Beginner Alphabet + Nikud guide

Welcome to your essential Hebrew alphabet lesson! This guide is designed for beginners and educators alike looking to master the Hebrew aleph-bet and understand the basics of Hebrew nikud (vowel points). Learn all Hebrew letters, their sounds, and the important role of nikud in accurate Hebrew pronunciation.

What is the Hebrew Alphabet?

The Hebrew alphabet, known as aleph-bet (אָלֶף-בֵּית), consists of 22 letters, all written from right to left. Each letter has a unique sound, and some have variations depending on the presence of a dot (dagesh). Let's explore each Hebrew letter, its name, and all possible sounds:

Letter Name Common Sounds Notes
א Aleph Silent or glottal stop
ב Bet בּ = b
ב = v 		With dot (dagesh) "b" as in "boy"; without, "v" as in "vine"
ג Gimel g As in "go"
ד Dalet d As in "dog"
ה He h (sometimes silent at end of words) As in "hello"
ו Vav v, o, or u As consonant: "v" as in "visit"; with nikud: "o" or "u"
ז Zayin z As in "zebra"
ח Chet kh Like German "Bach" or Scottish "loch"
ט Tet t Emphatic "t"
י Yud y, i (as vowel) "y" as in "yes", sometimes a vowel sound
כ, ך Kaf (final: ך) כּ = k
כ/ך = kh 		With dot: "k" as in "key"; without: "kh" as in "Bach"
ל Lamed l As in "listen"
מ, ם Mem (final: ם) m As in "mother"
נ, ן Nun (final: ן) n As in "no"
ס Samech s As in "sun"
ע Ayin Silent or guttural In modern Hebrew, often silent
פ, ף Pe (final: ף) פּ = p
פ/ף = f 		With dot: "p" as in "pen"; without: "f" as in "fun"
צ, ץ Tsadi (final: ץ) ts As in "cats"
ק Kuf k (guttural) Deeper "k"
ר Resh r Guttural "r", like French
ש Shin שׁ = sh
שׂ = s 		Right dot: "sh" as in "shoe"; left dot: "s" as in "see"
ת Tav t Always "t" in modern Hebrew

Hebrew Nikud: Vowel Points

The Hebrew nikud (נִקּוּד) system marks vowels since the alphabet itself contains only consonants. Beginners and language learners often rely on nikud for correct pronunciation. Here are the main nikud marks and their sounds:

  • ַ (Patach) – "a" as in "cat"
  • ָ (Kamatz) – "a" as in "father"
  • ֵ (Tzere) – "e" as in "they"
  • ֶ (Segol) – "e" as in "bed"
  • ִ (Hirik) – "i" as in "machine"
  • ֹ (Holam) – "o" as in "go"
  • וּ (Shuruk) – "u" as in "blue"
  • ֻ (Kubutz) – "u" as in "put"
  • ְ (Sheva) – very short 'e' or silent

Tips for Learning the Hebrew Alphabet and Nikud

  • Practice writing each letter and saying its name and sounds out loud.
  • Notice letters with special forms at the end of words: Kaf (ך), Mem (ם), Nun (ן), Pe (ף), and Tsadi (ץ).
  • Look for the dagesh (dot) in Bet, Kaf, and Pe to distinguish between two sounds.
  • Use nikud-marked texts (like children’s books) for early practice with vowels.

Interactive Activity

Challenge: Write your name using the Hebrew alphabet, then try to add the correct nikud for each sound!

Remember, Hebrew learning is a journey—practice regularly and immerse yourself in both the language and culture for the best experience!