Hebrew:

• אֲנִי צָרִיךְ לְדַבֵּר עִם שׁוֹטֵר. — I need to speak with a police officer.
• אֲנִי צְרִיכָה לְדַבֵּר עִם שׁוֹטֶרֶת. — I need to speak with a police officer.
• אֵיפֹה הַמִּשְׁרָד? — Where is the office?
• אֲנִי צָרִיךְ לַחְתּוֹם? — Do I need to sign?
• אֲנִי צְרִיכָה עוֹד הֶסְבֵּר. — I need more explanation.
• אֵין לִי תּוֹר. — I do not have a queue number / appointment.

If the issue is about a phone, card, or document, Hebrew for Israeli Service Calls can also help you explain the problem clearly.

A simple pattern to remember

When you are stressed, this pattern works well:

1. Say אֲנִי צָרִיךְ / צְרִיכָה... — I need...
2. Add the problem.
3. Ask for English or for them to speak slowly.

Examples:

• אֲנִי צָרִיךְ עֶזְרָה.
• אֲנִי צְרִיכָה לְהַגִּישׁ תְּלוּנָה.
• אֲנִי לֹא מֵבִין. אֶפְשָׁר בְּאַנְגְּלִית?

Quick practice

Try saying these out loud:

• תְּעוּדַת זֶהוּת, בְּבַקָּשָׁה.
• אֲנִי צָרִיךְ עֶזְרָה.
• נִגְנַב לִי הַטֶּלֶפוֹן.
• אֲנִי לֹא מֵבִין. אֶפְשָׁר בְּאַנְגְּלִית?

If you want more help with calm, practical phrases, Hebrew for Asking Someone How They Are and Hebrew for Asking People to Speak Slowly are both useful nearby pages.