The first thing we should focus on when starting to learn the Hebrew Language is to learn the Hebrew Alphabet (also know as also known as the Aleph-Bet, האלף-בית בעברית). This is the writing system used in both ancient Hebrew language and in modern Hebrew. Knowing it will allow you to remember the language’s vocabulary in the most efficient way.
You’ll also be able to communicate with others by writing. After finishing this article, you will have a firm grasp of the Hebrew alphabet.
Why Learn the Hebrew Alphabet?
So the first question I often get from students (particularly the hobbyists) is asking if they can just learn the language without learning the letters. The short answer yes however in the long run it’ll slow you down significantly in your learning journey.
The advantages of learning the Hebrew Alphabet early on are:
- Memory tool
- Upstanding the root of the words will ease you learning of grammar
- You’ll be able to communicate with others in Hebrew online
- Access to biblical, religious or literary texts in the original.
- Understanding signage, names, and words in Israel.
- Gaining insight into a unique writing system that enriches linguistic and cultural knowledge.
- It’s also a good first step for learning Hebrew language overall.
Basic Facts at a Glance
- The Hebrew alphabet consists of 22 letters, all originally consonants, meaning there are techincally no vowels in hebrew.
- It is written from right to left, as opposed to languages such as English where the
- The vowels will depend on small symbols near the letters which are called niqqud/nikud ( ניקוד) which literally would mean “dotting”.
- Some letters change form when they appear at the end of a word (so called “final forms”).
- In everyday Modern Hebrew writing, vowel marks (called niqqud) are usually omitted; vowels are implied by context. Chabad+1
A Quick Letter-by-Letter Overview
Let’s first have a quick look at all the letters without their final form. Have a look at the Hebrew alphabet tablet below. Remember each letter is a consonants.
| Letter | Name (English) | Name (Hebrew) |
|---|---|---|
| א | Alef | אָלֶף |
| ב | Bet | בֵּית |
| ג | Gimel | גִּימֵל |
| ד | Dalet | דָּלֶת |
| ה | He | הֵא |
| ו | Vav | וָו |
| ז | Zayin | זַיִן |
| ח | Chet | חֵית |
| ט | Tet | טֵית |
| י | Yod | יוֹד |
| כ | Kaf | כַּף |
| ל | Lamed | לָמֶד |
| מ | Mem | מֵם |
| נ | Nun | נוּן |
| ס | Samekh | סָמֶךְ |
| ע | Ayin | עַיִן |
| פ | Pe | פֵּא |
| צ | Tsadi | צַדִּי |
| ק | Qof | קוֹף |
| ר | Resh | רֵישׁ |
| ש | Shin | שִׁין |
| ת | Tav | תָּו |
Final Letters in Hebrew
Now let’s have a look at the the 5 letters with final forms:
| Final Letter | Name (English) | Name (Hebrew) |
|---|---|---|
| ך | Final Kaf | כַּף סוֹפִית |
| ם | Final Mem | מֵם סוֹפִית |
| ן | Final Nun | נוּן סוֹפִית |
| ף | Final Pe | פֵּא סוֹפִית |
| ץ | Final Tsadi | צַדִּי סוֹפִית |
If the following letters כ,מ,נ,צ,פ are written at the end of a word. They would be written in their final form as follows:
ך= כ
ם= מ
ן = נ
ף = פ
ץ = צ
For example:
- The word water is written מים . From the right to the left we have Mem, Yod and Final Mem. The final letters have exactly the same sounds. Just written differently because they are at the end.
- The word king is written מלך . From the right to the left we have Mem, Lamed and Final Kaf.
Some letters can have two sounds depending on the “dagesh” (דגש)
Even though modern has somewhat simplified some of the niqqud sounds (e.g shva and tzire sound very similar nowadays). Still there is a piece of niqqud that’s very important to know, which is called a dagesh. A small dot which determines the sound of a letter.
Now I will present to you here two tables of the letters which are affected by the dagesh. The first is the traditional one and the second is a simplification of it, which is basically how most people speak today.
Before this, let me show you how the dagesh looks like on a letter:
Around the letters you look at the red dot, that’s the dagesh dot. It’ll appear in the middle of the letter. Now we can have a look at the table.
| Letter | With Dagesh | Without Dagesh | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| ב (Bet) | [b] | [v] | Bet/Vet |
| ג (Gimel) | [g] | [ɣ] (soft “g”) or [ɡ] | Classical pronunciation varies |
| ד (Dalet) | [d] | [ð] (soft “d”) | Dalet/Soft Dalet |
| כ (Kaf) | [k] | [χ] or [ħ] (“kh”) | Kaf/Khaf |
| פ (Pe) | [p] | [f] | Pe/Fe |
| ת (Tav) | [t] | [θ] (soft “th”) | Tav/Soft Tav (mostly in Ashkenazi) |
The modern equivalent of this:
| Letter | With Dagesh | Without Dagesh | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| ב (Bet) | [b] | [v] | Bet / Vet |
| כ (Kaf) | [k] | [kh] | Kaf / Khaf |
| פ (Pe) | [p] | [f] | Pe / Fe |
When learning modern Hebrew those are the ones I recommend you focus on. So to put it into examples:
- Bet ב can sound Va, Ve, Vi Vu and Vo but with a dagesh בּ sounds like Ba, Be, Bi, Bo , Bu
- Kaf כ can sound Ha, He, Hi Hu and Ho but with a dagesh כּ sounds like Ka, Ke, Ki, Ko , Ku
- Pe פ can sound Fa, Fe, Fi Fu and Fo but with a dagesh פּ sounds like Pa, Pe, Pi, Po , Pu
Note: the sound is a Latin transcription, please do not read it as Hi! or He.
Common Hebrew Mistakes to Avoid
- Mixing up letters that look similar (for example, ב Bet vs. כ Kaf in some fonts).
- Forgetting the direction of writing (right to left).
- Relying too much on vowel marks — many texts don’t include them, so practice reading without them.
- Ignoring the final forms — when you see a letter at the end of a word, make sure you know if it’s the regular or final form.
- Over-focusing on memorizing the sequence without associating the sounds and shapes — connecting shape + sound + writing helps retention.
Learning Tips & Tricks
- Start by memorizing the letter names and shapes. Flashcards work well.
- Practice writing the letters by hand, paying attention to stroke order and form.
- Pair each letter with its sound in your mind (or your native language) so it becomes familiar.
- Use a chart with the full alphabet and refer to it until you feel comfortable.
- Read simple Hebrew words or signage to spot the letters in real use.
- Don’t get discouraged by the right-to-left direction or unfamiliar letters — with time it becomes natural.
- Use online resources, audio recordings, apps that teach the Hebrew script. For example, one site lists videos and interactive lessons for the Hebrew alphabet. mena-languages.northwestern.edu+1
- Learn common “final”‐form letters early so you don’t get confused when reading real words.
- As you improve, try reading with vowel-marks (niqqud) at first, then move to texts without them (which is how most Modern Hebrew is written).
Summery
So to summarize please remember the following about the Hebrew alphabet
- Letters: 22 letters in total
- Direction: Written right to left
- Vowels: niqqud (נִקּוּד) indicate vowel sounds
- Final letters: 5 letters (Kaf, Mem, Nun, Pe, Tsadi) have special forms at the end of words
- Dagesh: Some letters change pronunciation with a dot (דגש) inside the letter
- Purpose: Learning the alphabet is essential for reading, writing, vocabulary, and proper pronunciation in Hebrew
From Alphabet to Words: Your Next Steps
Once you are comfortable with all 22 letters, you can begin reading simple Hebrew words and phrases. Next you’ll want to:
- Learn vowel patterns (with niqqud) so you can sound out words.
- Learn basic vocabulary and syntax.
- Practice reading simple sentences (e.g., signs, children’s books, greeting cards) that use the letters you know.
