Hebrew Alphabet Chart + Pronunciation
Letters, sounds, and simple rules to start reading Hebrew.
If you’re learning Hebrew, the alphabet looks intimidating for about 30 minutes… and then it starts to feel normal. This page gives you a practical “alphabet chart” approach: what the letters are, what to learn first, and the beginner rules that matter most so you can start reading real words quickly.
If you want a full beginner roadmap, start here:
Complete Beginner Guide to Hebrew
The Hebrew alphabet in one minute (what to know before charts)
- Hebrew has 22 letters.
- Hebrew is written right to left.
- Some letters have a special form at the end of a word (final letters).
- Most beginner confusion comes from: similar shapes, guttural letters, and vowel guessing.
You do not need to memorize everything perfectly before you start reading. You just need momentum.
What to learn first (fastest path to reading)
If your goal is “I want to start reading basic Hebrew,” do this order:
- Learn the most common letter sounds
- Learn the final letters (so you stop getting surprised)
- Learn a few high-frequency words and sound them out
- Practice in small bursts (5–10 minutes daily)
You can pair this with quick vocab practice here:
100 Common Hebrew Words
And beginner phrases here:
Essential Hebrew Phrases
Final letters (so Hebrew stops “changing” on you)
These letters look different at the end of a word:
- כ → ך (Kaf)
- מ → ם (Mem)
- נ → ן (Nun)
- פ → ף (Pe)
- צ → ץ (Tsadi)
Tip: when you see a “tall” or “closed” version, it often means “end of word.”
The alphabet (chart-style)
Below is a beginner-friendly chart. Transliteration is approximate (sounds vary by accent and speaker), but this is enough to start reading.
Letters 1–11
- א (Alef) — usually silent / placeholder for a vowel
- ב (Bet / Vet) — b (with dot) / v (without dot)
- ג (Gimel) — g
- ד (Dalet) — d
- ה (Hey) — h (sometimes quiet at word end)
- ו (Vav) — v / also “o” or “u” in vowel spelling
- ז (Zayin) — z
- ח (Chet) — “kh” (guttural, like in Bach)
- ט (Tet) — t
- י (Yod) — y / also “ee” in vowel spelling
- כ / ך (Kaf / Final Kaf) — k (with dot) / kh (without dot)
Letters 12–22
- ל (Lamed) — l
- מ / ם (Mem / Final Mem) — m
- נ / ן (Nun / Final Nun) — n
- ס (Samekh) — s
- ע (Ayin) — often silent or light “a” (varies by accent)
- פ / ף (Pe / Final Pe) — p (with dot) / f (without dot)
- צ / ץ (Tsadi / Final Tsadi) — ts
- ק (Qof) — k
- ר (Resh) — r (Israeli “r” is often throaty)
- ש (Shin / Sin) — sh (dot on right) / s (dot on left)
- ת (Tav) — t
Pronunciation tips that save beginners weeks
1) Bet/Vet and Pe/Fe matter a lot
- בּ = b, ב = v
- פּ = p, פ = f
If you ignore the dot (dagesh), you’ll still be understood often — but reading gets confusing. Try to learn these early.
2) Alef (א) and Ayin (ע) are “vowel holders” for many learners
In modern Israeli Hebrew, many speakers don’t pronounce them strongly. Don’t panic if they feel “invisible.”
3) Chet (ח) is the famous “kh”
It’s not a hard “k” — it’s that throat sound (like “ch” in German Bach).
4) Shin vs Sin is one dot
Same letter ש, different dot placement:
- שׁ = sh
- שׂ = s
“Where are the vowels?” (Niqqud explained simply)
Hebrew vowels are often not written in everyday text. Beginners learn with niqqud (vowel marks), then gradually read without them.
You don’t need to master niqqud to start — but it helps if you’re feeling lost.
If you want a realistic beginner plan (alphabet → reading → phrases), use:
Complete Beginner Guide to Hebrew
Practice: start reading real Hebrew today
Try sounding these out slowly:
- שלום (shalom)
- תודה (toda)
- כן / לא (ken / lo)
- אני (ani)
Then move to phrases:
Essential Hebrew Phrases
FAQ
Do I need to memorize the whole alphabet before learning words?
No. Learn the common sounds + final letters, then start reading simple words immediately. You’ll learn faster.
Is Hebrew hard?
It feels hard at first because the script is new. After you get used to letters, progress is usually much faster than people expect:
Is Hebrew Hard to Learn? (Honest Answer)
How long does it take to learn Hebrew?
It depends on your goals. Here are realistic timelines:
How Long Does It Take to Learn Hebrew? (Realistic Timelines)
Start learning with practice (not just reading)
If you want to turn this into progress quickly, click Start learning and practice with a beginner module in Shotef.