The Hebrew Alphabet and Reading
The Hebrew alphabet has 22 consonant letters. Vowels are written as dots and dashes under the letters (nikud), and everyday texts leave them out entirely. It sounds daunting, but the letters take a few days to learn, and most people read syllable by syllable within a week or two.
Go in this order: printed letters, vowel points, reading right to left, and pronunciation, since Hebrew has only a few sounds that are new to English speakers. Then drill the letters until you recognize them at a glance.
Letters
- Hebrew Alphabet: Complete Guide to All 22 Letters
Learn the Hebrew alphabet: all 22 letters with names, sounds, mnemonics & examples. Final forms, vowels & a 7-day plan to start reading today.
Reading
- How to Read Hebrew: Complete Beginner's Guide
Step-by-step guide to reading Hebrew for beginners. Alphabet, vowels, reading rules. From letters to first texts in 2 weeks.
- How to Read Right-to-Left: Rules, Pitfalls, and Quick Tips
Master reading Hebrew right to left: how letters, numbers and punctuation work, common pitfalls and quick techniques to read fluently without getting lost.
Pronunciation
- Hebrew Pronunciation: How to Perfect Your Accent and Sound Natural
Master Hebrew pronunciation: guttural chet, uvular resh, ayin & tsadi sounds, stress patterns and a full consonant chart. Sound natural.
Practice for free
- Letters trainer — recognize letters at speed
- Transliteration — Hebrew to Latin letters
- Hebrew text to speech — hear any word