This page was put together based on a lesson that I had whilst studying in Ulpan Etzion shortly after my Aliyah - I thought that it was pretty useful and hope that it is for you too.

Real estate adverts usually use very standard terminology, in the format of abbreviations and once this is understood, you can understand these adverts with ease.

Numbers

Numbers in an advert refer to the number of rooms, with one room generally assumed to be a living room / salon. Thus ‘4’ usually means a living room and 3 bedrooms, 3 means a living room and 2 bedrooms, and so on.

Floor numbers

An abbreviation beginning with the letter ‘ק’ (for “Koma) refers to the floor.

ק"ק means ground floor (Komat Karka)

Subsequently the alphabet is used so that:

ק"א means 1st floor
ק"ב means 2nd floor

From the fifth floor upwards numbers are frequently used in place of letters.

Other commonly used abbreviations

כ"פ                   Knisa Pratit - private entrance. i.e. not a shared lobby and stairwell

פ"א                  Pinat Ochel - dining area . This usually implies that the kitchen or living room is larger than usual with space specifically for a table and chairs

ש"כ                  Sherutim Kefulim - double bathroom facilities

דוד"ש               Dud Shemesh - solar heater for water. This saves on the electricity bill through the summer months. This is fairly standard in Israel – an Ad which doesn’t mention this does not necessarily mean that it doesn’t exist – make sure to ask.

חד'                   Chadarim - rooms – will appear alongside a number

Other frequently used terms

ארונות              Aronot – wardrobes

גינה                  Gina – garden

הסקה               Hasaka – heating

חזיתית              Chazitit – front facing

חנייה                Chanaya – parking

מוארת              Mu’eret – light

מושקעת            Mushka’at – well looked after (lit. “invested in”)

מטופחת            Metupahat – well maintained

מיזוג                 Mizug – air conditioning

מעלית               Ma’alit – lift / elevator

מפוארת             Mefo’eret – luxurious

מרוהטת            Meruhetet – furnished

מרוהטת חלקית   Meruhetet Chelkit – partially furnished

מרווחת             Meruvachat – spacious

מרפסת             Mirpeset – balcony

מרפסת שרות     Mirpeset Sherut – service balcony (for washing machine etc)

משופצת           Meshupetzet – renovated

נוף                  Nof – view

עורפית             Orpit – rear facing

שקטה              Shkeita – quiet

תווך ארוך / קצר  T’vach Aroch / Katzar – Long / Short term

This sheet is based on information at www.ujia.org.il