learn to write hebrew alphabet

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From Alphabet to Math Skills: How ABCya Games Help Children Learn and Grow

In today’s digital age, children are exposed to technology at an early age. While many worry about the potential negative effects of screen time, there are educational platforms available that harness the power of technology to engage children in learning activities. One such platform is ABCya Games, a popular website that offers a wide range of educational games for kids. These games cover various subjects, from alphabet recognition to math skills, and provide a fun and interactive way for children to learn and grow.

Learning through Play

Children learn best when they are engaged and having fun. ABCya Games understands this principle and has designed their games with an emphasis on play-based learning. Each game incorporates educational content into a playful format, making it enjoyable for kids while still allowing them to develop important skills.

The alphabet recognition games on ABCya Games, for example, introduce children to letters in a fun and interactive way. Through colorful visuals and engaging gameplay, children can practice letter recognition and phonics skills without feeling like they are doing traditional “work.” This approach not only helps them build a strong foundation in language arts but also fosters a positive attitude towards learning.

Building Math Skills

Mathematics can be a challenging subject for many children, but ABCya Games aims to make it more accessible through their math-based games. From basic counting exercises to more complex problem-solving tasks, these games cover various math concepts suitable for different age groups.

For young learners who are just starting with numbers, there are simple counting games that help them develop number sense and basic arithmetic skills. As they progress, they can explore more advanced concepts such as addition, subtraction, multiplication tables, fractions, and even geometry through the platform’s diverse collection of math games.

Encouraging Critical Thinking

ABCya Games not only focuses on academic subjects but also on developing critical thinking skills. Many of their games require children to solve puzzles, strategize, and make decisions, all of which help enhance their cognitive abilities.

For instance, the platform offers a range of logic and problem-solving games that challenge children to think critically and find solutions. These games often involve tasks such as arranging objects in a specific order, solving mazes, or finding patterns. By engaging in these activities, children learn to analyze problems, think creatively, and develop effective problem-solving strategies.

Tracking Progress and Personalized Learning

One of the advantages of using ABCya Games is the ability to track a child’s progress. The platform allows parents and teachers to create accounts and monitor their child’s performance across different games and subjects. This feature enables personalized learning by identifying areas where a child may need more practice or providing additional challenges for those who are ready for more advanced concepts.

By tracking progress, parents and educators can gain insights into a child’s strengths and weaknesses, allowing them to provide targeted support and guidance. This personalized approach helps children learn at their own pace while building confidence in their abilities.

In conclusion, ABCya Games offer an engaging way for children to learn and grow through play-based activities. Whether it’s alphabet recognition or math skills they’re working on, these educational games provide a fun yet effective learning experience. By incorporating elements of play into education, ABCya Games helps children develop crucial skills such as critical thinking while fostering a love for learning that will benefit them throughout their lives.

This text was generated using a large language model, and select text has been reviewed and moderated for purposes such as readability.

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Ways to Learn Languages Fast

How To Learn The Hebrew Alphabet in Under 1 Hour

In other words, you want to read and write in Hebrew. We’ll do this in under 1 hour … but under a few conditions from me.

• You actually try.
• You don’t aim for perfection.  (You’ll perfect ‘em all once you start reading and writing.)
• You skip the slow one character-at-a-time tutorials. Pick up a pen and paper.
• You  immediately  jump into reading and writing right after.  Otherwise, you’ll forget it as fast as you’ve learned it.
• You accept the fact that you have to read from right to left.

We’re going to learn the Hebrew Alphabet, or the Alef Bet, together in under 1 hour. Will it be slow and awkward at first? Of course; just like your first kiss. But that’s how all learning goes.

This tutorial will comprise of a few steps.

• Have a sheet of all the Hebrew characters displayed for easy reference.
• Separate the English versions first into groups.
• Memorize these groups
• Associate them with the Hebrew characters
• Write them out.
• Repeat steps 3-5 for all groups.

1. The Alef Bet Chart that you must cherish and refer to in your beginner times.

There are 22 characters below, and for now, we’ll skip the vowels and specific rules and exceptions. Those will come later and will be much easier if you master the first 22 characters.

Here is the print version.

And here’s the written version. We’re going to follow the written way. Note the arrows to help you understand how to write each character. See the first letter of the Hebrew alphabet, Alef, and the arrows and numbers to guide your writing? Just follow in that order and it will be easy.

2. Separate these 22 characters into 5 groups.

Just the names of the characters.

• Alef, Bet, Gimel, Dalet
• Hey, Vav, Zain, Chet
• Tet, Yud, Kaf, Lamed
• Mem, Nun, Samech, Ain, Pe
• Tzadik, Kof, Resh, Shin, Tav

All separated. For now, lets focus on the first 3 groups for the sake of simplicity.

3.1. Memorizing the first 3 groups (Time: 5 minutes max)

So, going group by group, starting with the first one, you’re going to memorize JUST the English versions (names of the characters).

• Sit down,  take the first 3 groups and memorize them. We’ll do the first 3 for the sake of simplicity.
• Say them out loud. Close your eyes. Write them down. This will take you a minute or three at most.

Quick test: Can you repeat these 12 character names without looking at this page? Yes? Good. Now, lets line them  up with their Hebrew characters.

4.1. Associate the first 3 groups with their Hebrew characters. ( Time: 3-5 minutes )

You’ll need a paper & pencil for this. (Did you expect reading articles alone would work?) And this should take maybe 3-5 minutes.

• So, write down the names of the characters. And leave a space for the Hebrew one.          I also include their sounds/pronunciation in parenthesis to ease you into reading them.

• Done? Use the chart above to see the stroke order and write the character along side. Forget perfection. We’ll get to that later.

5.1. Write them out. ( Time: 20 minutes if not less )

Now that you’ve acquainted yourself with the character strokes, it’s time to write them all out. Just the first 3 groups that you’ve memorized.

• Write the names of the characters down one side of your notebook.
• And practice writing each character across the sheet.
• Will it be messy? Oh yeah! Gotta learn somehow!

This first half should take you 30 minutes if not less. Most of the time would go into writing these characters out,  I assume.

Before we proceed to part 2 and the next groups, 4 & 5, make sure to take some time to quickly drill quiz yourself on the newly learned characters.

• Remember all 12 character names & their English sounds, write them down on the left side of the paper as I’ve done above.
• Then, for review, write in the Hebrew characters too.

Done? Let’s move onto Part 2 – The final 2 groups – and repeat Steps 3-5.

3.2. Memorizing the next 2 groups (Time: 5 minutes max)

• Group 4: Mem, Nun, Samech, Ain, Pe
• Group 5: Tzadik, Kof, Resh, Shin, Tav
• Sit down and memorize them.

Quick test: Can you repeat these 10 character names without looking at this page? Yes? Good. Now, lets line them  up with their Hebrew characters.

4.2. Associate the first 3 groups with their Hebrew characters. ( Time: 3-5 minutes )

So, write down the names of the characters. And leave a space for the Hebrew one. I also include their sounds/pronunciation in parenthesis to ease you into reading them.

Done? Use the chart provided at the top of the article to see the stroke order and write the character along side. Forget perfection. We’ll get to that later.

5.2. Write them out. ( Time: 20 minutes if not less )

This second half should take you 30 minutes if not less.

Thus, this totals to an hour or less, depending on how fast you pick up these characters. Flashcards, learning games, trivilaties and perfection aside… writing out characters again and again is the fastest way to get the Hebrew Alphabet in your head.

What’s next?

• Mastering Hebrew vowels.
• Writing & Reading basic words.
• And practicing these characters some more.

Let me know what you think.

– The Main Junkie

P.S. And if you REALLY want to learn to Hebrew with effective lessons from real teachers – Sign up for free at HebrewPod101 and start learning!

10 thoughts on “How To Learn The Hebrew Alphabet in Under 1 Hour”

Have never looked at Hebrew before. I love this language. Thankyou for your explanation of the Hebrew alef bet. Easy to understand and a good way to learn.

This is great! Thank you so much! I’m sorry if I missed the explanation if it’s here already, but what’s the difference between “mem” and “final mem” (or any of the other letters that have a “final” form, is that the capital version of the letter or the form that letter takes if it’s at the end of a word vs any other place in the word?

I speak four languages fluently (Dutch, German, English and French) but learning the Hebrew alef bet took me a week approximately, repeating it several times daily. I can’t imagine anyone really does this in an hour…. !

I think it depends on the languages you know. I’m currently learning Chinese and Korean, and learning the Hebrew alef bet was pretty easy since I’m already used to alphabets that aren’t latin.

I just now learned it in 45 minutes, not knowing any of these letters before. I followed the instructions – memorise the NAMES, then write out the shapes next to them, then test yourself without the names or shapes. I have previously learned a language with a different script (Russian) and so my ‘resistance’ to the script is probably lower. Your brain is probably fighting the idea that a ‘G’ sound can possibly look like a lambda. @marianne

Thanks Guys For This.

wow thnk you it really helped alot lovw be with you guys

Thank you so much! I had tried and failed a couple of times before to learn the Hebrew alphabet. I tried your method, and in about an hour I learned a lot. Thanks for issuing this 1-hour challenge!

Pingback: Introduction to Hebrew: The Basics & Facts. Start HERE. | LinguaJunkie.com

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How To Write Hebrew Alphabet (Alef-Bet): Step By Step Workbook For Beginners (Kids & Adults) Learn How To Write Hebrew Letters Paperback – June 3, 2017

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• Print length 106 pages
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• Publication date June 3, 2017
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• Publisher ‏ : ‎ CreateSpace Independent Publishing Platform (June 3, 2017)
• Language ‏ : ‎ English
• Paperback ‏ : ‎ 106 pages
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• Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 10.6 ounces
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How to learn the Hebrew alphabet

Learners of Hebrew, whether Modern or Biblical (Ancient), are often intimidated by the first step they’re required to take — learning the alphabet. At a first glance the Hebrew alphabet presents an unsurmountable challenge. It has a totally different set of characters, sprinkled with mysterious dots and dashes, like a bagel with sesame seeds.

Still, you are reading this post. Deep inside you know that behind the wall of the Hebrew alphabet lies a land flowing with milk and honey — a wealth of new novels, comic books, hip-hop songs, poetry, political blogs, and subreddits to read. The code to this treasury is the Hebrew alphabet and we will help you crack it 😎

Get your gear ready, here we go.

• Why learn the Hebrew alphabet?
• Why Hebrew alphabet is hard
• Why Hebrew alphabet is easy
• What is the Hebrew alphabet really?

1. Why learn the Hebrew alphabet?

An alphabet is a gateway to understanding the language — the ability to read it gives you confidence, and allows you to understand your surroundings better. In other words: it helps you to feel more like an insider.

Even if your plan is only to visit an Israeli shuk (market) during a week-long trip, there are still plenty benefits to learning to read the Hebrew alphabet, in both its printed and hand written form. Let’s see some examples of what the Hebrew alphabet can help you achieve.

Learning the characters will be enough to let you decode a large part of a basic menu, where many words are similar to English ones (תה [ te ], tea; קפה [ kafe ], coffee), and many others are transliterations of well known products (קוקה קולה [ koka-kola ], coke). Combine it with a greeting and a word for please, and you will be able to go to a cafe, pick up a menu and order without uttering an English word, feeling totally Israeli 😎

Admit it, there is a certain cool factor associated with learning a new script. Tracing new shapes, and associating new sounds to previously meaningless characters comes with a sense of mystical discovery 💫

More obvious reasons for learning the alphabet are similar to those motivating learning the language, such as gaining the ability to access a wealth of Israeli culture. If you’re interested in politics, learning the language will have an added benefit of allowing you to read articles in Hebrew, and investigate the public opinion through personal blogs, comments on forums or websites.

Avoid confusion

Associating a language with a new system of characters makes it less likely for you to confuse Hebrew with languages you already know.

For example, let’s say you speak both French and Portuguese, which both use the Latin alphabet. When reading in one of these languages, your brain first needs to determine the language the text is written in, and only then activate the “decoding” system responsible for this particular tongue.

A completely different alphabet generates a unique mind space for the language — the Hebrew language knowledge algorithm will be activated only when you see a specific set of characters.

Nurture your soul

Ok, we’re getting a little hippie here!

Focusing on writing new characters is a meditative activity — paying attention to calligraphic details and new shapes reminds you to enjoy the moment, and stay in the present. This is a very helpful trait to cultivate to later be able to stay focused on hard grammar classes 🤓

2. Why Hebrew alphabet is hard

New system — new symbols.

We get it, a new alphabet comes with a whole set of new symbols. You’ll be departing from the cosy surroundings of the familiar-looking Latin letters 😋 You’ll feel like you’re back in primary school, exerting effort to read a simple three-letter word.

Let’s see the benefits here though: you’ll get in touch with your inner child, and appreciate how easy it is to read the Latin script. After half an hour of squinting over Hebrew, reading — even a paper on neuroscience! — will feel like a breeze.

Print and cursive

Modern Hebrew exists in two slightly different forms: printed and handwritten. That’s 27 symbols x 2 to learn! 😱 Well, not really . Most of the letters in cursive look nearly exactly the same as their print version. Compare two forms of the letter bet:

Don’t they look much alike?

Why have so two types of alphabets? you might ask. Notice that this is actually not so different from the situation in English. How so?

We all learned how to decode several types of Latin scripts — each person’s handwriting! ✍️ If you can decode your coworkers’ fridge notes, and your teacher’s essay comments, you’ll have no problem adjusting to the Hebrew cursive.

Missing vowels

n Hbrw w wrt nly cnsnnts.

In Hebrew we only write consonants. If you hear this claim without knowing anything else about the language, it can sound a bit scary. It’s not the same however as removing vowels from English.

Hebrew belongs to a different family of languages, and has a lot of features that European languages don’t. The rest of the grammatical system is adjusted to match the “missing vowels” characteristic.

The language works together to make it very easy to guess which vowels are used in an even unknown word — much easier than if we gave you a list of vowel-less words in English:

• sp — *soup? soap? sip? *
• trck — trick? track? truck?
• nml — *animal? 🦉 enamel? *

It needs to be added that in Hebrew some vowels are in fact written out, so you won’t be left entirely without clues.

Hebrew has phonemes (sounds) that don’t exist in English. You might need to sign your tongue up for a gymnastics class to master some of them. The silent choke of ayin (ע), the harsh kh of khet and khaf (ח, כ, ך), and the gentle roll of the resh (ר), are the three mane “offenders”.

You’ll need to train your pronunciation, just like your writing. But, don’t despair, tongue and the rest of the speaking apparatus are muscles — they can be stretched and strengthened 💪 Same as you can train to do 50 pushups, you can also teach your mouth pronounce a new letter (or three).

In addition, Hebrew speakers in Israel come from many diverse backgrounds. For a lot of citizens Hebrew is not their first language, or it’s not a language they spoke at home when growing up. This creates a wide variety of pronunciations and accents, each with equal likelihood to belong to a fluent speaker. So, even if your pronunciation is not news-broadcast perfect, you still have a chance of passing as an Israeli.

Different readings

There are a few letters which can be read in different ways, depending on their position in a word. For example, bet (ב) can be read as “v” or “b”, khaf (כ) as “k” or “kh”. The pronunciation of the most indecisive of all letters, aleph (א), depends on the (unwritten!) vowel that comes with it — yikes! 😦

However, both this 👆, and the “vowel problem” are addressed with the biggest delight of Hebrew grammar — the omnipresent patters…

3. Why Hebrew alphabet is easy

Patterns make reading easy.

If a sense of fear fell on to you when you heard about the missing vowels in Hebrew, it’s time to stop worrying. This doesn’t mean you’ll need to memorise the pronunciation of every word before you can read it (Hebrew wins over Japanese kanji here 😋).

There are several word patterns that dictate how the words are pronounced. An essential part of learning Hebrew is learning these patterns. You’ll feel like a WW2 intelligence officer, decoding a code of secret messages! And, after a while, no message will be inaccessible for you.

It’s just 27 characters!

Hebrew only requires you to learn 27 new symbols (22 letters, five of which have a different, final form). Compare that to the 71 characters representing syllables in Japanese, or the 2,000 hanzi you need to read a basic text in Chinese. With LinguaLift learning Hebrew characters is just a week-long project 💪

Vowels are not important

There are over 15 vowels in Hebrew, most of them unwritten — three varieties of “o”, three varieties of “e”… the usage of each of them governed by complex set of vocalisation rules. Sounds complicated! While these rules are important when you learn Biblical (Ancient) Hebrew, in the Modern Hebrew reality the different types of vowels don’t make much difference in pronunciation.

As long you know the difference between an “a” sound, and an “o” sound you’re set.

No need to join the letters

Unlike in the English or Arabic alphabets, Hebrew letters are always written separately, even in cursive.

Ok, maybe if you’re sloppy or lazy you will end up joining some letters failing to lift the heavy pen off the page 🏋️‍♂️, but that’s not standard practice. Unlike in the Arabic alphabet, where each letter has four forms depending on its position in the word (beginning, middle, end, or separately) in Hebrew each letter has only version 👏

4. What is the Hebrew alphabet really?

We keep using the term alphabet, but in reality the Hebrew writing system is an abjad (cool new word right?) — a consonantal alphabet where only consonants and long vowels (ones that can’t decide whether they are consonants or vowels) are represented with characters. The rest of the sounds are supplementary, and aren’t always written out.

through the decorated calligraphy of the Medieval texts,

through the unique Rashi script, reserved to represent the voice of one of the most famous Jewish scholars:

to modern Hebrew Cursive:

and a variety of funky fonts:

5. How to learn the Hebrew alphabet

Should you learn the hebrew alphabet first .

There is a claim to be made that learning the alphabet can slow down your progress in speaking — you’ll be focusing on the letters, neglecting oral skills and vocabulary.

However, even if your study plan is to focus on speaking you will need to record the words, to be able to review them. There are very few courses which would rely solely on audio, and allow you to do that. The only alternative to using the Hebrew alphabet for writing is to rely on transliteration — using Latin characters to write Hebrew words.

While this might slightly speed up the learning process, using transliteration can make it hard to later connect the characters with the corresponding sounds. Also, because not all sounds exist in English, representing Hebrew words with Latin characters will often be inaccurate . Relying on reading transliteration can adversely impact your pronunciation.

Bearing in mind that reading Hebrew relies on pattern recognition, the earlier you expose yourself to these patterns, the faster you’ll start seeing connections between pronunciation and writing.

Learn Hebrew print

Have a poster.

For ease of reference create a poster, or a simple sheet of paper with all the Hebrew characters, their names, and their version in cursive. This will be a huge help, and will save you time browsing through a notebook of scribbles.

We wouldn’t be ourselves if we didn’t pitch our own product 😜 Or rather… we wouldn’t create a Hebrew course if we didn’t know what we were talking about! The first 5-6 classes of the LinguaLift Hebrew course introduce you to all the Hebrew characters and their quirks. The script section has handy mnemonics to help you remember the shapes, and the spaced repetition system will tell you when to review to improve memorisation.

Standard rules

As with learning any new language, standard rules apply. That is: review regularly, and practice regularly in short sessions than binge learn. For more on efficient learning methods visit our blog !

Easy Hebrew newspapers

Because of the large number of new immigrants in Israel there is a wide market for materials for adult learners. There are newspapers in simple Hebrew, with vowels written out, like Yanshuf or Sha’ar La’Mathil , and radio stations in slow and simple Hebrew. The advantage of these is that you can skip talking about your favourite animals and daily schedule, and read simplified articles on the Large Handron Collider and the UN — how cool is that!?

In addition, most films and TV programs in Israel are subtitled in Arabic and Hebrew (yup, the text takes, a big part of the screen), which makes it very convenient to practice reading and listening at the later stage of your learning.

Learn Hebrew cursive

You might have doubts as to why you need to learn cursive at all. But trust us, it’s used a lot. From names of products on the shuk, through seasonal menus, and cursive-like fonts, to notes left in small shops.

Don’t be square like the Hebrew print, dip your pen in the ink and get down to the calligraphy business!

Practice by transliterating English

How can I practice writing if I don’t know any words? That’s what you might be asking yourself in the beginning stage of learning Hebrew, but there is a simple remedy.

Use Hebrew to write in English! It’ll be a good transliteration practice, and it’ll still make you feel cool when scribbling in your notebook on the subway — to a passer by it will look like you’re writing the language fluently 😝

Now, that’s not to say you should abandon learning vocab or grammar. We’re simply trying to prevent you from using lack of knowledge as an excuse to put off learning the script.

Use every opportunity to write

Start a practice journal. Best is to have it pocket-size so that you can carry it with you everywhere. Make it a habit to practice a few characters at different points during the day: at a lunch table, in the post queue, on the toilet, creativity is the limit!

If you’re feeling adventurous, you can open a website in Hebrew, and copy the text into cursive. Admittedly, this can be pretty boring if you have no clue what the text is about 😬 — either Gogle Translate to the rescue or, for an extra kick, you can turn to the Bible, and copy your favourite passages or stories. Its passages are conveniently labelled, and you can use a website with parallel translation (like Mechon Mamre ) to know which exact passage means what. A nicely calligraphed biblical passage can be an excellent gift for grandma (just a hint).

There are some good apps that help you learn new scripts. The one we particularly like for Hebrew is Write It! Hebrew which monitors you tracing the shapes on the screen with your finger.

After a week of intense practice you will start seeing Hebrew character everywhere (like on the Uniqlo logo). That’s the sign you have mastered the arcane art of the Hebrew script.

Ready to start cracking the code?

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Learn the Hebrew Alphabet from A to Z!

Learning to speak a new language is exciting; learning to write a new language is even more exciting! It will open new worlds for you. So, dig into these tips and advice for learning how to master the Hebrew alphabet easily - at HebrewPod101 we make it easy, fun and relevant for you!

Starting anything from scratch can be challenging, especially if you learn how to write in a language completely different from your own. It is really like navigating through a territory that is completely unknown to you.

However, this need not be a big hurdle or a problem! At HebrewPod101, we introduce you to Hebrew writing in simple, easy-to-follow steps, and you can ask for advice or help anywhere along the way. It is important to master the Hebrew alphabet completely from the start.

Download Your Free Guide to Beginner Hebrew!

If you want to master the Hebrew language and become fluent, you must learn the Hebrew alphabet letters first. And you need physical worksheets to practice on.

This eBook is a MUST-HAVE for all Hebrew learning beginners!

Download your Free Hebrew practice sheets PDF today and learn the Hebrew language in no time! This is a must-have guide for absolute beginners

Related Lessons

Table of Contents

• Introduction To Hebrew Writing

Hebrew Alphabet Chart

Why is learning the hebrew alphabet important.

• How to Download Your Free Hebrew eBook

Secrets to Learning the Hebrew Alphabet Fast

Introduction.

Hebrew has its own writing system using the Hebrew alphabet. It is written from right to left and contains no vowels. We use it for other Jewish languages as well, such as Yiddish, Ladino, and Judeo-Arabic. In Hebrew, the alphabet is called the alephbet after the first two letters.

The original Hebrew script was closely related to the ancient Phoenician script. By the tenth century BC, the paleo-Hebrew alphabet emerged. It was commonly used during the time of the ancient Israelite kingdoms of Israel and Judah. This form of the alphabet was preserved in the Samaritan script. During the Babylonian exile, Jews adopted the Aramaic script used in Babylon at the time, which then evolved into the present Hebrew alphabet.

Around 200 CE, the need for vowels was realized and a system of points was developed to indicate vowel sounds, and placed them in and around the letters of the alphabet. This way they did not need to alter any previous texts.

The Hebrew alphabet consists of twenty-two characters, all of which were originally consonants. Five of these letters have a slightly different form, which is used at the end of the word. There is only one case in Hebrew, so there is not distinction between lowercase and uppercase letters as there is in other languages.

Traditionally, vowels were indicated by four weak consonants: Aleph , Heh , Vav , and Yohd . This letter combines with the previous vowel and becomes silent. Today, two of these weak consonants can behave like vowels as well as consonants. We can use Vav to indicate an “-o” as well as a “-v,” and we can use yud as an “-i” and a “-y.”

The system of vowel points is called nikud . Hebrew uses a very structured system in which three letter roots are applied to a pattern to determine the meaning and part of speech of the word. Since Hebrew is so structured, nikud is not used in an everyday context. Israelis know which vowels to use by the structure of the word, the part of speech, and the context within the sentence. You will only find text written with nikud in religious writings, children’s books, and literature for new immigrants.

Block letters are used in texts and on signs, but cursive writing is used almost exclusively in writing. Children learn to write block letters in primary school to learn the letters, but they quickly exchange these for their cursive counterpart.

The Hebrew alphabet is also used to signify numbers. You will find letters used in dates, grades of school, and in religious texts. It’s important to learn the first thirty letter combinations used to signify numbers at the very least.

If you take a look at the Hebrew alphabet and the English language do have some connections. They are sometimes only the types of connections that linguists really appreciate, however and English and Hebrew do have some significant differences. Hebrew script has been in use in one form or another for a very long time and is old enough that it even influenced ancient Greek. This script, in various forms, is still in use today.

The first thing you’ll notice is that Hebrew type is a lot more complex than Western type. There are varying degrees of thickness on the letters that do differentiate one from another in some cases. This language is also written right to left, which is a significant challenge for people just learning this language. You’ll find that reading the language is sometimes a bit more difficult than learning to speak it, simply because of the script.

The Hebrew alphabet is ancient. The current alphabet has 22 letters and is referred to as the square script or the block script. It is also related to Assyrian script. This script is what is called an abjad, which is a language that doesn’t use any vowels in its written form. Vowels are indicated by adding specific types of marks to existing letters. In this way, the Hebrew alphabet has much in common with Arabic script. The letters of the alphabet are as follows:

Learning to write in this alphabet is a basic part of Hebrew lessons as they are given in language schools. You’ll have to learn this on your own or, if you want, meet some native speakers that you can get some insight. It takes time but learning a language this ancient and exotic generally does take a bit of time in all regards. The alphabet is an important part of Hebrew culture, so be sure to ask anyone knowledgeable about the language and how it fits into the stories that come from this culture. You may be surprised to find out how significant the role of this alphabet is in some of the most important cultural aspects of Israel and its people.

Also, once you start recognizing symbols and words, you will be encouraged by your own progress and motivated to learn even faster. Even just learning the basics of the alphabet will allow you to start recognizing simple Hebrew words, and it will feel great!

Furthermore, knowing the alphabet even helps with pronunciation, as learning the individual letters of any language will start uncovering nuances and intricacies that are not always apparent when you’re simply listening to the words.

Completely mastering the Hebrew alphabet, no matter how long it takes, will give you an excellent head start in learning how to write and read the language. It will offer you a solid foundation on which to build the other language skills, so set a goal to learn the alphabet so well that you’re able to recite it in your sleep!

Read on for helpful tips and secrets to learning the Hebrew alphabet quickly and effectively.

How to Download Your Free Guide to Beginner Hebrew

Log in with Your Free Lifetime Account and we’ll give you a bundle of PDF cheat sheet including Survival Phrases, Romantic Lines, Learning Tips… — absolutely Free!

3 Reasons to Learn Hebrew Through PDF Lessons

Let’s now take a closer look at how studying Hebrew lessons in PDF format can help you reach your dream in up to half the time of normal video or audio lessons!

① Saves Minutes on Your Data Plan

Learning Hebrew through PDF lessons can dramatically reduce your data use. Once a lesson or tool is downloaded, you can then access it offline via your computer or smartphone any time or place regardless of Internet access. And once you’ve download the Hebrew lessons in PDF format, you can actually access them faster than logging in and trying to do so via a live site. So not only will learning Hebrew using PDF lessons save minutes on your data plan—it will save you some significant time as well as the lessons add up!

② Print and Take All Hebrew Lessons and PDF Tools With You Anywhere

Sometimes, a tiny smartphone screen just isn’t adequate, especially when you are trying to learn something new. The great thing about PDF lessons, tools or files is that they can be quickly printed and taken anywhere after you download them. In fact, printing out Hebrew lessons in PDF format can actually save you time when compared to going through the material on a smartphone with a small screen—even with the extra printing time!

③ Great Study Tool to Boost Retention and Mastery

Studying video or audio lessons online is a great way to learn a language because students can play and rewind sections as many times as needed until the lesson is mastered. But when you review the same Hebrew lessons again in PDF format, an incredible thing happens: your retention dramatically improves! Thanks to Time Spaced Repetition, seeing the information again in written format helps reinforce the information in your mind and improves both retention and recall. The benefits of learning Hebrew using PDF lessons quickly add up to significant time savings for you, your data plan, and your dream of learning a new language!

Why are we giving it away?

Learning to read and write is a must for all beginners. Although you get video lessons on how to write in Hebrew at HebrewPod101, you’ll still need physical worksheets to practice on. That’s why you’re getting this printable tutorial PDFs as a gift.

Here are a few mnemonic devices to memorize the Hebrew alphabet so you can speed up learning how to write in Hebrew.

① Find and Learn an Alphabet Song or Poem in Hebrew

Can you still remember your childhood alphabet song in your own language? The best way to commit it to memory so you can recite it is still your mom or first teacher’s way - with music, a song and/or a poem! Find a recording and learn to sing the song, or recite the poem along as best as you can. Ask your HebrewPod101 teacher to help you understand exactly what you are singing or saying, and soon you’ll have reciting the alphabet under your belt! Repeat it out loud as often as possible.

However, you still need to learn how to write it.

② Study a Few Letters At a Time

Remember when you were young and learning to write for the first time? You didn’t start with words or sentences; you started with letters, one at a time!

Decide on tackling only a few letters each week, and then don’t move on from these till you are completely familiar with them. Don’t take on too many at once, or you may become discouraged. Also, remember to ask your teacher at HebrewPod101 if you have questions!

Learn to incidentally spot the letters in books, road signs (If you’re living in the country), magazines, on TV, anywhere you encounter written Hebrew. Remember to write them out!

③ Write Out the Letters of the Alphabet By Hand

Make it a goal to write out your week’s letters at least once a day, and commit to this goal. You can also do it every time you have a free moment. Get yourself a special notebook for this purpose that you can carry with you anywhere you go. Sitting on the train or bus? Waiting for someone somewhere? Whip out your notebook and write the Hebrew alphabet, or the letters you are learning. Aim for about 20 repetitions, while silently saying the letter in your head as you write it out. This way, you will soon be able to form and write words all by yourself! Exciting, isn’t it?

Writing something down with a pen also seems to engrave it in the brain in a way that nothing else does. As an added benefit, it gives you the satisfaction of seeing a new language in your own writing!

Once you’ve mastered the whole alphabet, commit to writing it out in its entirety at least once a day, for at least one month. More repetitions are obviously better.

④ Involve Your Whole Body

Research has shown that the more senses and actions we use to learn something, the quicker the new information sticks in the memory and becomes habitual. To apply this principle while learning the Hebrew alphabet, write out huge letters by tracing them in the soil, or with chalk on the floor. Now, while saying the letter out loud, walk on the lines you have just traced. In this way, you ‘write’ the letter by moving your whole body!

Having fun just makes it even easier to learn something, so why not ‘write’ the letters out with dance steps while moving to your favorite Hebrew music!

This is a simple trick that seems silly, but you’ll be surprised how quickly you will commit intricate letters to memory this way. It really works!

⑤ Use Associations To Memorize Letters

This technique would involve saying the Hebrew letter out loud, and then thinking of a word in your own language that sounds the same as the letter. That would then create a phonic association that should make it easier for you to remember the letter. Better even if the association is something you can draw or picture.

If the script of the new alphabet is very different from your own, look at it closely, and see if you can find an image that the letter reminds you of

⑥ Now Have Fun Trying To Write Words!

Try to write words from your own language in Hebrew, and ask your friendly HebrewPod101 teachers for feedback! Or post them on the forum and see if anyone can read them. You will be so pleased with yourself when you start writing words that are readable and recognizable by native speakers.

Please note: JavaScript is required to post comments.

Hello Jeremy,

Thanks for taking the time to post.

We're glad to have you here! ❤️

Feel free to ask us any questions that come up.

Team HebrewPod101.com

Dear Tommy Linsley,

Thanks for posting your feedback!

We take this suggestion seriously and will try to produce this type of material in the future. Thank you very much for the suggestion 👍👍

Keep up the good work!

I agree with the comment from Trev Joyve.

This page says that the Cursive writing is often used, so a cursive worksheet would make a whole lot of sense.

Hello Trev,

Thank you for posting!

Currently, we have no Worksheets for cursive letters, but we will consider adding them to our resources in our next development.

Please feel free to shoot through any questions you have throughout your studies.

Hi I've joined to access your hebrew cursive letters worksheet, could you please direct me to them.

todah rabah

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How To Read the Hebrew Alphabet

Known as the Aleph Bet, the Hebrew alphabet contains 22 letters.

By My Jewish Learning

In Hebrew, the letters are all consonants and the language is comprehensible when written without vowels. However, some texts do include vowels, which are represented in writing by a set of marks, mostly dots and dashes, written under and between the letters. Sacred texts and books for children who are still learning the language are commonly written with vowels. Other texts, like newspapers and books for adults, are written without.

Unlike English, Hebrew does not have uppercase and lowercase versions of each letter. However, some letters do have a second form that is used in the final position of a word. This is because in ancient times Hebrew was written without spaces between words and these letters helped differentiate where one word ended and another began.

Want to learn Hebrew one day at a time? Click here to sign up for our Hebrew Word of the Day email .

Modern Hebrew has a separate script for handwriting, although scribes use the block script pictured below when handwriting sacred scrolls like a mezuzah or a Torah .

Each modern Hebrew letter, as well as its corresponding English sound and its numerical value , is listed below. Note that two letters make no sound at all. Scroll all the way down to see the vowels as well.

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 )

Five letters have a distinct final form that is used if the letter ends a word.

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 )

Each vowel sound in Hebrew corresponds with a nikkud (Hebrew for “dot”). Many prayer books and dictionaries include nikkudot, while Hebrew-language literature, newspapers, signs and other written materials typically do not.

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”)

Nikkudot can also be used with consonants to distinguish between two similar sounds. The dagesh that distinguishes the letters bet/vet, khaf/kaf, and pey/fey is one example.

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