Israel

Languages

Adyghe ady

HaZafon district: Kafr Kama, Rehaniya, and small border villages. Users: 3,200 in Israel (Leclerc 2018a). Status: 5* (Dispersed). Alternate Names: Adygey, West Circassian Classification: Abkhaz-Adyghe, Circassian

Al-Sayyid Bedouin Sign Language syy

HaDarom (Negev) district: Al-Sayyid village. Users: 140 (Sandler et al 2005). About 140 deaf and an unknown number of hearing. Status: 6a (Vigorous). Alternate Names: ABSL, Bedouin Sign Language Classification: Sign language, Shared sign language

Amharic amh

HaDarom (southern) district: Ashdod, Ashkelon, Beersheba, Kiryat Malachi; HaMerkaz (central) district: LeZion, Netanya, Petah Tikva, Rehovot, Rishon; Hefa district: Hadera, Haifa; Jerusalem district. Users: 77,800 in Israel (Leclerc 2018a). Status: 5* (Dispersed). Alternate Names: Beta Israel, “Falasha” (pej.) Classification: Afro-Asiatic, Semitic, South, Ethiopian, South, Transversal, Amharic-Argobba

Arabic, Egyptian Spoken arz

Scattered. Users: 27,000 in Israel (Leclerc 2018a). Status: Unestablished. Classification: Afro-Asiatic, Semitic, Central, South, Arabic

Arabic, Judeo-Iraqi yhd

Scattered. Users: 94,000 in Israel (Leclerc 2018a). Total users in all countries: 97,200. Status: 7 (Shifting). Alternate Names: Iraqi Judeo-Arabic, Jewish Iraqi-Baghdadi Arabic, Yahudic Classification: Afro-Asiatic, Semitic, Central, South, Arabic

Arabic, Judeo-Moroccan aju

Widespread. Users: 53,000 in Israel (Leclerc 2018a). Status: 7 (Shifting). Classification: Afro-Asiatic, Semitic, Central, South, Arabic

Arabic, Judeo-Tripolitanian yud

HaMerkaz district: south of Tel Aviv. Users: 38,000 in Israel (Leclerc 2018a). Total users in all countries: 43,000. Status: 7 (Shifting). Alternate Names: Jewish Tripolitanian-Libyan Arabic, Tripolita’it, Tripolitanian Judeo-Arabic, Yudi Classification: Afro-Asiatic, Semitic, Central, South, Arabic

Arabic, Judeo-Tunisian ajt

Jerusalem district: Beit Shemesh. Users: 10,000 in Israel (Leclerc 2018a). Status: 7 (Shifting). Classification: Afro-Asiatic, Semitic, Central, South, Arabic

Arabic, Judeo-Yemeni jye

HaDarom and Jerusalem districts; Tel Aviv district: Jaffa. Users: 36,000 in Israel (Leclerc 2018a). Status: 6a* (Vigorous). Alternate Names: Judeo-Yemeni, Yemenite, Yemenite Judeo-Arabic Classification: Afro-Asiatic, Semitic, Central, South, Arabic

Arabic, Levantine Bedawi Spoken avl

Disputed territory east of Jerusalem on west bank of lower Jordan river and upper Dead sea, scattered. Users: 121,000 in Israel (Leclerc 2018a). Status: Unestablished. Classification: Afro-Asiatic, Semitic, Central, South, Arabic

Arabic, North Levantine Spoken apc

Users: 93,700 in Israel (Leclerc 2018a). Status: Unestablished. Classification: Afro-Asiatic, Semitic, Central, South, Arabic

Arabic, South Levantine Spoken ajp

Widespread. Users: 1,430,000 in Israel (Leclerc 2018a). Status: 3 (Wider communication). De facto language of national identity. Alternate Names: Levantine, Palestanian-Jordanian Arabic Classification: Afro-Asiatic, Semitic, Central, South, Arabic

Arabic, Standard arb

Widespread. Users: 2,170,000 in Israel (2014 SIL), all users. Status: 1 (National). Statutory national language (1922, Palestine Order in Council, Article 82, 10 October). Classification: Afro-Asiatic, Semitic, Central, South, Arabic

Armenian, Western hyw

Jerusalem. Users: 4,300 in Israel (Leclerc 2018a). Status: 7 (Shifting). Classification: Indo-European, Armenian

Barzani-Sandu Jewish Neo-Aramaic bjf

Jerusalem. Users: 6 (2017 H. Mutzafi). Status: 8b (Nearly extinct). Alternate Names: Barzani Jewish Neo-Aramaic, Central Jewish Neo-Aramaic, Lishan Didan, Lishan Dideni Classification: Afro-Asiatic, Semitic, Central, Aramaic, Eastern, Central, Northeastern

Bukharic bhh

Tel Aviv district and city: Holon and Or Yehuda; HaMerkaz (central) district: Ramla. Users: 64,000 in Israel (Leclerc 2018a). Total users in all countries: 117,840. Status: 7 (Shifting). Alternate Names: Bokharan, Bokharic, Bukharan, Bukharian, Judeo-Tajik Classification: Indo-European, Indo-Iranian, Iranian, Western, Southwestern, Persian

Dzhidi jpr

HaDarom, HaZafon, and Jerusalem districts; possibly Galilee and Negev. Users: 55,000 in Israel (Leclerc 2018a). Status: 7 (Shifting). Alternate Names: Djudi, Judeo-Persian, Judi Classification: Indo-European, Indo-Iranian, Iranian, Western, Southwestern, Persian

English eng

Widespread. Users: 6,202,000 in Israel, all users. L1 users: 92,000 in Israel (Leclerc 2018a). L2 users: 6,110,000 (2018). Status: 3 (Wider communication). Classification: Indo-European, Germanic, West, English

French fra

Users: 500,000 in Israel, all users. L1 users: 37,000 in Israel (Leclerc 2018a). L2 users: 463,000 (Beck et al 2018). Status: 5* (Dispersed). Classification: Indo-European, Italic, Romance, Italo-Western, Western, Gallo-Iberian, Gallo-Romance, Gallo-Rhaetian, Oïl, French

German, Standard deu

Users: 14,000 in Israel (Leclerc 2018a). Status: Unestablished. Classification: Indo-European, Germanic, West, High German, German, Middle German, East Middle German

Greek ell

Users: 3,400 in Israel (Leclerc 2018a). Status: Unestablished. Classification: Indo-European, Greek, Attic

Hebrew heb

Widespread. Users: 8,300,000 in Israel, all users. L1 users: 5,000,000 in Israel (Leclerc 2018a). Spoken by all Israelis as L1 or L2. Some who use it as L1 now in Israel learned it as L2 originally. L2 users: 3,300,000 (2018). Total users in all countries: 9,387,050 (as L1: 6,087,050; as L2: 3,300,000). Status: 1 (National). Statutory national language (1922, Palestine Order in Council, Article 82, 10 October). Alternate Names: Israeli Autonym: עברית‎ (Ivrit), עברית חדשה‎ (ivrít ḥadašá[h]) Classification: Afro-Asiatic, Semitic, Central, South, Canaanite

Hebrew, Ancient hbo

Jerusalem district: west Jerusalem. Users: No known L1 speakers. Status: 9 (Dormant). Alternate Names: Old Hebrew Autonym: לְשׁוֹן הַמִּקְרָא‎ (Leshon ha-Miqra), עִבְרִית מִקְרָאִית‎ (Ivrit Miqra’it) Classification: Afro-Asiatic, Semitic, Central, South, Canaanite

Hulaulá huy

Scattered. Users: Several thousands (2017 H. Mutzafi). Total users in all countries: 350. Status: 8a (Moribund). Alternate Names: Jabali, Lishana Akhni, Lishana Noshan Autonym: לשנא נשן‎ (Lišānā Nošān) Classification: Afro-Asiatic, Semitic, Central, Aramaic, Eastern, Central, Northeastern, Trans-Zab

Hungarian hun

HaMerkaz, Hefa, and Tel Aviv districts. Users: 23,000 in Israel (Leclerc 2018a). Status: 5* (Dispersed). Alternate Names: Magyar Classification: Uralic

Inter-Zab Jewish Neo-Aramaic aij

Widespread. Users: 3,500 (Leclerc 2018a). Status: 8a (Moribund). Alternate Names: Galigalu, Hula’ula, Hulani, Jbeli, Kurdit, Lishana Didán, Lishanid Noshan, Sureth Autonym: לשנא דידן‎ (Lišānā Dîdān), לשניד נשן‎ (Lišānîd Nošān) Classification: Afro-Asiatic, Semitic, Central, Aramaic, Eastern, Central, Northeastern, Trans-Zab

Israeli Sign Language isr

Scattered. Users: 10,000 (Meir et al 2010). Approximately 0.1% of the total population. Status: 5 (Developing). Alternate Names: ISL Classification: Sign language, Deaf community sign language

Italian ita

Users: 6,800 in Israel (Leclerc 2018a). Status: Unestablished. Classification: Indo-European, Italic, Romance, Italo-Western, Italo-Dalmatian

Jewish Babylonian Aramaic tmr

Jerusalem district. Users: No known L1 speakers. Ethnic population: No ethnic community. Status: 9 (Second language only). Alternate Names: Babylonian Talmudic Aramaic Classification: Afro-Asiatic, Semitic, Central, Aramaic, Eastern, Central, Northeastern

Judeo-Arabic jrb

Users: Population total all languages: 251,890. Status:

Judeo-Berber jbe

HaMerkaz district: between Hadera and Haifa. Users: 2,900 (Leclerc 2018a). Status: 8a (Moribund). Classification: Afro-Asiatic, Berber, Northern, Atlas

Judeo-Georgian jge

HaDarom district: Rahat area. Users: 58,000 in Israel (Leclerc 2018a). Total users in all countries: 60,800. Status: 6a* (Vigorous). Classification: Kartvelian, Georgian

Judeo-Tat jdt

HaDarom district: Sderot, border town with Gaza Strip; HaMerkazi district: Hadera and Or ’Akiva, near Mediterranean coast. Users: 71,000 in Israel (Leclerc 2018a). Status: 5* (Developing). Alternate Names: Bik, Dzhuhuric, Jewish Tat, Judeo-Tatic, Juhuri, Juwri, “Tati” (pej.) Classification: Indo-European, Indo-Iranian, Iranian, Western, Southwestern, Tat

Kufr Qassem Sign Language sqx

HaMerkaz district: Kufr Qassem (Kafr Qasim) city. Users: 50 (2020 R. Stamp). All monolingual users are over 40 years old (2020 R. Stamp). Status: 6b (Threatened). Alternate Names: KQSL, Kafr Qassem Sign Language, Kafr Qassim Sign Language, Kfar Qassem Sign Language, Kfar Qassim Sign Language Classification: Sign language, Shared sign language

Ladino lad

Jerusalem district and scattered. Users: 43,000 in Israel (Leclerc 2018a). Total users in all countries: 51,016. Status: 8a (Moribund). Alternate Names: Cudeo-Espanyol, Djudeo-Espagnol, Djudezmo, Djudyó, Dschudeo-Espanjol, Dzhudeo-Espanyol, Dzhudezmo, Dzidió, Dzsudeo-Eszpanyol, Dzudezmo, Dżudeo-Espańol, Džudeo-Espanjol, Eshpanyol, Eshpanyolit, Espanyol, Espanyolit, Español sefardita, Franco Espanyol, Giudeo-Espagnol, Giudeo-Espaneol, Jidió, Jidyo, Jūdeo-Esupanyōru, Judeo Spanish, Judeo-Espagnol, Judeo-Espaniol, Judeo-Espanýol, Judeo-Español, Judesmo, Judezmo, Judyo, Judío, Lešon Sepharadim, Romance, Romance Espanyol, Sefardi, Sepharadi, Sephardi, Sephardic, Shpanyol, Shpanyolit, Spanyol, Spanyolit, Spanyolo, Tzoudeo-Espaniol, Xhudeo-Espanjol, Zargon, Ġudeo-Espanjol, Ǧudéo-Españól Autonym: גﬞודיאו־איספאנייול‎ (Djudeo-espanyol), לאדינו‎ (Ladino) Classification: Indo-European, Italic, Romance, Italo-Western, Western, Gallo-Iberian, Ibero-Romance, West Iberian, Castilian

Lishán Noshan trg

HaMerkaz and Jerusalem districts: Jerusalem city, Tel-Aviv areas. Users: 4,000 in Israel (Leclerc 2018a). Total users in all countries: 4,120. Status: 8a (Moribund). Alternate Names: Galihalu, Iranian Azerbaijan Jewish Neo-Aramaic, Lakhlokhi, Lakhlókh, Lishanid Nash Didán, Lishanán, Lishán Didán Autonym: לשן דידן‎ (Lišān Didān), לשנן‎ (Lišānān) Classification: Afro-Asiatic, Semitic, Central, Aramaic, Eastern, Central, Northeastern, Trans-Zab

Lishana Deni lsd

Mainly in Jerusalem district: Jerusalem city area, including Maoz Tsiyon. Users: 8,800 (Leclerc 2018a). Ethnic population: 9,060. Status: 7 (Shifting). Alternate Names: Kurdit, Lishan Hozaye, Lishan Hudaye Classification: Afro-Asiatic, Semitic, Central, Aramaic, Eastern, Central, Northeastern, Trans-Zab

Malayalam mal

Users: 11,000 in Israel (Leclerc 2018a). Status: Unestablished. Classification: Dravidian, Southern, Tamil-Kannada, Tamil-Kodagu, Tamil-Malayalam, Malayalam

Marathi mar

Users: 11,000 in Israel (Leclerc 2018a). Status: Unestablished. Classification: Indo-European, Indo-Iranian, Indo-Aryan, Outer Languages, Southern

Polish pol

HaDarom district: ’Afula; HaZafon district: Nahalal area. Users: 124,000 in Israel (Leclerc 2018a). Ethnic population: 272,000. Status: 5* (Dispersed). Classification: Indo-European, Balto-Slavic, Slavic, West, Lechitic

Romanian ron

HaMerkaz district. Users: 250,000 in Israel (1993 Statistical Abstract of Israel). Status: 5* (Dispersed). Alternate Names: Română Classification: Indo-European, Italic, Romance, Eastern

Russian rus

Hefa, Jerusalem, and Tel Aviv districts: Haifa, Jerusalem. Users: 1,000,000 in Israel (Arefyev 2012), all users. L1 users: 464,000 (Leclerc 2018a). Status: 5* (Dispersed). Alternate Names: Russit Classification: Indo-European, Balto-Slavic, Slavic, East

Russian Sign Language rsl

Scattered. Users: 1,000 in Israel (Yoel 2007). Estimated number of Deaf immigrants from the former Soviet Union since 1988. Status: Unestablished. Alternate Names: RSL Classification: Sign language, Deaf community sign language

Samaritan smp

Scattered. Users: No known L1 speakers in Israel. Ethnic population: No ethnic community. Status: 9 (Second language only). Alternate Names: Shamerim Classification: Afro-Asiatic, Semitic, Central, South, Canaanite

Samaritan Aramaic sam

Scattered. Users: No known L1 speakers in Israel. Ethnic population: No ethnic community. Status: 9 (Second language only). Alternate Names: Shamerim Classification: Afro-Asiatic, Semitic, Central, Aramaic, Western

Spanish spa

Users: 175,000 in Israel, all users. L1 users: 130,000 in Israel (Instituto Cervantes 2019). L2 users: 45,000 (Instituto Cervantes 2019). Status: Unestablished. Classification: Indo-European, Italic, Romance, Italo-Western, Western, Gallo-Iberian, Ibero-Romance, West Iberian, Castilian

Tagalog tgl

Users: 20,000 in Israel (Leclerc 2018a). Status: Unestablished. Classification: Austronesian, Malayo-Polynesian, Greater Central Philippine, Central Philippine, Tagalog

Tigrigna tir

Jerusalem district. Users: 10,000 in Israel (1994 H. Mutzafi). Status: 7 (Shifting). Alternate Names: Beta Israel, Tigrinya, “Falashas” (pej.) Classification: Afro-Asiatic, Semitic, South, Ethiopian, North

Ukrainian ukr

Users: 8,000 in Israel (Leclerc 2018a). Status: Unestablished. Classification: Indo-European, Balto-Slavic, Slavic, East

Yevanic yej

Jerusalem district. Users: 35. Status: 8b (Nearly extinct). Alternate Names: Judeo-Greek, Yevanitika Classification: Indo-European, Greek, Attic

Yiddish yid

Users: Population total all languages: 370,157. Status:

Yiddish, Eastern ydd

Jerusalem district. Users: 166,000 in Israel (2016 Y. Druckman). Total users in all countries: 371,657. Status: 4 (Educational). Alternate Names: Judeo-German, Yiddish Autonym: ייִדיש‎ (Yiddish) Classification: Indo-European, Germanic, West, High German, Yiddish