General Concepts

  • Chag Ha-ilanot חג האילנות
    = festival of the trees

  • Chamisha-Asar B'Shvat חמישה-עשר בשבט
    = 15th of Shvat, the older, longer name for the holiday (where you say the Hebrew number).

  • chalutzim חלוצים
    = "pioneers" (draining swamps to wipe out malaria and other early land reclamation efforts were all incredibly difficult work).

  • Eretz Israel ארץ ישראל
    = The Land of Israel; we also often simply say     Ha-aretz     הארץ [literally, "The Land/Country"] to say the same thing.

  • etz chayim עץ חיים
    = "tree of life". This term is also used to refer to the Torah. One maintains, protects and nourishes us physically and the other, spiritually.

  • Keren Kayemet Le-Israel קרן קימת לישראל
    = in English, this is called the Jewish National Fund (JNF) [see more in "Overview"]. You can also visit them online at http://www.jnf.org/ .

  • ichut hasviva איכות הסביבה
    = ecology; literally, "quality of the surroundings/environment". (You can also say ekologia     אקולוגיה. )

  • michzur מיחזור
    = recycling :)

  • netia shel simcha נטיעה של שמחה
    = "joyous planting", a tradition where you plant a tree to mark a special occasion or life-cycle event.

  • netiat etzim נטיעת עצים
    = "planting of trees".

  • Rosh HaShana La-Ilanot ראש השנה לאילנות
    = "New Year For The Trees", another name for Tu B'Shvat.

  • Tu B'Shvat טו בשבט
    = 15th of Shvat, nowadays the more common, abbreviated name for the holiday. The "tu" part comes from the numerical value assigned to Hebrew letters, like in a Jewish calendar date [see also "Why Tu?" in "Worthwhile Information & Tidbits"].

  • yom huledet יום הולדת
    = birthday; "Happy Birthday" is     יום הולדת שמח yom huledet sameach .

Food

Also check out these two interactive presentations where you can hear the Vocabulary words!

  • charuv חרוב
    = carob. In Yiddish it is called "bokser". Charuv is thought to possibly share a root with cherev     חרב , meaning sword, due to its shape. Interestingly, this is traditionally considered to be a humble food, and it is also likened to a modest Jew facing G-d in repentance. It grows in Israel and the fruit falls ready to eat "as is" - in autumn (meaning you don't need to wait for any processing of a carob). As long as it's kept dry, it can be stored for quite a while.

  • egoz אגוז / egozim אגוזים
    = nut/s

  • mishmish משמש
    = apricot

  • rimon רימון
    = pomegranate

  • pri פרי / perot פרות
    = fruit/s

  • shaked שקד
    = almond. A shkedia     שקדיה is an almond tree, usually the first to bloom.

  • tamar תמר
    = date; Tamar is also a common girl's name.

  • tapuach תפוח
    = apple

  • te-ena תאנה
    = fig

  • tzimukim צימוקים
    = raisins; grapes are anavim     ענבים.

  • zayit זית / zetim זיתים
    = olive/s

Nature

  • adama אדמה
    = land, earth, soil

  • aviv אביב
    = spring; Aviv is also a common Israeli boy's name, and Aviva is a typical feminine version.

  • choref חורף
    = winter

  • etz עץ / etzim עצים
    = tree/s. Etz is also the word for wood.

  • geshem גשם
    = rain

  • mayim מים
    = water

  • ilan אילן / ilanot אילנות
    = tree/s (a more literary term); Ilan is also a common Israeli boy's name, and Ilana is a typical feminine version.

  • teva טבע
    =nature

  • ya-ar יער
    = forest

*Also check out our terrific Hebrew Alphabet aid: http://www.learnhebrewpod.com/reading-hebrew/alphabet

*Plus some more useful vocabulary and games over at our Free Collection:
http://www.learnhebrewpod.com/free-hebrew-lessons