Урок 1: Introduction to Hebrew
Alphabet, first words and phrases
Introduction to Hebrew — הכירות עם עברית
Learning the alphabet, basic vowels and first basic words
✨ Features of Hebrew
- Hebrew is a language that writes from right to left.
- The Hebrew alphabet has 22 letters, and they are all consonants.
- To pronounce a vowel sound, special vowel markings are used — ניקוד (nikud), which are written under or above the letters.
🔠 Hebrew Alphabet (22 letters)
| Letter | Name | Sound |
|---|---|---|
| א | alef | silent |
| ב | bet | b/v |
| ג | gimel | g |
| ד | dalet | d |
| ה | hey | h/silent |
| ו | vav | v/u/o |
| ז | zayin | z |
| ח | het | hard h |
| ט | tet | t |
| י | yod | y/i |
| כ/ך | kaf/kaf sofit | k/kh |
| ל | lamed | l |
| מ/ם | mem/mem sofit | m |
| ן/נ | nun/nun sofit | n |
| ס | samekh | s |
| ע | ayin | silent/a |
| פ/ף | pey/pey sofit | p/f |
| צ/ץ | tsadi/tsadi sofit | ts |
| ק | kof | k |
| ר | resh | r |
| ש | shin | sh/s |
| ת | tav | t |
📝 Final letters (sofit)
In Hebrew 5 letters have a special form at the end of a word:
- ך (kaf sofit) — instead of כ
- ם (mem sofit) — instead of מ
- ן (nun sofit) — instead of נ
- ף (pey sofit) — instead of פ
- ץ (tsadi sofit) — instead of צ
🔤 Vowel sounds — ניקוד (nikud)
| Nikud | Sound | Example |
|---|---|---|
| ַ (patah) | a | אַ |
| ָ (kamats) | a | אָ |
| ֶ (segol) | e | אֶ |
| ֵ (tsere) | e | אֵ |
| ִ (hirik) | i | אִ |
| ֹ (holam) | o | אֹ |
| ֻ (kubutz) | u | אֻ |
📌 *Association:* Think of the letter as a person, and the vowel mark as shoes that help it "walk" and be pronounced.
🗣️ First important words
| Hebrew | Pronunciation | Translation | Association |
|---|---|---|---|
| שָׁלוֹם | shalom | hello, peace | like "salon" where everyone greets |
| תּוֹדָה | toda | thank you | like "to there" — gratitude to someone |
| כֵּן | ken | yes | short "yeah", affirmative |
| לֹא | lo | no | "lo" — short and firm "no" |
| מָה | ma | what | "ma?" — surprise, question |
| מִי | mi | who | like "meee?" — who came? |
👋 Greetings and farewells
| Hebrew | Pronunciation | Translation |
|---|---|---|
| שָׁלוֹם | shalom | hello / goodbye |
| בֹּקֶר טוֹב | boker tov | good morning |
| לַיְלָה טוֹב | layla tov | good night |
| לְהִתְרָאוֹת | lehitraot | see you later |
✅ What to remember from this lesson:
- Hebrew reads from right to left.
- Letters are consonants, vowels through nikud.
- Remember 10 basic letters and 7 vowel marks.
- Master 6 basic words and phrases to start speaking.
🧠 Repeat aloud, focus on associations, read words letter by letter.
Go to the trainer to practice recognition and reading!
שָׁלוֹם וְהַצְלָחָה! — Peace and success!
📝 Примеры:
שָׁלוֹם
[shalom]
Hello/peace
תּוֹדָה
[toda]
Thank you
בֹּקֶר טוֹב
[boker tov]
Good morning
מָה שְׁלוֹמֵךְ?
[ma shlomekh?]
How are you? (m.)
כֵּן, תּוֹדָה
[ken, toda]
Yes, thank you
לְהִתְרָאוֹת
[lehitraot]
See you later