Writing on signs in Israel
Square letters, right to left
Hebrew letters are square and blocky, written right to left, and they do not join: each letter stands on its own.
- Look for blocky letters like ש, מ and ה.
- Few dots: that rules out Arabic.
- Street signs often show Hebrew, Arabic and English.
11 photos, grouped by the clue they show.
Key clue Shop sign 6
Key clue Street sign 5
Israel: what its writing looks like
Hebrew letters are square and blocky, written right to left, and each one stands on its own. Letters like ש, מ and ה look like little boxes and forks.
Street signs in Israel often show three scripts: Hebrew, Arabic and English.
Hebrew is used across Israel, from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem.
Look-alikes: how to tell them apart
Israel vs 
United Arab Emirates
Arabic also runs right to left, but its letters join together and have many dots.
Questions about the writing in Israel
How can I tell Hebrew from Arabic?
Hebrew letters are square and separate. Arabic letters are joined in a flowing line and have lots of dots.
Why do Israeli signs show three scripts?
Hebrew and Arabic are both used in Israel, and English helps visitors, so road signs often show all three.