The trades
In Israel you name the trade rather than asking for “a tradesperson”: instalator for a plumber, hashmalai for an electrician, kablan shiputzim for a renovation contractor. The table below also covers home, breakdown and paperwork vocabulary.
The full glossary
| English | Pronunciation | Hebrew |
|---|---|---|
| Plumber | Instalator | אינסטלטור |
| Electrician | Hashmalai | חשמלאי |
| Painter | Tsaba | צבעי |
| Tiler | Ratsaf | רצף |
| Carpenter | Nagar | נגר |
| Renovation contractor | Kablan shiputzim | קבלן שיפוצים |
| AC technician | Technai mizug | טכנאי מיזוג |
| Waterproofing specialist | Itumai / mumhe itum | מומחה איטום |
| Air conditioner | Mazgan | מזגן |
| Ducted AC (mini-central) | Mini merkazi | מיני מרכזי |
| Solar water heater | Dud shemesh | דוד שמש |
| Fuse box | Luah hashmal | לוח חשמל |
| Residual-current breaker (RCD) | Mafsek pahat | מפסק פחת |
| Socket | Sheka | שקע |
| Shabbat timer | Shaon Shabbat | שעון שבת |
| Leak | Nezila | נזילה |
| Blockage | Stima | סתימה |
| Tap | Berez | ברז |
| Pipe | Tsinor | צינור |
| Sink / basin | Kiyor | כיור |
| Toilet | Asla | אסלה |
| Shower | Miklahat | מקלחת |
| Bathtub | Ambatya | אמבטיה |
| Damp | Retivut | רטיבות |
| Waterproofing | Itum | איטום |
| Roof | Gag | גג |
| Ceiling | Tikra | תקרה |
| Drywall partition | Kir gevs | קיר גבס |
| Floor tiling | Ritsuf | ריצוף |
| Wall tiling | Hipui | חיפוי |
| Tiles | Arihim | אריחים |
| Worktop | Shayish | שיש |
| Kitchen cabinet | Aron mitbah | ארון מטבח |
| Roller shutters | Trisim | תריסים |
| Window | Halon | חלון |
| Door | Delet | דלת |
| Balcony | Mirpeset | מרפסת |
| Balcony enclosure | Sgirat mirpeset | סגירת מרפסת |
| Safe room | Mamad | ממ"ד |
| Building committee | Vaad bayit | ועד בית |
| Building permit | Heiter bniya | היתר בנייה |
| Quote | Hatsaat mehir | הצעת מחיר |
| Invoice | Heshbonit | חשבונית |
| Receipt | Kabala | קבלה |
| Deposit | Mikdama | מקדמה |
| Warranty | Ahrayut | אחריות |
| VAT-exempt sole trader | Osek patur | עוסק פטור |
| VAT-registered sole trader | Osek murshe | עוסק מורשה |
| Limited company | Hevra be'am | חברה בע"מ |
| VAT | Ma'am | מע"מ |
Useful phrases
- Yesh li nezila ba-mitbah — I have a leak in the kitchen.
- Ha-mafsek pahat kofets — The RCD keeps tripping.
- Ha-mazgan lo mekarer — The AC isn't cooling.
- Efshar hatsaat mehir bi-ktav? — Can I have a written quote?
- Ha-mehir kolel ma'am? — Does the price include VAT?
- Ani tsarikh heshbonit — I need an invoice.
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