how to say "symbolic" in Hebrew

סִמְלִי

The word סמל – remarkably close in sound to its English equivalent symbol – appears in Biblical Hebrew.

Here’s a modern usage of the word:

סמל מדינת ישראל הוא המנורה וענפי זית.

The symbol of Israel is the Menorah (Temple candelabra) and olive branches.

The word for symbolic is סמלי , which can also mean nominal or insignificant, for example:

אנחנו מבקשים רק תשלום סמלי.

We ask only for a nominal payment.