1g1 Consonants

Page 1 of 3

Lesson 1g Learning to Read Hebrew

The Alphabet Originally, Hebrew was written only with consonants. Over time vowels were added to insure the correct pronunciation. You will first learn the consonants and the vowels. Then you will learn how to read the consonants and vowels together.
The Consonants

English is written from left to right. Hebrew is written from right to left. The consonant chart on the next two pages reads from right to left, so that from the beginning you enter the fascinating world of Hebrew. Column 1 contains the sound of the letter. Column 2 contains the basic form used in this grammar. Column 3 contains the final form for five special letters. Column 4 contains the name used to identify the letter. Be able to write and recite ( ) the Hebrew Alphabet.

4 Name Alef Bet

3 Final

2 Basic

1 Sound Silent B as in Boy V as in Van G as in Gas D as in Dog H as in Hat V as in Van Z as in Zoo CH as in BaCH T as in Top Y as in You

a B b g d h w z x j y

Gimel Dalet Hey Vav Zayin Chet Tet Yod

mk:@MSITStore:c:\programmi\bibleworks%207\databases\basichebrew.chm::/Lesso...

04/01/2000

1g1 Consonants

Page 2 of 3

Kaf

& $

K k l m n s [ P

K as in Key Ch as in BaCH L as in Lot M as in Mat N as in Nut S as in See Silent P as in Pie F as in Fan TS as in CaTS K as in Key R as in Rug S as in See SH as in SHe

Lamed Mem Nun Samek Ayin Pey

~ !

@
Tsade Qof Resh Sin Shin

p c q r f v t

Tav

T as in Top

Letters with Two Forms

There are five letters that have a different form when they are the last letter of a word.

Final Form

Basic Form

$ ! @

k n p

mk:@MSITStore:c:\programmi\bibleworks%207\databases\basichebrew.chm::/Lesso...

04/01/2000

1g1 Consonants

Page 3 of 3

# ~
Letters With Two Sounds

c m

English has letters with two pronunciations, e.g., the letter "c" in city and cat, or the "th" in this and thing. There are six letters that had two pronunciations when Biblical Hebrew was spoken.

t p k d g b
You are learning the pronunciation of Modern Hebrew. Only three letters have two pronunciations. The difference in pronunciation is marked by a dot in the letter, called "weak dagesh." With the dagesh the sound is hard, without is soft.

Soft V as in Van

Hard

b k p

B as in Boy K as in Key P as in Pie

B K P

CH as in BaCH F as in Fan

Back

mk:@MSITStore:c:\programmi\bibleworks%207\databases\basichebrew.chm::/Lesso...

04/01/2000