Hebrew–English Glossary
Key emergency terms you'll encounter in Israel, with phonetic pronunciations.
Key terms you’ll encounter during emergencies in Israel, with phonetic pronunciations.
14 terms
| Hebrew | Pronunciation | English | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| מקלט | meek-LAHT | Shelter / bomb shelter | Public or shared underground shelter |
| ממ״ד | mah-MAHD | Safe room (MAMAD) | Reinforced room inside an apartment; required in buildings since 1992 |
| ממ״ק | mah-MAHK | Floor safe room (MAMAK) | Shared reinforced room on each floor of a building |
| אזעקה | az-ah-KAH | Siren / alarm | The warning siren that signals incoming rockets |
| פיקוד העורף | pee-KOOD ha-OH-ref | Home Front Command | IDF branch responsible for civil defense |
| צבע אדום | TZEH-va ah-DOME | Red Color (Tzeva Adom) | Code name for the incoming-rocket alert |
| כיפת ברזל | kee-PAHT bar-ZEL | Iron Dome | Israel's rocket-interception defense system |
| מרחב מוגן | mer-KHAHV moo-GAHN | Protected space | General term for any designated safe area |
| יירוט | yee-ROOT | Interception | When Iron Dome intercepts a rocket |
| נפילה | neh-fee-LAH | Impact / fall | A rocket or debris landing; do not share location info |
| חדר מדרגות | KHEH-der mahd-reh-GOHT | Stairwell | Fallback shelter if no MAMAD or miklat available |
| צנזורה | tzen-ZOO-rah | Military censorship | IDF censor that restricts publication of sensitive security info |
| עורף | OH-ref | Home front | The civilian rear, as opposed to the military front |
| הנחיות | hahn-khah-YOHT | Instructions / guidelines | Official directives from Home Front Command |