Learn Biblical Hebrew

The Hebrew alphabet uses an entirely different character set than English. It is important to learn the alphabet inside and out. There are 22 letters in the Hebrew alphabet, these are the consonants of the language. (We’ll get to the vowels later). Be able to recognize all the characters and know their sound. To do this follow two simple steps.

Steps to Learn the Hebrew Alphabet

1. Listen to the alphabet spoken while looking at the letters. Follow this link to the Hebrew alphabet song I used to learn the alphabet (by Hebrew4Christians.com), although it is a children’s song, it helped me immensely and I still use it to help remember the letters! Say it out loud along with the song.

2. Write the alphabet down on paper, many times. First do this while looking at the letters to help you figure out how best to write them. This pdf is a sheet (by Hebrew4Christians.com) that can be used to help you practice. Then do it from memory (use the song you learned it step one!).

The Hebrew Alphabet

Below is the Hebrew alphabet. As I go through the alphabet I will use the term “dagesh,” for now that will simply refer to the dot inside some of the letters. The pronunciation given is based on the modern Hebrew pronunciation of the letters.

• Aleph, transliterated as ” ‘ ” and is silent in pronunciation.
• Beyt, transliterated as “b” and is pronounced like the b in bat (with the dagesh); transliterated as “v” and pronounced like the v as in van (without the dagesh).
• Gimmel, transliterated as “g” and is pronounced like the g in golf.
• Dalet, transliterated as “d” and is pronounced like the d in dad (with and without the dagesh).
• Hey, transliterated as “h” and is pronounced like the h in hat.
• Waw (pronounced vav), transliterated as “v” and is pronounced like the v in victorious.
• Zayin, transliterated as “z” and is pronounced like the z in zoo.
• Chet, transliterated as “ch” and is pronounced like the ch in Bach (the composer). *This letter has a gutteral sound to it and can be difficult to pronounce for English speakers.
• Tet, transliterated as “t” and is pronounced with a hard t as in tall.
• Yod, transliterated as “y” and pronounced like the y in yes.
• Kaph, transliterated as “k” and pronounced like the k in kite (with the dagesh); transliterated as “kh” and pronounced like the ch in Bach (without the dagesh). The third of the letters is its “final form,” which occurs when the kaph is the last letter in a word.
• Lamed, transliterated as “l” and pronounced like the l in love.
• Mem, transliterated as “m” and pronounced like the m in mother. The second letter is its “final form,” which occurs when the mem is the last letter in a word.
• Nun, transliterated as “n” and pronounced like the n in nothing. The second letter is its “final form,” which occurs when the nun is the last letter in a word.
• Samech, transliterated as “s” and pronounced like the s in snake.
• Ayin, transliterated as “‘” and is silent in pronunciation.
• Pey, transliterated as “p” and pronounced like the p in poetry (with the dagesh); transliterated as ph and pronounced like the f in father (without the dagesh). The third letter is its “final form,” which occurs when the pey is the last letter in a word.
• Tsade, transliterated as “ts” and pronounced like the ts in lets. The second letter is its “final form,” which occurs when the tsade is the last letter in a word.
• Qoph, transliterated as “q” and pronounced like the q in queen.
• Resh, transliterated as “r” and pronounced like the r in rush.
• Sin and Shin, transliterated as “s” and pronounced like the s in sock (when the dot is on the upper left side); transliterated as “sh” or “ŝ” and pronounced like the sh in should (when the dot is on the right upper side).
• Tav, transliterated as “t” and pronounced like the t in table.

Hopefully this will get you started on your way to learning the Hebrew alphabet. Next time we will look at the vowels of the Hebrew language.

*Some of this information was obtained through http://www.hebrew4christians.com.

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