The Hebrew alphabet, known as the Aleph Bet, is the foundation for reading and writing Hebrew. Consisting of 22 letters, it’s not just essential for Hebrew itself but also for other Jewish languages like Yiddish, Ladino, Aramaic, and Judeo-Arabic. Understanding the Aleph Bet is the crucial first step for anyone wanting to engage with Jewish texts, culture, and language.
Unveiling the Aleph Bet: Consonants and Vowels
One of the unique features of the Hebrew alphabet is that it is primarily consonantal. This means that the written language can be understood even without vowels. Historically, ancient Hebrew texts were written without vowels. However, to aid pronunciation and understanding, especially in sacred texts and for learners, a system of vowel markings called nikkudot was developed. These markings, usually dots and dashes, are placed above, below, or within the letters to indicate vowel sounds. While texts for beginners and religious purposes often include vowels, many everyday materials like newspapers and books for adults are typically written without them.
Unlike the English alphabet, Hebrew does not differentiate between uppercase and lowercase letters. However, a fascinating characteristic of the Aleph Bet is the existence of “final form” letters. These are special forms of five letters that are used only when they appear at the end of a word. This feature originates from ancient Hebrew writing practices where words were not separated by spaces. These final letters helped to visually distinguish the end of one word and the beginning of the next.
Want to delve deeper into Hebrew learning? Explore our Hebrew Word of the Day and expand your vocabulary!
Exploring Each Letter of the Hebrew Alphabet
Let’s embark on a journey through each of the 22 letters of the Aleph Bet. For each letter, we will explore its name, sound, numerical value (as Hebrew letters also serve as numerals), and an example word to illustrate its use.
Aleph
Sound: Silent
Numerical value: 1
Example: אִמָא (ima, meaning “mother”)
Bet / Vet
Sound: B with the dagesh (dot); V without
Numerical value: 2
Example: בַּיִת (bayit, meaning “house”)
Gimmel
Sound: G
Numerical value: 3
Example: גָמָל (gamal, meaning “camel”)
Dalet
Sound: D
Numerical value: 4
Example: דָג (dag, meaning “fish”)
Hay
Sound: H
Numerical value: 5
Example: הַר (har, meaning “mountain”)
Vav
Sound: V
Numerical value: 6
Example: וֶרֶד (vered, meaning “rose”)
Zayin
Sound: Z
Numerical value: 7
Example: זָכוֹר (zachor, meaning “remember”)
Chet
Sound: Gutteral Ch/Kh
Numerical value: 8
Example: חַג (chag, meaning “holiday” or “festival”)
Tet
Sound: T
Numerical value: 9
Example: טִיסָּה (tisa, meaning “flight”)
Yud
Sound: Y
Numerical value: 10
Example: יְהוּדִי (yehudi, meaning “Jewish”)
Khaf / Kaf
Sound: K with the dagesh (dot); gutteral CH/KH without
Numerical value: 20
Example: כִּיפָּה (kippah, meaning “yarmulke” or “dome”)
Lamed
Sound: L
Numerical value: 30
Example: לָשׁוֹן (lashon, meaning “language” or “tongue”)
Mem
Sound: M
Numerical value: 40
Example: מְנוֹרָה (menorah, meaning “lamp”)
Nun
Sound: N
Numerical value: 50
Example: נֶפֶשׁ (nefesh, meaning “soul”)
Samech
Sound: S
Numerical value: 60
Example: סֵפֶר (sefer, meaning “book”)
Ayin
Sound: Silent
Numerical value: 70
Example: עִבְרִית (ivrit, meaning “Hebrew”)
Pey / Fey
Sound: P with the dagesh (dot); F without
Numerical value: 80
Example: פִּלְפֵּל (pilpel, meaning “pepper”)
Tzadi
Sound: Tz or Ts
Numerical value: 90
Example: צְדָקָה (tzedakah, meaning “charity”)
Kuf
Sound: K
Numerical value: 100
Example: קָהָל (kahal, meaning “community”)
Reysh
Sound: R
Numerical value: 200
Example: רַב (rav, meaning “rabbi”)
Shin / Sin
Sound: Sh when the dot is on the right; S when the dot is on the left
Numerical value: 300
Example: שַׁבָּת (shabbat, meaning “sabbath”)
Taf
Sound: T
Numerical value: 400
Example: תְּפִילָה (tefilah, meaning “prayer”)
Final Forms (Sofit): Letters at the End of Words
As mentioned earlier, five letters in the Hebrew alphabet have special “final forms” (sofit) that are used when these letters appear at the end of a word. These are:
Mem Sofit
Sound: M
Example: אָדוֹם (adom, meaning “red”)
Nun Sofit
Sound: N
Example: יַיִן (ya-yeen, meaning “wine”)
Tzadi Sofit
Sound: Tz or Ts
Example: אֶרֶץ (eretz, meaning “land”)
Pey / Fey Sofit
Sound: F
Example: חֹרֶף (choref, meaning “winter”)
Kaf / Khaf Sofit
Sound: Guttural Kh
Example: מֶלֶך (melekh, meaning “king”)
Vowels (Nikkudot): Adding Sound to the Consonants
While Hebrew is primarily consonantal, vowels, known as nikkudot, play a crucial role in pronunciation and clarity. These vowel markings are often included in prayer books, dictionaries, and materials for learners. Here are some of the common Hebrew vowels:
Kamatz
Sound: ah
Example: אָדוֹם (adom, meaning “red”)
Patach
Sound: ah
Example: אַחֲרֵי (acharei, meaning “after”)
Sh’va
Sound: uh or ih
Example: בְּיַחַד (beyachad, meaning “together”)
Hiriq
Sound: ee
Example: מִלִּים (mee-leem, meaning “words”)
Segol
Sound: eh
Example: אֶשׁכּוֹלִיוֹת (eshkoli’ot, meaning “grapefruit”)
Shuruk
Sound: oo
Example: צְנִיעוּת (tzniut, meaning “modesty”)
Cholam
Sound: oh
Example: עוֹלָם (olam, meaning “world”)
Kubutz
Sound: oo
Example: שֻׁלְחָן (shulchan, meaning “table”)
It’s also important to note that nikkudot can be used with consonants to differentiate similar sounds, such as the dagesh dot used to distinguish between the ‘b’ and ‘v’ sounds in Bet/Vet, ‘k’ and ‘kh’ in Khaf/Kaf, and ‘p’ and ‘f’ in Pey/Fey.
Your Journey to Reading Hebrew Begins Here
Learning the Hebrew letters is your first step into the rich world of the Hebrew language. By familiarizing yourself with the Aleph Bet, you unlock the ability to read Hebrew words, explore Jewish texts, and connect with a vibrant culture. Take your time, practice regularly, and soon you’ll be reading Hebrew with confidence!
For a printable guide to the Aleph Bet, click here.
