So what’s the best way to learn Hebrew from scratch? If you’ve just started your Hebrew journey, you’ve probably wondered where to begin and how to make steady progress. Over the years of teaching Hebrew to beginners, I’ve found a step-by-step roadmap that works for almost everyone — whether you prefer courses, books, or self-study. Even if you plan to take a Hebrew course later, I recommend completing Steps 0–2 first. They’ll give you the foundation you need to progress much faster.
Step 0: Learn a Few Basic Hebrew Greetings
Before diving into grammar or the alphabet, start small. Learn some simple, everyday Hebrew words and phrases such as:
- Shalom (שלום) – Hello / Peace
- Boker tov (בוקר טוב) – Good morning
- Ma shlomcha? (מה שלומך?) – How are you?
This initial step takes only 10–20 minutes, but it’s powerful — it gives you the motivation to keep going!
After learning a few greetings, move straight to learning the Hebrew letters and pronunciation — this will massively improve your ability to remember words and phrases.
For learning the greetings have a look at Hebrew Greetings and Farewells
Step 1: Learn the Hebrew Alphabet and Pronunciation
Mastering the Hebrew alphabet (Aleph-Bet) is essential. Learn:
- Each letter and its sound(s)
- The difference between printed and handwritten forms
- How letters change at the end of a word (sofit forms)
You don’t have to memorize every letter name, but being able to pronounce each one confidently will set you up for success.
You can read more about the alphabet and pronunciation in the Hebrew Alphabet : A Beginner’s Guide , this is very detailed and will give you a clear understanding
Step 2: Understand the Niqqud (Vowel System)
The Niqqud (נִקּוּד), also called “nikud,” represents Hebrew vowels.
You only need to learn the five basic vowel sounds (A, E, I, O, U) and recognize their symbols.
In modern Hebrew, some vowels sound similar, so don’t worry about mastering every detail yet. Focus on being able to read simple Hebrew words with vowels confidently.
Step 3: Learn Simple Phrases and Verb Constructions
Once you can read Hebrew, start learning basic sentences. Focus on simple structures like:
- “I + verb + object” → Ani rotzeh kafe (אני רוצה קפה) – I want coffee
- “I + am + adjective” → Ani same’ach (אני שמח) – I’m happy
At this stage, avoid complicated tenses. Build comfort with present-tense phrases first.
Step 4: Expand Vocabulary with Nouns First
In Hebrew, nouns have gender — masculine or feminine — and adjectives/verbs agree with them.
Start with nouns before diving into adjectives or verbs. For example:
- Masculine nouns: sefer (book), kelev (dog)
- Feminine nouns: delet (door), ima (mother)
Learning nouns first helps you form a solid vocabulary base.
Step 5: Learn Hebrew Pronouns
After you know some vocabulary (around 50 nouns, 10 verbs, 10 adjectives), start learning the Hebrew pronouns:
- אני (ani) – I
- אתה / את (ata / at) – you (m/f)
- הוא / היא (hu / hi) – he / she
Use these with the words you already know to form simple sentences.
Trying to learn all pronouns from the start can slow you down — build vocabulary first.
Step 6: Learn Verb Forms (Intro to Binyanim)
Hebrew verbs follow seven major patterns called binyanim (בִּנְיָנִים).
To start, learn 2–3 verbs from each binyan and notice their patterns. This hybrid method builds intuition before memorization.
Example verbs:
- katav (כתב) – he wrote (Pa’al)
- dibber (דיבר) – he spoke (Pi’el)
- hitpalel (התפלל) – he prayed (Hitpa’el)
Later, you can study the full rules for each binyan to conjugate more fluently.
Step 7: Immerse Yourself in Hebrew Content
Now that you have a foundation, it’s time to immerse:
- Read short Hebrew stories with nikud
- Listen to Hebrew podcasts or songs
- Watch shows without subtitles
- Speak out loud every day, even to yourself
Immersion is the key to fluency — your brain learns best through natural input.
Final Thoughts
This Hebrew learning roadmap is designed to guide absolute beginners step-by-step — from learning the alphabet to speaking confidently.I’ll be updating this page with recommended Hebrew learning resources and links for each stage, so stay tuned!