The Hebrew Alphabet - Vowels, Consonants, Numerals & more

Q: How many letters are in Hebrew?

The Hebrew script consists of 22 letters, all of which are consonants [1] . Vowels are represented using diacritical marks called niqqud , which are placed above, below, or inside the consonant letters to indicate the correct pronunciation. However, these diacritical marks are primarily used in religious texts, poetry, and materials for learning the language, rather than in everyday modern Hebrew writing.

Q: Why does Hebrew not have vowel letters?

Hebrew developed as a consonantal writing system thousands of years ago! Here's why: • Ancient tradition - originally, Hebrew speakers knew how to pronounce words from context • Space-saving - writing without vowels used less precious writing material • Cultural preference - Semitic languages traditionally focus on consonant patterns • Modern efficiency - Hebrew readers today can still understand text without vowel marks! Think of it like reading abbreviations - you fill in the vowels naturally!

Q: What are niqqud marks and when do I need them?

Niqqud are tiny dots and lines that show you exactly how to pronounce Hebrew letters: • Prayer books - religious texts always use them • Children's books - helps kids learn to read Hebrew • Poetry and songs - ensures correct pronunciation • Language textbooks - essential for beginners! But in newspapers, websites, and texts , Hebrew is usually written without niqqud !

Q: Where is Hebrew spoken today?

Hebrew is alive and thriving in several places: • Israel - the main country where it's the official language • Jewish communities worldwide - for religious and cultural purposes • Universities - studied as an ancient and modern language • Online - Hebrew websites, social media, and apps About 9-10 million people speak Hebrew as their main language today [2] !

Q: Is Hebrew hard to learn for English speakers?

Hebrew has some unique challenges , but it's totally doable: The tricky parts: • Right-to-left writing - opposite of English • Different alphabet - 22 new letters to learn • No vowel letters - takes practice to read fluently The easier parts: • No verb conjugations like Spanish or French • Logical grammar patterns based on 3-letter roots With consistent practice , most people can start reading Hebrew in a few months!

The Hebrew alphabet consists of 22 letters, all of which are consonants^[1]. Originating around the 10th century BCE, it is one of the oldest and most influential writing systems in the world. Unlike many modern alphabets, the Hebrew script does not include separate symbols for vowels, which are typically indicated by diacritical marks known as nikud.

The alphabet includes letters like Aleph (א), Bet (ב), Gimel (ג), and Dalet (ד). The Hebrew alphabet has played a significant role in religious texts and is still used by approximately 9-10 million Hebrew speakers^[2] in modern Hebrew today, with oversight from the Academy of the Hebrew Language^[3].

Hebrew Vowel Letters

Hebrew does not have separate vowel letters like many other alphabets. Instead, vowels are represented by diacritical marks called niqqud (נִקּוּד), which are small dots and dashes placed above, below, or inside the consonant letters, as illustrated below.

These marks are primarily used in religious texts and language learning materials. In modern Hebrew, however, they are typically omitted, with readers relying on context to determine the correct pronunciation.

Vowels (Nikkud):

[Patach]

[Kamatz]

[Tzeirei]

[Segol]

[Chirik]

[Cholam]

[Kubutz]

[Shva]

[Dagesh]

Hebrew Consonant Letters

The Hebrew alphabet consists of 22 letters, all of which are consonants. In traditional Hebrew, vowel sounds are indicated by diacritical marks called niqqud, which are combined with the consonants to determine the correct pronunciation.

For example, the consonant ב (Bet) can be paired with different niqqud to represent vowel sounds:

בַ = "ba" (with the patah vowel mark, a short "a" sound)
בִ = "bi" (with the hiriq vowel mark, a short "i" sound)
בָ = "ba" (with the kamatz vowel mark, a long "a" sound)
בֻ = "bu" (with the kubutz vowel mark, a short "u" sound)

Consonants:

[Aleph]

[Bet]

[Gimel]

[Dalet]

[Hey]

[Vav]

[Zayin]

[Chet]

[Tet]

[Yod]

[Kaf]

[Lamed]

[Mem]

[Nun]

[Samekh]

[Ayin]

[Pe]

[Tsade]

[Qof]

[Resh]

[Shin]

[Tav]