Hananya Naftali
Nov 7, 2026
Languages of Israel
The Short Answer
Hebrew is the official language of Israel. Arabic has a special status under Israeli law and is spoken by about a fifth of the population. English is widely spoken and taught in schools, and road signs usually appear in Hebrew, Arabic and English. Many Israelis also speak Russian, French, Amharic and other languages of the countries they came from.
The Miracle of Modern Hebrew
For nearly two thousand years Hebrew was mainly a language of prayer and study. In the late 19th century Eliezer Ben Yehuda led the effort to revive it as an everyday spoken language. His son Itamar is often called the first native Hebrew speaker in modern times.
Today about nine million people speak Hebrew. It is the only example in history of an ancient language being successfully revived as the mother tongue of a nation.
A Multilingual Country
Arabic is used in Arab schools, the Knesset and the media. Immigrants from more than a hundred countries have added their own languages to the mix, which is why you can hear so many tongues on the streets of Israel.
Key Facts
Hebrew is Israel's official language.
Arabic has a special status under Israeli law.
Eliezer Ben Yehuda led the revival of spoken Hebrew.
Road signs are usually in Hebrew, Arabic and English.