Hebrew Directional and Positional Terms

צָפוֹן

• Used geographically; can also symbolize warmth or closeness.

• Used geographically; can also symbolize cold or distance.

• Refers to a type of tree found in northern regions.

• Indicates a direction in navigation.

יָמָנִי

• רגל ימנית

• רגל שמאלית

• יד ימין

• יד שמאל

שְׂמֹאל

• Used like 'right' above; specific to direction, not political context.

• A term used to describe a political ideology.

• A common greeting in Hebrew.

• A type of food in Middle Eastern cuisine.

לְצַד

• Indicates positioning to the side. Slightly more formal than al yad.

• Indicates positioning in front of something.

• Indicates positioning behind something.

• Indicates positioning above something.

בְּתוֹךְ

• Means outside of something. Ex: מחוץ לקופסה – “Outside the box.”

• Means inside of something. Ex: בתוך הקופסה – “Inside the box.”

• Means above something. Ex: מעל הקופסה – “Above the box.”

• Means below something. Ex: מתחת לקופסה – “Below the box.”

עַל יַד

• A very common phrase meaning 'next to.'

• A phrase meaning 'in front of.'

• A phrase meaning 'behind.'

• A phrase meaning 'above.'

לִפְנֵי

• Spatially: “behind”; Temporally: “after.”

• Spatially: “in front of”; Temporally: “before.”

• Spatially: “next to”; Temporally: “during.”

• Spatially: “above”; Temporally: “after.”

אֲחוֹרִי

• Describes something in the front: “front door” = דלת קדמית.

• Describes something in the rear: “rear door” = דלת אחורית.

• Describes something on the side: “side door” = דלת צדדית.

• Describes something above: “top door” = דלת עליונה.

מֵאָחוֹר

• Used when something approaches or happens from the front.

• Used when something approaches or happens from the side.

• Used when something approaches or happens from the back.

• Used when something approaches or happens from above.

יָמִין

• Turn left = פנה שמאלה.

• Turn right = פנה ימינה.

• Go straight = המשך ישר.

• Turn around = פנה אחורה.