Hebrew Alphabet Pronunciation and Letter Sounds
Hear how every Hebrew letter is pronounced by a native speaker
Compare each letter, its name and its sound. There are 22 letters and five final forms.
The five final forms are used at the ends of words. They are forms of existing letters.
| Letter name | Sound guide | |
|---|---|---|
| א | Alephאָלֶף | Often silent or a glottal stop |
| ב | Betבֵּית | "b" as in boy / "v" as in vest |
| ג | Gimelגִּימֵל | "g" as in go |
| ד | Daletדָּלֶת | "d" as in door |
| ה | Heהֵא | "h" as in hello |
| ו | Vavוָו | "v" as in vine |
| ז | Zayinזַיִן | "z" as in zoo |
| ח | Chetחֵית | "ch" as in Bach (guttural) |
| ט | Tetטֵית | "t" as in ten |
| י | Yodיוֹד | "y" as in yes |
| כ | Kafכָּף | "k" as in kite / "kh" guttural |
| ל | Lamedלָמֶד | "l" as in lamp |
| מ | Memמֵם | "m" as in moon |
| נ | Nunנוּן | "n" as in nice |
| ס | Samechסָמֶךְ | "s" as in sun |
| ע | Ayinעַיִן | Often silent or a glottal stop; pharyngeal in some traditions |
| פ | Peפֵּא | "p" as in pen / "f" as in fish |
| צ | Tsadiצָדִי | "ts" as in cats |
| ק | Qofקוֹף | "k" as in king |
| ר | Reshרֵישׁ | Hebrew r, often made at the back of the mouth |
| ש | Shinשִׁין | "sh" as in ship / "s" as in sun |
| ת | Tavתָּו | "t" as in top |
| ך | Final Kafכָּף סוֹפִית | "kh" guttural (end of word) |
| ם | Final Memמֵם סוֹפִית | "m" as in moon (end of word) |
| ן | Final Nunנוּן סוֹפִית | "n" as in nice (end of word) |
| ף | Final Peפֵּא סוֹפִית | "f" as in fish (end of word) |
| ץ | Final Tsadiצָדִי סוֹפִית | "ts" as in cats (end of word) |
Letter names and letter sounds
A letter name identifies the letter; its sound helps you read a word. Listen to the recording and compare it with the sound guide. Vowel marks help explain how a letter is read in a word.
Letters with more than one sound
Bet, Kaf and Pe can have different sounds depending on a dot. Shin and Sin differ by the position of a dot. Final forms change the shape at the end of a word.
How the Hebrew Sound System Works
The Hebrew alphabet is a consonantal writing system — all 22 letters represent consonant sounds. In standard writing, vowels are not marked, and fluent readers infer them from context. For beginning readers and children, the nikud system (dots and marks placed above and below letters) marks vowels and enables accurate reading.
Begadkefat Letters — Dual Sounds
In modern Israeli Hebrew, Bet, Kaf and Pe have paired sounds depending on a dot called dagesh: b/v, k/kh and p/f. The traditional BeGaD KeFaT group also includes Gimel, Dalet and Tav; pronunciation varies across reading traditions.
The Nikud System — Hebrew Vowels
The Hebrew vowel system includes marks such as kamatz (ָ), patach (ַ), tzere (ֵ), chiriq (ִ), cholam (ֹ), and shuruk (וּ). In children's books, poetry, and prayer books, nikud appears to assist reading. In the AlephBet app, every letter is presented with native speaker pronunciation — so children hear the correct sound directly.
Why Correct Pronunciation Matters
Hearing correct letter pronunciation is the first step in learning to read Hebrew. Research shows that children exposed to properly pronounced letter sounds develop stronger phonological awareness — a foundational skill for independent reading. At ages 3-5, listening to letter sounds is even more important than visual letter recognition.
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Hebrew Letter Pronunciation Tips for Parents
Some Hebrew sounds don't exist in other languages, and even young native speakers may find them challenging. Here are the most common pronunciation challenges:
Chet and Khaf — Two Throat Sounds
The letter Chet (ח) represents a deep guttural sound produced in the throat, while Khaf (כ without dagesh) is a softer, palatal 'KH' sound. In modern spoken Hebrew, many speakers pronounce them similarly, but the distinction matters for reading and spelling.
Ayin — The Unique Sound
The letter Ayin (ע) represents a guttural sound that doesn't exist in English or European languages. In Mizrachi pronunciation, Ayin is a deep throat consonant. In everyday Israeli Hebrew, it is often pronounced like Aleph (a glottal stop). In the AlephBet app, every letter is recorded in modern Israeli pronunciation.
Resh — The Guttural R
Unlike the English R, the Hebrew Resh is a guttural sound produced at the back of the mouth. It's one of the later sounds children acquire, typically by age 5-6. Don't worry if a young child pronounces Resh differently — this is completely natural.
How to Practice Letter Sounds at Home
Listen to each letter with your child in the app and try repeating together. Focus on fun rather than perfect accuracy — playful repetition builds sound-letter connections far more effectively than forced practice. Press the play button again and again — kids love it!