Hebrew Script
Below is the Hebrew letter chart used to write Modern Hebrew.
Hebrew Writing Rules
General Notes
Hebrew vowels are shown by nikkud, small marks above or below letters, but these are often left out in everyday writing.
Hebrew is read from right to left, so adjust as you go through the chart.
Key Features
- Hebrew vowels are not always written out fully. The nikkud marks are usually used in formal or educational contexts.
- Unlike other alphabets, Hebrew has no distinct upper or lower case letters.
Writing Tips
- Practicing writing on paper will help you get familiar with the shapes.
- Each Hebrew letter has its own shape, and its form may change depending on its position in the word.
Sounds
Hebrew has many unique sounds. Some letters are pronounced differently depending on context:
- Bet (ב) sounds like "B" in English.
- Vet (ב) sounds like "V" in English.
- Chet (ח) sounds like "CH" in Scottish "loch."
א
A
ב
B
ג
G
ד
D
ה
H
ו
V
ז
Z
ח
Ch
ט
T
י
Y
כ
K
ל
L
מ
M
נ
N
ס
S
ע
'
פ
P
צ
Ts
ק
Q
ר
R
ש
Sh
ת
T
Some Hebrew letters change form when they appear at the end of a word. These are called the sofit forms, and there are five letters that have this alternate appearance.
Hebrew Sofit Letters Chart
| Original Letter | Sofit Form | Latin Letter |
|---|---|---|
| כ | ך | K |
| מ | ם | M |
| נ | ן | N |
| פ | ף | P |
| צ | ץ | Ts |
NOTE: These are the only characters that might extend below the baseline of writing (the line on the notebook paper for instance) – specifically the ones with tails.
Hebrew Vowel Markers
In Hebrew, vowels are shown with small dots and lines called nikkud. Here are a few examples:
בַּ
Ba
The "a" sound like in "cat".
בָּ
Ba
The "a" sound like in "father".
בֶּ
Be
The "e" sound like in "bet".
בֵּ
Be
The "ey" sound like in "they".
בִּ
Bi
The "i" sound like in "sit".
בְּ
B
Silent or short vowel sound.
בֹּ
Bo
The "o" sound like in "go".
בֻּ
Bu
The "u" sound like in "put".
בּוּ
Bu
Another "u" sound like in "put".
Here are 20 common names written with Hebrew letters:
10 Western Names:
Christopher – כּרִיסְטוֹפֵר
Jessica – ג’סִיקָה
Emily – אֶמִילִי
Paul – פָּאוּל
John (in its Western form) – ג’וֹן
William – וִילִיאָם
Linda – לִינְדָה
George – ג’וֹרְג’
Robert – רוֹבֶּרְט
Alice – אָלִיס
10 Hebrew Names:
Yosef (Joseph) – יוֹסֵף
Rivka (Rebecca) – רִבְקָה
Moshe (Moses) – מֹשֶׁה
Leah – לֵאָה
Shlomo (Solomon) – שְׁלֹמֹה
Tziporah – צִפּוֹרָה
Yitzhak (Isaac) – יִצְחָק
Avraham (Abraham) – אַבְרָהָם
Yael – יָעֵל
Eliezer – אֱלִיעֶזֶר