The Army צבא

11 advanced Hebrew words on the army — with pictures, native audio and example sentences. Ranks, weapons and the battlefield — words every Israeli knows from service.

English	Hebrew	Note
army	צבא	⚠️ GenderMasculine, plural צבאות. The Israeli army is צה״ל.
soldier	חייל	⚠️ GenderFeminine חיילת; plurals חיילים and חיילות.
officer	קצין	🔀 Several meaningsA commissioned officer only — a police officer on the street is שוטר.
general	גנרל	🌎 RegionUsed for foreign armies; the Israeli rank is אלוף.
rank	דרגה	🔗 RootFamily: מדרגה (a stair) and להדריג (to grade).
uniform	מדים	⚠️ IrregularAlways plural, even for one uniform: לובשים מדים.
rifle	רובה	⚠️ GenderMasculine despite the ־ה ending; plural רובים.
order	פקודה	🔀 Several meaningsA command only — an order in a café is הזמנה. 🔗 RootFamily: מפקד (a commander), לפקד (to command).
base	בסיס	🔗 RootFrom Greek basis, like English 'base'.
front	חזית	🔀 Several meaningsAlso the façade of a building.
ambush	מארב	🔗 RootFrom לארוב, to lie in wait; the מ־ prefix marks a place.