Learn Hebrew from scratch
A beginner course for English speakers โ 14 hand-crafted lessons that take you from the very first letter to your first real conversation. Every Hebrew word has audio: tap ๐ to hear it.
Lesson 1
The letters
Hebrew has 22 letters, five of which take a different shape at the end of a word โ 27 shapes in all. It runs right to left, and most printed text leaves the vowels out. None of that is as hard as it sounds, and this lesson is where it stops being strange: every letter below has its name, every sound it makes, and a real word you can hear. Work through it out loud. You are not memorising a chart today โ you are learning to recognise shapes, which happens faster than you expect.
Every letter, group by group
Tap a letter's name to hear it, tap a sound to hear it on its own, and tap the example to hear the letter inside a real word. A letter with two sounds has both listed โ the dot inside it is what tells them apart, and the next lesson explains it.
First six
| Letter | Name | Sound | Example |
|---|---|---|---|
| ื | ืึธืึถืฃAlef | ืsilent | ืึทืึธึผืdad |
| ื | ืึตึผืืชBet | ืึผb ืv | ืึทึผืึดืชhouse |
| ื | ืึดึผืืึถืGimel | ืg ืืณj | ืึธึผืืึนืbig |
| ื | ืึธึผืึถืชDalet | ืd | ืึถึผืึถืชdoor |
| ื | ืึตืHe | ืh | ืึทืจmountain |
| ื | ืึธืVav | ืv ืึนo ืึผu | ืึถืจึถืrose |
Next six
| Letter | Name | Sound | Example |
|---|---|---|---|
| ื | ืึทืึดืZayin | ืz ืืณzh | ืึถืึผึฐืจึธืzebra |
| ื | ืึตืืชHet | ืkh | ืึทืhot |
| ื | ืึตืืชTet | ืt | ืืึนืgood |
| ื | ืืึนืYod | ืy | ืึธืhand |
| ื | ืึทึผืฃKaf | ืึผk ืkh | ืึถึผืึถืdog |
| ื | ืึทืฃ ืกืึนืคึดืืชFinal Kaf | ืkh | ืึถืึถืึฐking |
Middle of the alphabet
| Letter | Name | Sound | Example |
|---|---|---|---|
| ื | ืึธืึถืLamed | ืl | ืึถืึถืbread |
| ื | ืึตืMem | ืm | ืึทืึดืwater |
| ื | ืึตื ืกืึนืคึดืืชFinal Mem | ืm | ืฉึธืืืึนืpeace |
| ื | ื ืึผืNun | ื n | ื ึธืึธืจriver |
| ื | ื ืึผื ืกืึนืคึดืืชFinal Nun | ืn | ืึทึผืgarden |
| ืก | ืกึธืึถืึฐSamekh | ืกs | ืกึตืคึถืจbook |
Gutturals and finals
| Letter | Name | Sound | Example |
|---|---|---|---|
| ืข | ืขึทืึดืAyin | ืขsilent | ืขึทืึดืeye |
| ืค | ืคึตึผืPe | ืคึผp ืคf | ืคึถึผืmouth |
| ืฃ | ืคึตึผื ืกืึนืคึดืืชFinal Pe | ืฃf | ืึถึผืกึถืฃmoney |
| ืฆ | ืฆึธืึดืTsadi | ืฆts ืฆืณch | ืฆึดืคึผืึนืจbird |
| ืฅ | ืฆึธืึดื ืกืึนืคึดืืชFinal Tsadi | ืฅts | ืขึตืฅtree |
Last four
| Letter | Name | Sound | Example |
|---|---|---|---|
| ืง | ืงืึนืฃQof | ืงk | ืงึธืึธืsmall |
| ืจ | ืจึตืืฉืResh | ืจr | ืจึนืืฉืhead |
| ืฉ | ืฉึดืืืShin | ืฉืsh ืฉืs | ืฉึถืืึถืฉืsun |
| ืช | ืชึธึผืTav | ืชt | ืชึทึผืคึผืึผืึทapple |
The five final forms
Five letters are written differently when they end a word. It is the same letter and the same sound โ only the shape changes, usually by dropping a tail straight down. You will see both forms in the very first words you read.
| Letter | Name | Same as | Sound |
|---|---|---|---|
| ื | ืึทืฃ ืกืึนืคึดืืช | ื | |
| ื | ืึตื ืกืึนืคึดืืช | ื | |
| ื | ื ืึผื ืกืึนืคึดืืช | ื | |
| ืฃ | ืคึตึผื ืกืึนืคึดืืช | ืค | |
| ืฅ | ืฆึธืึดื ืกืึนืคึดืืช | ืฆ |
Pairs that are easy to confuse
These are the shapes that cost beginners a word. Look at what actually differs โ a corner that closes, a leg that descends, a dot โ and say both sounds aloud so your ear separates them too.
| Letter | Sound | โฆand | Sound |
|---|---|---|---|
| ื | b | ื | k |
| ื | d | ืจ | r |
| ื | h | ื | kh |
| ื | v | ื | z |
| ื | t | ื | m |
| ื | m | ืก | s |
| ืข | โ | ืฆ | ts |
| ื | n | ื | v |
๐ก Do not try to learn all 27 shapes today. Read the groups aloud once, then come back tomorrow โ recognition builds from repeated exposure far better than from a single sitting.
Exercises
1. Which letter is it?
- Alef โ ื
- Shin โ ืฉ
- Het โ ื
- Mem โ ื
- Qof โ ืง
2. What sound does it make?
- ื โ kh
- ืฆ โ ts / ch
- ืฉ โ sh / s
- ืข โ silent
- ื โ b / v
Lesson 2
Niqqud: how Hebrew writes its vowels
Now the vowels. Hebrew writes them as small marks above, below and inside the letters, and a beginner's text prints them so you can read it. The good news is in the numbers: there are thirteen signs but only five sounds. Several signs are simply read the same way, because they once marked distinctions the spoken language has since dropped. Learn the five sounds first, and the signs become five short lists instead of thirteen separate things.
Five sounds, thirteen signs
Hebrew has many vowel signs but only five vowel sounds. The extra signs once marked differences the language has since dropped, so today several of them are simply read the same way โ each group below shares one sound, and one recording.
ืึผึธ a
| Sign | Name | Note |
|---|---|---|
| ืึผึธ | ืงึธืึธืฅKamatz | Usually a. In a few words it is o (kamatz katan), as in ืึธึผื. |
| ืึผึท | ืคึผึทืชึผึทืPatah | |
| ืึฒ | ืึฒืึทืฃ ืคึผึทืชึผึทืHataf Patah | A shortened patah, written under guttural letters. Same a. |
ืึผึถ e
| Sign | Name | Note |
|---|---|---|
| ืึผึต | ืฆึตืืจึตืTsere | |
| ืึผึถ | ืกึถืึผืึนืSegol | |
| ืึฑ | ืึฒืึทืฃ ืกึถืึผืึนืHataf Segol | A shortened segol, under gutturals. Same e. |
| ืึผึฐ | ืฉืึฐืึธืShva | Either nothing at all โ a placeholder marking no vowel โ or a plain e. Modern Hebrew makes no other distinction. |
ืึผึด i
| Sign | Name | Note |
|---|---|---|
| ืึผึด | ืึดืืจึดืืงHiriq |
ืึผึน o
| Sign | Name | Note |
|---|---|---|
| ืึผึน | ืืึนืึธืHolam | |
| ืึณ | ืึฒืึทืฃ ืงึธืึธืฅHataf Kamatz | A shortened kamatz, under gutturals. Same o. |
ืึผึป u
| Sign | Name | Note |
|---|---|---|
| ืึผึป | ืงึปืึผืึผืฅKubuts | |
| ืึผืึผ | ืฉืืึผืจืึผืงShuruk | A vav with a dot inside it โ the only vowel written as a full letter. |
The dot inside the letter
ืึผ โ ืึผึธืึตืฉื (Dagesh). Not a vowel โ a dot inside the letter. In ื, ื and ืค it hardens the consonant: ื is v, ืึผ is b.
Reading without the marks
Newspapers, signs and books print no niqqud at all. Readers manage because a Hebrew word is built on a root of consonants, and the pattern around it is usually predictable from context โ ืกืคืจ is sefer, "book", but the same three letters are sapar, "barber". You will not guess every word at first, and you are not meant to: the audio button on every word in this course is your niqqud until the patterns settle.
๐ก When you meet a new sign, ask only one question: which of the five sounds is it? That is the whole system. The names are worth knowing eventually, but they are not what lets you read.
Exercises
1. Which of the five sounds is this sign?
- ืึผึธ โ a
- ืึผึต โ e
- ืึผึด โ i
- ืึผึน โ o
- ืึผึป โ u
2. Read it aloud, then check
- ืึทึผืึดืช โ house
- ืึทืึดื โ water
- ืกึตืคึถืจ โ book
- ืงึธืึธื โ small
- ืฉึถืืึถืฉื โ sun
Lesson 3
Your first words
Your first words
The essential greetings and courtesies. Say each one out loud after the audio.
| ืฉืืื literally: "peace" | shalom | Hello / Goodbye |
| ืชืืื | toda | Thank you |
| ืืืงืฉื | bevakasha | Please / You're welcome |
| ืกืืืื | slikha | Sorry / Excuse me |
| ืื ืฉืืืื? literally: "what is your peace?" | ma shlomkha? | How are you? |
| ืฉืืืื ืืื, ืชืืื. | shlomi tov, toda | I'm well, thank you. |
| ืืืชืจืืืช | lehitra'ot | See you / Goodbye |
Two words for "yes" and "no": ืื (ken) = yes, ืื (lo) = no. And ืฉืืื does double duty โ it's both hello and goodbye.
A first tiny exchange
A
ืฉืืื, ืื ืฉืืืื? shalom, ma shlomkha?Hello, how are you?
B
ืฉืืื, ืฉืืืื ืืื, ืชืืื. shalom, shlomi tov, toda.Hello, I'm well, thank you.
A few more everyday words
| ืืื | mayim | water |
| ืืืื | layla | night |
| ืชืืืื | talmid | pupil / student |
| ืืื | khalav | milk |
๐ก Reading strategy: Look for the root letters and let context fill the vowels โ just like you read "ths sntnce wtht vwls" in English without slowing down. It comes with practice, and you've already started.
Lesson 3
Meeting people: introduce yourself
Time to talk about yourself: your name, where you're from, and how to react when someone introduces themselves. These few phrases open almost every first conversation in Hebrew.
Saying your name
There are two natural ways to give your name. The most common in speech is ืงืืจืืื ืืโฆ โ literally "they call meโฆ". You can also use ืฉืืโฆ ("my name isโฆ"), which feels a touch more formal.
| ืืื ืงืืจืืื ืื? literally: "how do they call you?" | ekh kor'im lekha? | What's your name? |
| ืงืืจืืื ืื ืื ื. | kor'im li Dani | My name is Dani. |
| ืฉืื ืื ืืื | shmi Daniel | My name is Daniel. |
| ื ืขืื ืืืืืจ literally: "pleasant to meet" | na'im lehakir | Nice to meet you. |
Where are you from?
The little word ืึพ (mi- / me-) means "from" and attaches to the front of the place name: ื + ืืฉืจืื โ ืืืฉืจืื.
| ืืืืคื ืืชื? | me'eifo ata? | Where are you from? (to a man) |
| ืื ื ืืืฉืจืื | ani mi-Yisrael | I'm from Israel. |
| ืื ื ืืืจืฆืืช ืืืจืืช | ani me-Artsot ha-Brit | I'm from the United States. |
| ืื ืืชื ืขืืฉื? | ma ata ose? | What do you do? |
| ืื ื ืกืืืื ื | ani student | I'm a student. |
A note on gender โ you'll hear this a lot. Hebrew marks the gender of the person you address. "You" is ืืชื (ata) to a man and ืืช (at) to a woman; "where are you from?" is ืืืืคื ืืชื? vs. ืืืืคื ืืช? (me'eifo at?). We'll build this up gradually โ for now, just notice it.
Two people meet
Yossi
ืฉืืื, ืฉืื ืืืกื. ืื ืฉืืืื? shalom, shmi Yossi. ma shlomkha?Hello, my name is Yossi. How are you?
Michal
ืื ื ืืื, ืชืืื. ืฉืื ืืืื. ื ืขืื ืืืืืจ. ani tov, toda. shmi Michal. na'im lehakir.I'm good, thanks. My name is Michal. Nice to meet you.
๐ก Tip: In personal names, a final ื (he) is usually silent โ ืืืื's friend ืฉืจื is "Sara", not "Sarah".
Exercises
1. Say it in Hebrew.
- What's your name? โ ืืื ืงืืจืืื ืื?
- My name is Dani. โ ืงืืจืืื ืื ืื ื.
- I'm from Israel. โ ืื ื ืืืฉืจืื.
- Nice to meet you. โ ื ืขืื ืืืืืจ.
2. What does it mean?
- ืืืืคื ืืชื? โ Where are you from?
- ืื ื ืกืืืื ื โ I'm a student.
- ืื ืืชื ืขืืฉื? โ What do you do?
Lesson 4
Numbers 1โ100 and age
Numbers are everywhere: prices, phone numbers, your age. Hebrew numbers have one quirk worth knowing up front โ they come in two genders โ but you'll get the hang of it quickly.
Numbers โ where gender flips
Hebrew numbers have a masculine and a feminine set. The surprise: plain, abstract counting ("one, two, threeโฆ") uses the feminine form. The masculine forms then attach to masculine nouns.
| # | Feminine (counting) | Masculine |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | ืืืช akhat | ืืื ekhad |
| 2 | ืฉืชืืื shtayim | ืฉื ืืื shnayim |
| 3 | ืฉืืืฉ shalosh | ืฉืืืฉื shlosha |
| 4 | ืืจืืข arba | ืืจืืขื arba'a |
| 5 | ืืืฉ khamesh | ืืืืฉื khamisha |
Higher up, the round numbers are simpler โ no gender change:
| ืขืฉืจื | asara | ten |
| ืขืฉืจืื | esrim | twenty |
| ืืืืฉืื | khamishim | fifty |
| ืืื | me'a | one hundred |
To build in-between numbers, join with ืึพ ("and"): ืขืฉืจืื ืืืืฉ = twenty-and-five (25).
Talking about age
To give your age, a man says ืื ("son of") and a woman says ืืช ("daughter of"), followed by the number:
| ืื ื ืื ืขืฉืจืื ืืืืฉ literally: "I am a son of twenty-and-five" | ani ben esrim ve-khamesh | I'm 25 (said by a man) |
| ืื ื ืืช ืฉืืืฉืื | ani bat shloshim | I'm 30 (said by a woman) |
Prices & phone numbers
| ืืื ืื ืขืืื? | kama ze ole? | How much does it cost? |
| ืื ืขืืื ืืืืฉืื ืฉืงืืื | ze ole khamishim shkalim | It costs fifty shekels. |
| ืื ืืืกืคืจ ืฉืื? | ma ha-mispar shelkha? | What's your number? |
| ืืืกืคืจ ืฉืื ืืื 054-1234567 | ha-mispar sheli huโฆ | My number is 054-1234567. |
Small talk with numbers
A
ืื ื ืื ืืจืืขืื ืืืืฉ. ืืื ืืชื? ani ben arba'im ve-khamesh. kama ata?I'm 45. How old are you?
B
ืื ื ืื ืขืฉืจืื ืืฉืืื ื ani ben esrim u-shmoneI'm 28.
๐ก Tip: The currency is the shekel โ ืฉืงื (shekel), plural ืฉืงืืื (shkalim). You'll see it written โช.
Exercises
1. Say it in Hebrew.
- How much does it cost? โ ืืื ืื ืขืืื?
- I'm 30 (a woman). โ ืื ื ืืช ืฉืืืฉืื.
- fifty โ ืืืืฉืื
- What's your number? โ ืื ืืืกืคืจ ืฉืื?
2. What does it mean?
- ืื ื ืื ืขืฉืจืื ืืฉืืื ื โ I'm 28 (a man).
- ืื ืขืืื ืืืืฉืื ืฉืงืืื โ It costs fifty shekels.
- ืืื โ one hundred
Lesson 5
Family, "this", "the" and possession
Family words are among the warmest and most useful in any language. Along the way you'll pick up three grammar tools that power countless sentences: how to say "this", how to say "the", and how to show possession.
The family
| ืืื | abba | dad / father |
| ืืื | ima | mum / mother |
| ืื | akh | brother |
| ืืืืช | akhot | sister |
| ืกืื | saba | grandfather |
| ืกืืชื | savta | grandmother |
This, the, and "of" (ืฉื)
Three small words do a lot of work:
- "This isโฆ" โ ืื (ze) for something/someone masculine, ืืืช (zot) for feminine: ืื ืืื ืฉืื = "this is my dad".
- "The" is the prefix ืึพ (ha-) glued to the front: ืืืช (a house) โ ืืืืช (the house).
- Possession uses ืฉื (shel, "of"): ืืื ืฉืื = "dad of-mine" = my dad; ืฉื ืืื = David's.
"Have" without a verb โ ืืฉ / ืืื. Hebrew has no verb "to have". Instead it says "there is to me": ืืฉ ืื ืื = "there-is to-me a brother" = I have a brother. The opposite is ืืื: ืืื ืื ืื = I don't have a brother. More on this next lesson.
Putting it together
| ืื ืืื ืฉืื | ze abba sheli | This is my dad. |
| ืืืช ืืื ืฉืื | zot ima sheli | This is my mum. |
| ืืฉ ืื ืื | yesh li akh | I have a brother. |
| ืืฉ ืื ืืืืช | yesh li akhot | I have a sister. |
| ืืื ืฉืื ืืืื | abba sheli gavoha | My dad is tall. |
| ืืื ืฉืื ื ืืืื | ima sheli nemukha | My mum is short. |
๐ก Gender in adjectives: notice ืืืื (tall, m) vs. ื ืืืื (short, f). Feminine adjectives typically add a ื- or ืช-ending. You'll see this pattern constantly.
Showing off the family
A
ืฉืืื, ืื ืื? shalom, mi ze?Hi, who's this?
B
ืื ืื ืฉืื, ืืื ืืื ืืืื ze akh sheli, hu khakham me'odThis is my brother, he's very clever.
B
ืืืืช ืืืืช ืฉืื, ืืื ืืฆืืืงื ve-zot akhot sheli, hi matskhikaAnd this is my sister, she's funny.
Exercises
1. Say it in Hebrew.
- This is my dad. โ ืื ืืื ืฉืื.
- I have a sister. โ ืืฉ ืื ืืืืช.
- the house โ ืืืืช
- my brother โ ืื ืฉืื
2. What does it mean?
- ืืืช ืืื ืฉืื โ This is my mum.
- ืืื ืฉืื ืืืื โ My dad is tall.
- ืืื ืืื ืืืื โ He's very clever.
Lesson 6
The present tense & its four forms
This is the grammatical heart of beginner Hebrew โ and it's beautifully regular. Once you know the present tense, you can build endless sentences of your own.
There is no "am / is / are"
Hebrew simply omits the verb "to be" in the present. You place two words side by side and the "is" is understood:
- ืื ื ืขืืืฃ = "I tired" = I am tired.
- ืืื ืกืืืื ื = "he student" = he is a student.
- ืืืืช ืืืื = "the-house big" = the house is big.
The four present-tense forms
Here's the one pattern to internalise. A Hebrew present-tense verb doesn't change by person (I / you / he) โ it changes by gender and number. Every verb has exactly four present forms. Take ืืืื (to study), root ืึพืึพื:
| Masculine | Feminine | |
|---|---|---|
| Singular | ืืืื lomed | ืืืืืช lomedet |
| Plural | ืืืืืื lomdim | ืืืืืืช lomdot |
So ืื ื ืืืื (a man) and ืื ื ืืืืืช (a woman) both mean "I study" โ the verb tells us the speaker's gender. The endings โ / โืช / โืื / โืืช repeat on almost every regular verb.
Common verbs in action
| ืื ื ืจืืฆื ืงืคื | ani rotse kafe | I want coffee. |
| ืืชื ืจืืฆื ืชื | ata rotse te | You want tea. (to a man) |
| ืืื ืจืืฆื ืืืืช | hi rotsa lalekhet | She wants to go. |
| ืื ื ืืืื ืืืืชื | ani holekh ha-bayta | I'm going home. (a man) |
| ืืื ืืืืืช ืืกืจื | hi holekhet le-seret | She's going to a movie. |
| ืื ื ืืืืจ ืื ืืืืช | ani medaber anglit | I speak English. (a man) |
๐ก Tip: Notice ืจืืฆื (rotse, m) โ ืจืืฆื (rotsa, f) and ืืืื (holekh, m) โ ืืืืืช (holekhet, f). Same verb, changing only for who's speaking.
Exercises
1. Choose the right form.
- A woman saying "I study": โ ืื ื ืืืืืช
- A man saying "I'm going": โ ืื ื ืืืื
- "She wants to go": โ ืืื ืจืืฆื ืืืืช
2. What does it mean?
- ืื ื ืจืืฆื ืงืคื โ I want coffee.
- ืืื ืืืืืช ืืกืจื โ She's going to a movie.
- ืื ื ืขืืืฃ โ I'm tired. (no "am" needed)
Lesson 7
Having & wanting: ืืฉ ืื
You met ืืฉ briefly with family. Here we make it fully usable โ how to say you have (or don't have) something, for every person. It's one of the most useful patterns in the language.
"There is to me" = I have
Start with ืืฉ (yesh, "there is") and add ื ("to") + a person. The whole set:
| Hebrew | Literally | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| ืืฉ ืื yesh li | there-is to-me | I have |
| ืืฉ ืื yesh lekha / lakh | there-is to-you | you have (m / f) |
| ืืฉ ืื yesh lo | there-is to-him | he has |
| ืืฉ ืื yesh la | there-is to-her | she has |
The opposite of ืืฉ is ืืื (ein, "there isn't"): ืืื ืื ืืื = "there-isn't to-me time" = I don't have time.
Examples
| ืืฉ ืื ืืื | yesh li zman | I have time. |
| ืืฉ ืื ืืืจืื | yesh lekha khaverim | You have friends. |
| ืืฉ ืื ืืกืฃ | yesh lo kesef | He has money. |
| ืืฉ ืื ืขืืืื | yesh la avoda | She has a job. |
Wanting & needing
Pair ืจืืฆื ("want") or ืฆืจืื ("need") with an infinitive to say what you want to do. Infinitives start with ื: ืืืืช (to go), ืืืืื (to eat).
| ืื ื ืจืืฆื ืืืืช ืืืืชื | ani rotse lalekhet ha-bayta | I want to go home. |
| ืืฉ ืื ืืื ืืืืช ืืืชื? | yesh lekha zman lalekhet iti? | Do you have time to go with me? |
A quick exchange
A
ืืชื ืจืืฆื ืงืคื ืื ืชื? ata rotse kafe o te?Do you want coffee or tea?
B
ืื ื ืจืืฆื ืงืคื, ืชืืื. ani rotse kafe, toda.I'd like coffee, thanks.
๐ก Tip: "or" is ืื (o). String choices together easily: ืงืคื ืื ืชื = coffee or tea.
Exercises
1. Say it in Hebrew.
- I have time. โ ืืฉ ืื ืืื.
- She has a job. โ ืืฉ ืื ืขืืืื.
- I don't have time. โ ืืื ืื ืืื.
- I want to go home. โ ืื ื ืจืืฆื ืืืืช ืืืืชื.
2. What does it mean?
- ืืฉ ืื ืืกืฃ โ He has money.
- ืืฉ ืื ืืื ืืืืช ืืืชื? โ Do you have time to go with me?
Lesson 8
Asking questions
Questions turn you from a listener into a conversationalist. The good news: Hebrew questions are easy to build. Six little question words and one intonation trick cover most of what you'll need.
The six question words
| Word | Sound | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| ืื | ma | what |
| ืื | mi | who |
| ืืืคื | eifo | where |
| ืืชื | matai | when |
| ืืื | lama | why |
| ืืื | ekh | how |
Yes/no questions need no extra words โ just raise your intonation at the end, exactly like English "You're coming?" So ืืชื ืืืืจ ืขืืจืืช? ("you speak Hebrew?") is already a question.
Questions you'll use every day
| ืื ืื? | ma ze? | What is this? |
| ืื ืื? | mi ze? | Who is this? |
| ืืืคื ืืชื? | eifo ata? | Where are you? |
| ืืชื ืื ืงืืจื? | matai ze kore? | When does it happen? |
| ืืื ืืชื ืืื? | lama ata kan? | Why are you here? |
| ืืื ืขืืฉืื ืืช ืื? | ekh osim et ze? | How do you do this? |
| ืื ืืฉืขื? | ma ha-sha'a? | What time is it? |
| ืืืคื ืืฉืืจืืชืื? | eifo ha-sherutim? | Where is the bathroom? |
๐ก Tip: ืืืคื ืืฉืืจืืชืื? may be the single most useful question for a traveller. Keep it handy.
Exercises
1. Which question word?
- "where" โ ืืืคื
- "when" โ ืืชื
- "why" โ ืืื
- "who" โ ืื
2. What does it mean?
- ืื ืืฉืขื? โ What time is it?
- ืืืคื ืืฉืืจืืชืื? โ Where is the bathroom?
- ืื ืื? โ Who is this?
Lesson 9
At the cafรฉ: ordering food
Cafรฉs are the living room of Israeli life. With a handful of phrases you can order, ask for the bill, and handle dietary needs โ all politely.
The magic word: ืืคืฉืจ
ืืคืฉืจ (efshar) means "is it possible / may I". Put it in front of almost anything to make a polite request: ืืคืฉืจ ืงืคื? = "may I have a coffee?". Add ืืืงืฉื ("please") to be extra courteous.
| ืืคืฉืจ ืชืคืจืื? | efshar tafrit? | Can I have a menu? |
| ืื ื ืจืืฆื ืืืืืื | ani rotse lehazmin | I'd like to order. |
| ืื ื ืจืืฆื ืืื | ani rotse mayim | I'd like water. |
| ืื ืืืืืฅ? | ma mumlats? | What do you recommend? |
| ืื ืืขืื ืืืื | ze ta'im me'od | It's very tasty. |
| ืืคืฉืจ ืืฉืืื ืืืงืฉื? | efshar kheshbon bevakasha? | Can I have the bill, please? |
Dietary needs
| ืื ื ืฆืืืื ื | ani tsimkhoni | I'm vegetarian. (a man) |
| ืื ื ืืืจืื ืืืืืืื | ani alergi le-egozim | I'm allergic to nuts. |
At the table
Waiter
ืฉืืื, ืื ืชืจืฆื ืืืืืื? shalom, ma tirtsu lehazmin?Hello, what would you like to order?
Guest
ืื ื ืจืืฆื ืคืืฆื ืืืงืฉื ani rotse pitsa bevakashaI'd like a pizza, please.
Waiter
ืืืืื, ืืฉืื ืืฉืชืืช? kamuvan, mashehu lishtot?Of course, anything to drink?
Guest
ืื, ืื ื ืจืืฆื ืืื ken, ani rotse mayimYes, I'd like water.
๐ก Tip: To say something is delicious, just exclaim ืืขืื! (ta'im!). And warm thanks is ืชืืื ืจืื (toda raba, "thank you very much").
Exercises
1. Say it in Hebrew.
- Can I have the bill, please? โ ืืคืฉืจ ืืฉืืื ืืืงืฉื?
- I'd like water. โ ืื ื ืจืืฆื ืืื.
- What do you recommend? โ ืื ืืืืืฅ?
2. What does it mean?
- ืื ื ืฆืืืื ื โ I'm vegetarian.
- ืื ืืขืื ืืืื โ It's very tasty.
- ืืฉืื ืืฉืชืืช? โ Anything to drink?
Lesson 10
Getting around town
Ask for directions, catch a bus, find the market. This lesson gets you moving โ and introduces two tidy grammar habits: attaching prepositions, and the "toward" ending.
Directions & transport
| ืืืคื ืืชืื ื? | eifo ha-takhana? | Where is the station? |
| ืืื ืืืืขืื ืืฉืืง? | ekh magi'im la-shuk? | How do I get to the market? |
| ืคื ื ืืืื ื | pne yemina | Turn right. |
| ืคื ื ืฉืืืื | pne smola | Turn left. |
| ืกืข ืืฉืจ | sa yashar | Go straight. |
| ืื ื ืฆืจืื ืืจืืืก ืืืืืืืืก | ani tsarikh kartis la-otobus | I need a bus ticket. |
| ืื ืจืืืง ืืืื? | ze rakhok mi-kan? | Is it far from here? |
Two grammar habits
- Prepositions attach to the word. ื = "to" and ื = "in/at" glue to the front: ืืชื ืืืื (to Tel Aviv), ืืืจืืฉืืื (in Jerusalem).
- The "toward" ending ึธืึพ. Add it to turn a place into a direction: ืืืื (right) โ ืืืื ื (to the right); ืืืช (home) โ ืืืืชื (homeward). And ืืฉืจ = straight ahead.
Asking a passer-by
You
ืกืื ืื, ืืืคื ืืจืืื ืืจืืฉื? slakh li, eifo ha-rekhov ha-rashi?Excuse me, where is the main street?
Local
ืื, ืื ืงืจืื. ืจืง ืืืฉ ืืงืืช ืืืืื. lo, ze karov. rak khamesh dakot halikha.No, it's close. Just a five-minute walk.
You
ืชืืื ืจืื ืขื ืืขืืจื! toda raba al ha-ezra!Thank you so much for the help!
Local
ืืืงืฉื, ืฉืืืื ืื ืืื ืืื! bevakasha, she-yihye lekha yom tov!You're welcome, have a good day!
๐ก Tip: ืคื ื and ืกืข are commands said to a man; to a woman they become ืคื ื (pni) and ืกืขื (se'i).
Exercises
1. Say it in Hebrew.
- Turn left. โ ืคื ื ืฉืืืื.
- Where is the station? โ ืืืคื ืืชืื ื?
- Is it far from here? โ ืื ืจืืืง ืืืื?
2. What does it mean?
- ืกืข ืืฉืจ โ Go straight.
- ืื ื ืฆืจืื ืืจืืืก ืืืืืืืืก โ I need a bus ticket.
- ืจืง ืืืฉ ืืงืืช ืืืืื โ Just a five-minute walk.
Lesson 11
Telling the time, days & plans
Make plans, set a time, name the day. There's one lovely surprise here: Israeli days of the week are simply numbered, so if you can count you can already name them.
Telling the time
Ask ืื ืืฉืขื? ("what's the hour?"). To give a time, lead with ืฉืขื (hour) + the number, or ืืฉืขื ("at") when scheduling.
| ืฉืขื ืืืช | sha'a akhat | one o'clock |
| ืฉืขื ืฉืชืืื | sha'a shtayim | two o'clock |
| ืืืืื ืฉืขื? | be-eizo sha'a? | At what time? |
| ืืฉืขื ืฉืืืฉ | be-sha'a shalosh | at three o'clock |
The days & when
Israeli days count from Sunday: ืืื ืจืืฉืื literally means "day one" = Sunday, then ืืื ืฉื ื (day two = Monday), and so on. The exception is the weekend: ืฉืืช (Saturday).
| ืืื ืจืืฉืื | yom rishon | Sunday (day 1) |
| ืืื ืฉื ื | yom sheni | Monday (day 2) |
| ืืืื | ha-yom | today |
| ืืืจ | makhar | tomorrow |
Making a plan
A
ืืฉ ืื ืืื ืืืจ? yesh lekha zman makhar?Do you have time tomorrow?
B
ืื, ืืฉืขื ืืจืืข ken, be-sha'a arbaYes, at four o'clock.
A
ืืืืื ืฉืขื ื ืืคืืฉ? be-eizo sha'a nipagesh?What time shall we meet?
B
ื ืืคืืฉ ืืฉืขื ืืืฉ nipagesh be-sha'a khameshLet's meet at five o'clock.
๐ก Tip: The Israeli week runs Sunday โ Thursday for work/school, with ืฉืืช (Saturday) as the day of rest. So "day one" really is the start of the week!
Exercises
1. Say it in Hebrew.
- tomorrow โ ืืืจ
- Monday โ ืืื ืฉื ื
- at three o'clock โ ืืฉืขื ืฉืืืฉ
- Do you have time tomorrow? โ ืืฉ ืื ืืื ืืืจ?
2. What does it mean?
- ืืื ืจืืฉืื โ Sunday (day one)
- ืืืืื ืฉืขื ื ืืคืืฉ? โ What time shall we meet?
- ืืืื โ today
Lesson 12
Shopping & money
From the corner shop to the open-air market (ืฉืืง, shuk), these phrases let you ask prices, try things on, pay โ and even haggle a little.
Prices & paying
| ืืื ืื ืขืืื? | kama ze ole? | How much does it cost? |
| ืื ืืงืจ ืืื. | ze yakar miday | It's too expensive. |
| ืืฉ ืื ืื? | yesh hanakha? | Is there a discount? |
| ืื ื ืืืื ืืฉืื ืืืจืืืก ืืฉืจืื? | ani yakhol leshalem be-kartis ashrai? | Can I pay by credit card? |
| ืืคืฉืจ ืืฉืื ืืืืืื? | efshar leshalem be-mezuman? | Can I pay in cash? |
| ืื ืืชืืื ืื. | ze matim li | It fits me / suits me. |
| ืื ื ืืืคืฉ ืืืืฆื. | ani mekhapes khultsa | I'm looking for a shirt. |
Expensive vs. cheap: ืืงืจ (yakar) = expensive, ืืื (zol) = cheap. In the market it's normal to bargain: ืืคืฉืจ ืื ืื? = "any discount?" and to close the deal, ืื ื ืืงื ืืช ืื ("I'll take it").
Haggling at the market
Buyer
ืืื ืื ืขืืื? kama ze ole?How much is this?
Seller
ืื ืขืืื ืืืืฉืื ืฉืงืืื. ze ole khamishim shkalim.It costs fifty shekels.
Buyer
ืื ืืงืจ ืืื. ืืฉ ืื ืื? ze yakar miday. yesh hanakha?That's too expensive. Any discount?
Seller
ืื ื ืืืื ืืชืช ืื ืขืฉืจื ืืืื ืื ืื. ani yakhol latet lekha asara akhuz hanakha.I can give you a ten percent discount.
๐ก Tip: ืืื (kama) covers both "how much" and "how many" โ one word for all quantities.
Exercises
1. Say it in Hebrew.
- How much does it cost? โ ืืื ืื ืขืืื?
- It's too expensive. โ ืื ืืงืจ ืืื.
- Can I pay in cash? โ ืืคืฉืจ ืืฉืื ืืืืืื?
2. What does it mean?
- ืืฉ ืื ืื? โ Is there a discount?
- ืื ืืชืืื ืื โ It fits / suits me.
- ืื ื ืืืคืฉ ืืืืฆื โ I'm looking for a shirt.
Lesson 13
The root system: past & future
Here's the idea that unlocks all of Hebrew. Almost every verb is built from a three-letter root that carries the core meaning. Slot that root into different patterns and you get the past, the present and the future โ same root, different clothes.
Roots & binyanim โ the big picture
Take the root ืึพืึพื (the idea of "learning"). Pour it into the vowel patterns and you get a whole family of words:
- ืืืื (lomed) โ learns / is learning (present)
- ืืืืชื (lamadti) โ I learned (past)
- ืืืื (elmad) โ I will learn (future)
These vowel patterns are called binyanim ("buildings"). There are seven of them; the one above is ืคึธึผืขึทื (pa'al), the simplest and most common. You don't need to master all seven now โ just recognise that a shared root is doing the heavy lifting.
Past tense โ endings on the back
The past tense adds suffixes that tell you who did it: ืืืืชื (I learned), ืืืืช (you learned), ืืืื ื (we learned).
| ืืชืืื ืืืืชื ืืจืืืช ืืืงืจ | etmol akhalti arukhat boker | Yesterday I ate breakfast. |
| ืืชืืื ืืืืชื ืืขืืืื | etmol halakhti la-avoda | Yesterday I went to work. |
| ืืชืืื ืืืืชื ืขืืจืืช | etmol lamadti ivrit | Yesterday I studied Hebrew. |
| ืืชืืื ืจืืืชื ืกืจื | etmol ra'iti seret | Yesterday I watched a movie. |
Future tense โ markers on the front
The future does the mirror image: it adds prefixes. ืืืื (I will learn), ืชืืื (you will learn), ื ืืื (we will learn). Same root ืึพืึพื, now looking forward.
| ืืืจ ืื ื ืืืื ืืจืืืช ืืืงืจ | makhar ani okhal arukhat boker | Tomorrow I'll eat breakfast. |
| ืืืจ ืื ื ืืื ืืขืืืื | makhar ani elekh la-avoda | Tomorrow I'll go to work. |
| ืืืจ ืื ื ืืืื ืขืืจืืช | makhar ani elmad ivrit | Tomorrow I'll study Hebrew. |
| ืืืจ ืื ื ืืจืื ืกืจื | makhar ani er'e seret | Tomorrow I'll watch a movie. |
๐ก Tip: Spot the pattern across the tables โ ืืชืืื ("yesterday") pairs with past-tense suffixes, ืืืจ ("tomorrow") with future-tense prefixes. Learn to feel the root ืึพืึพื inside ืืืื / ืืืืชื / ืืืื and Hebrew grammar starts to click.
Exercises
1. Past or future?
- ืืืืชื โ past: "I learned" (suffix -ti)
- ืืืื โ future: "I will learn" (prefix a-)
- ืืืืชื โ past: "I went"
2. What does it mean?
- ืืชืืื ืืืืชื ืืจืืืช ืืืงืจ โ Yesterday I ate breakfast.
- ืืืจ ืื ื ืืื ืืขืืืื โ Tomorrow I'll go to work.
- ืืชืืื ืจืืืชื ืกืจื โ Yesterday I watched a movie.
Lesson 14
Your first real conversation
This is where everything comes together. You'll weave greetings, names, origins, hobbies and farewells into one flowing chat โ plus a few pieces of everyday Israeli slang to sound natural.
The building blocks
| ืฉืืื! | shalom! | Hello! |
| ืืื ืงืืจืืื ืื? | ekh kor'im lekha? | What's your name? |
| ืืืืคื ืืชื? | me'eifo ata? | Where are you from? |
| ืืชื ืืืืจ ืื ืืืืช? | ata medaber anglit? | Do you speak English? |
| ืืฉ ืื ืชืืืืืื? | yesh lekha takhbivim? | Do you have hobbies? |
| ืืื ื ืขืื ืืืืจ ืืืชื. | haya na'im ledaber itkha | It was nice talking with you. |
A full first chat
A
ืฉืืื! ืื ืฉืืืื? shalom! ma shlomkha?Hi! How are you?
B
ืื ื ืืกืืจ, ืชืืื. ืืื ืงืืจืืื ืื? ani beseder, toda. ekh kor'im lekha?I'm fine, thanks. What's your name?
A
ืงืืจืืื ืื ืื ื. ืืืืคื ืืชื? kor'im li Dani. me'eifo ata?My name is Dani. Where are you from?
B
ืื ื ืืืฉืจืื. ื ืขืื ืืืืืจ! ani mi-Yisrael. na'im lehakir!I'm from Israel. Nice to meet you!
A
ืื ืืชื ืืืื ืืขืฉืืช ืืืื ื ืืคื ืื? ma ata ohev la'asot bi-zmankha ha-panui?What do you like to do in your free time?
B
ืื ื ืืืื ืืงืจืื ืืืฉืืืช. ani ohev likro ve-liskhot.I like to read and swim.
A
ืืื ื ืขืื ืืืืจ ืืืชื. ืืืชืจืืืช! haya na'im ledaber itkha. lehitra'ot!It was nice talking with you. Goodbye!
A little local colour. Israelis pepper speech with casual expressions: ืื ื ืฉืืข? (ma nishma?, "what's up?"), ืกืืื (sababa, "cool / all good"), and when you miss something, ืขืื ืคืขื, ืืืงืฉื (od pa'am, bevakasha, "once more, please"). And remember โ ืฉืืื works for both hello and goodbye.
๐ You did it! You've gone from the alphabet to a real conversation. Keep listening, keep repeating, and use these phrases with real people โ that's where fluency grows. ืืืฆืืื! (be-hatslakha โ good luck!)
Exercises
1. Say it in Hebrew.
- What's your name? โ ืืื ืงืืจืืื ืื?
- Nice to meet you! โ ื ืขืื ืืืืืจ!
- Do you speak English? โ ืืชื ืืืืจ ืื ืืืืช?
- Goodbye! โ ืืืชืจืืืช!
2. What does it mean?
- ืื ื ืฉืืข? โ What's up?
- ืื ื ืืืื ืืงืจืื ืืืฉืืืช โ I like to read and swim.
- ืืื ื ืขืื ืืืืจ ืืืชื โ It was nice talking with you.