זהב יקר.

A common pronunciation is za-HAV ya-KAR.

• זהב = za-HAV
• יקר = ya-KAR

The stress is usually on the last syllable of each word.

In Hebrew, the verb to be is usually not written or said in the present tense.

So:

• זהב יקר = Gold is expensive / precious

But in past or future, Hebrew does use forms of to be:

• זהב היה יקר = Gold was expensive
• זהב יהיה יקר = Gold will be expensive

This kind of present-tense sentence with no written is is very common in Hebrew.

In Hebrew, adjectives normally come after the noun.

So:

• זהב יקר literally follows the pattern gold expensive

This is normal Hebrew word order. English usually puts adjectives before nouns, but Hebrew usually places them after.

יקר can mean several related things, including:

• expensive
• valuable
• precious
• sometimes even dear in other contexts

With זהב, the most natural meanings are usually:

• Gold is expensive
• Gold is precious
• Gold is valuable

The exact nuance depends on context.

Because זהב is a masculine singular noun, the adjective matches it.

Hebrew adjectives usually agree with the noun in:

• gender
• number
• definiteness

So here:

• זהב = masculine singular
• יקר = masculine singular

If the noun were feminine singular, the adjective would usually change form.

You would usually say:

• הזהב יקר

The ה־ on זהב means the.

So:

• זהב יקר = Gold is expensive / Gold is precious (general statement)
• הזהב יקר = The gold is expensive (specific gold)

Yes, in principle it can look like gold that is expensive / expensive gold, because Hebrew also places adjectives after nouns.

But in real usage, context, intonation, and punctuation usually make the meaning clear.

For example:

• זהב יקר. is very naturally read as a full sentence: Gold is expensive / precious.
• Inside a longer phrase, it could function more like expensive gold.

So this is one of those cases where Hebrew can rely on context.

Usually, you do not need הוא in a simple present-tense sentence like this.

The most natural basic form is:

• זהב יקר

Adding הוא can sound unnecessary or can change the style/emphasis. For a beginner, the best rule is:

• In simple present-tense sentences like X is Y, Hebrew often just says X Y.

In this sentence, yes, זהב means the substance gold.

It can also appear in other contexts, such as:

• the color gold
• sometimes as a name in certain contexts

But standing alone in a sentence like זהב יקר, the normal meaning is the metal.

Yes. It is a completely normal Hebrew sentence.

Hebrew often allows very short present-tense sentences:

• המים קרים = The water is cold
• הספר מעניין = The book is interesting
• זהב יקר = Gold is expensive / precious

So even though it looks short to an English speaker, it is grammatically complete.