Audio Guide · Phonetic Reference · Syllable Stress
Welcome. I'm George, and this is my daughter Talia. Together, we'll learn to read Hebrew — its letters, its sounds, and the words of Scripture. Take your time, listen, and say each one aloud. There's no test here — only learning. Let's begin.
Pronunciation here is Modern Hebrew — the way Hebrew is read today. The alphabet, words, and Scripture you're learning are Biblical Hebrew.
🧭 Your journey begins — explore each area, and teach Talia.
22 Hebrew consonants with phonetic breakdowns
The Hebrew alphabet, called the Aleph-Bet, has twenty-two consonants. Each one has its own name and its own sound. A few change their sound when a small dot is added inside them. Tap any one below to hear it, and try saying it yourself. The Phonetic Key below explains the special sound symbols.
The pointing system that indicates vowel sounds
Hebrew vowels are called nikud — a system of small dots and dashes added to the consonants to show you which vowel sound to make. Hebrew has five main vowel families: A, E, I, O, and U. Press any card below to hear that vowel, and try saying it yourself.
Hebrew vowels (nikud) appear as dots and dashes placed below, above, or within consonants. They're read AFTER the consonant they're attached to.
Short "a" sound — like "a" in "father" but shorter
Long "a" (or sometimes "o") — like "a" in "father"
Reduced/hurried "a" — very short, almost a half-vowel
Long "e" — like "ay" in "day" or "e" in "they"
Short "e" — like "e" in "bed" or "set"
Reduced/hurried "e" — very quick, like a schwa
"ee" sound — like "ee" in "see" or "i" in "machine"
Long "ee" with Yod — fuller, longer sound
"oh" sound — like "o" in "go" or "bone"
Full "oh" with Vav — the most common O spelling
Reduced "o" — quick, hurried O sound
"oo" sound — like "oo" in "moon" or "u" in "rule"
Full "oo" with Vav — longer U sound
Either silent OR a very quick "uh" (schwa) depending on position
Vocal Shva (pronounced): At the start of a word, after a long vowel, or when two Shvas are together (first is silent, second is vocal).
Silent Shva: At the end of a syllable or word.
Unique Hebrew sounds that require special attention
Some Hebrew sounds don't exist in English, and a few letters change their sound entirely. This section covers the ones that need special attention: the BeGaD KeFaT letters, the throaty gutturals, the Chet and the Ayin, the difference between Shin and Sin, and the shapes letters take at the end of a word. Press any card to hear it explained.
Six consonants once had two sounds — hard (with the dagesh dot) and soft (without). In the pronunciation used here, only three still change:
Gimel, Dalet and Tav (גּ דּ תּ) once softened too, but no longer change sound.
Four letters pronounced from the throat — they cannot take a dagesh:
A distinctive throat-clearing sound not found in English:
Originally a voiced pharyngeal sound (deep in throat):
The same letter with different dot positions:
Five letters have special forms when they appear at the end of a word:
Where to put the emphasis in Hebrew words
In Hebrew, where you put the emphasis matters. Most words are stressed on the last syllable — that's the default. Some words, especially short segolate nouns, are stressed on the second-to-last. Press any word below to hear it, and notice which syllable is stressed.
Most Hebrew words are stressed on the last syllable. This is called milra (מִלְרַע) — "from below."
Some words are stressed on the second-to-last syllable. This is called mil'el (מִלְעֵיל) — "from above." Common with segolate nouns.
Biblical names often stress different syllables. Learning common names helps develop an ear for stress patterns.
When in doubt, stress the last syllable. You'll be right about 70% of the time! Segolate nouns (two-syllable words with segol vowels) are the main exception.
Common Biblical Hebrew words with full phonetic breakdowns
Here are common Biblical Hebrew words you'll meet again and again — the names of God, key ideas like spirit, blessing, love, and holiness, and words you already know like amen and halleluyah. Press any word to hear it pronounced, with the stressed syllable marked.
No test — just practice. Say it out loud, hear it, then show yourself you can read Hebrew.
This is your practice studio — there's no test. Pick a station: the letters, words you've already met, brand-new words to sound out, writing practice, or reading a real verse. For each card, say it out loud first, then press Hear it to check yourself, and mark how it went. Again just means more practice.
Say it aloud first. Tap “Hear it” to compare, then mark how it went — “Again” is not a wrong answer, it’s just more practice.
See if you can name each letter — no pressure, just practice.
Now let's see what you remember. I'll show you a letter, and you choose its name. There's no pressure — wrong answers just mean another listen. Tap the name you think is right.
Tap the name of this letter
🏆 You learned the whole Aleph-Bet!
You can name every Hebrew letter. Make a certificate to keep — or print it.
The best way to learn a letter is to teach it. Teach Talia — and you'll learn it together.
The best way to learn something is to teach it. This is my daughter, Talia — she's just beginning to learn the Aleph-Bet, like you. For each letter, Talia will ask you what it is. Say its name and its sound out loud, teach it to her, then let her try. When you can teach a letter, you truly know it — and you and Talia learn it together.
Hear George, teach Talia, and catch her mistakes — that's how you'll both learn it.
What Talia has learned — from you:
George shows youTalia learns itHear George, then teach Talia this letter — its name and its sound.
Its name is…
…and it sounds like…
Now teach her out loud — say its name and its sound.
Did Talia repeat it right?
You learned to name every letter of the Hebrew Aleph-Bet. Put your name on it.
Please enter your name for the certificate.
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Bible Ministries International · BiblicalTools.org
This certifies that
—
— your name, in the letters you learned —
has learned to read and name every letter of the Biblical Hebrew Aleph-Bet — all twenty-two consonants — through the Hebrew Pronunciation lesson.
“In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.” — Genesis 1:1, KJ3