Hebrew Reference

Hebrew Alphabet (Alef-Bet)

Name Transliteration Notes

Alef

glottal stop

Silent carrier

Bet/Vet

b / v

Dot (dagesh) = b, no dot = v

Gimel

g

Hard g

Dalet

d

He

h

Often silent at word end

Vav

v / o / u

Consonant v, vowel o/u

Zayin

z

Chet

ch

Guttural, no English equivalent

Tet

t

Yod

y / i

Consonant y, vowel i

Kaf/Chaf

k / ch

Has final form

Lamed

l

Mem

m

Has final form

Nun

n

Has final form

Samech

s

Ayin

guttural

Distinct from Alef

Pe/Fe

p / f

Has final form

Tsade

ts

Has final form

Qof

q/k

Resh

r

Uvular r

Shin/Sin

sh / s

Dot right = sh, dot left = s

Tav

t

Reading Direction and Structure

  • Hebrew reads right to left (RTL)

  • Vowels (niqqud) are dots/marks below/above consonants — often omitted in modern text

  • Root system: most words derive from 3-consonant roots

Common Roots

Root Core Meaning Derivatives

k-t-b

write

katav (wrote), ktiva (writing), mikhtav (letter)

l-m-d

learn/teach

lamad (learned), melamed (teacher), talmid (student)

s-p-r

count/tell

sefer (book), sifriya (library), mispar (number)

sh-m-r

guard/keep

shamar (guarded), mishmar (guard duty), shomer (guard)

d-b-r

speak

diber (spoke), davar (thing/word), midbar (desert)

Hebrew in Technology

Term Context

Kibbutz

Collective — used in organizational metaphors

Tikkun

Repair/fix — tikkun olam (repair the world)

Golem

Shapeless mass — early "AI" concept from Jewish folklore

Shibboleth

Test word — origin of authentication concept

Amen

So be it — from root a-m-n (trust/believe)