Wondering about the best way to learn to read Hebrew? You’ve come to the right place! Hebrew is one of the world’s oldest living languages. It’s had a huge impact on the world we live in. It’s spoken by millions of people around the globe and is learned as a reading language by millions more.
Hebrew is one of the few languages today that connects us with people from 2000+ years ago. Its relationship with the Ancient Near East and other Semitic languages makes learning Hebrew an excellent starting point for people interested in that part of the world.
However, Hebrew is not for the faint of heart! For native English speakers who are just starting out, the learning curve is steep because of how “foreign” the language seems. If you want to know how to learn Hebrew in the most efficient way possible, we’re here to help! We’ll share five things you should know before getting started plus some helpful resources.
How Hard Is It to Learn to Read Hebrew?
As with learning any new language, it takes time and practice to read Hebrew. While basic Hebrew words are fairly straightforward to learn, speaking the language and reading the language fluently can be challenging. This is because of a few vast differences between Hebrew and English, including reading Hebrew right to left, different verbs forms, and unique sounds in the language.
The good news? Whether you want to learn to read Hebrew for kids or adults, these 5 tips will help you be well on your way!
1. Hebrew Reads from Right to Left
What catches many beginners off guard when they first open up a Hebrew book. That’s because Hebrew is one of the many languages, including Arabic and Syriac, which reads from right to left. Both the text on an individual page is written from right to left, and the book itself is read from right to left.
When laying a Hebrew book on a table with the front cover facing up, the binding will be on the right-hand side. It may seem different at first, but remember that you didn’t know how to read from left to right at one point either.
It doesn’t take nearly as long as you might think for right-to-left reading to begin to feel natural. The secret to catching on to this is simply to practice a little bit each day.
You might also be interested in: How Long Does it Take to Learn a Language?
2. Hebrew was Originally Written Without Vowels
Many scholars trace the development of Hebrew to the end of the 2nd millennium BCE. Yet, for close to 2,000 years, the written language never actually included pure vowel markings in the text.
Over time, a few of the consonants became special markers for certain vowel sounds, but it wasn’t until the 8th century that vowels were added to written text using a series of dots and dashes. These vowels were placed above and below the letters already in use.
It’s important to note that Hebrew reading schools today teach both “pointed” and “unpointed” Hebrew. “Pointed” refers to learning Hebrew with the vowels in the text, while learning “unpointed” Hebrew leaves the vowels out and gets you a bit closer to how it was originally done!
If you travel to Israel, you should expect to see newspapers, books, advertisements, and more written without vowels. For those who read Hebrew fluently, these texts aren’t a problem. In time, you’ll learn to read Hebrew, even when there are no vowels in sight.
3. Hebrew Uses Letters as Numbers
The Hebrew language has words for its numerals (one, two, three, etc.) and its ordinals (first, second, third, etc.). But, there is a shorthand used to shrink the space down considerably when writing numbers.
In English, we do this by using completely different markings altogether for our numbers (1, 2, 3, etc.). But in Hebrew, this is done by using letters from the alphabet.
The first nine letters of the alphabet mark out the numbers 1 through 9. The following 13 letters mark off values between 10 and 400. An additional symbol is added to help with numbers over 1,000.
4. Consistent Practice is Key
When English-speakers first explore how to learn Hebrew, they can feel like their linguistic world has been turned on its head. These students may struggle unless they take the necessary time to learn and get comfortable with the alphabet and reading right to left.
There are a number of ways to learn to read Hebrew with greater fluency, but the trick is consistent exposure to the text. Students should practice daily as opposed to weekly, even if it’s for shorter amounts of time. Even fifteen minutes a day can get you farther than putting in an hour a week.
When you study Hebrew, you have to remember that you’re learning when you recall the language, not when you review it. So, make sure you have time to recall what you’re learning. This means integrating elements of the language into your daily life. See if you can apply your vocabulary throughout your day. In time, these words and phrases will become second nature.
One of the best ways to learn Hebrew, or any other language, is to actually write down phrases and sentences rather than just speak them. With consistent practice, you will find that whatever you force your brain to recall, it will remember!
5. Remember What Sparked Your Interest
Our brains are wired to remember things that interest us. Why do you want to learn how to read Hebrew? Are you taking a trip to Israel soon? Keeping your reasons top-of-mind will help you stay motivated along the way.
For example, many people choose to learn Hebrew so they can study parts of the Bible in its original language. Known to Christians as the “Old Testament,” the books of the Hebrew Bible have come to exert a massive amount of influence on our cultural heritage.
Their content has shaped western law, as well as cultural assumptions about rights and human dignity. One of the foundational arguments during the abolition movement, and again during the Civil Rights movement, was often cited from the book of Genesis. It said: humanity is made in the image of God.
There are also many phrases from the Hebrew Bible that we still use today. Sayings like “by the skin of your teeth” have been etched into the English language since time immemorial. If you find yourself losing inspiration at any point in your Hebrew-learning journey, get back in touch with what first motivated you to learn. Whatever sparked your fascination with this ancient and influential language, let it continue to inspire you!
Resources to Help You Learn How to Read Hebrew
With so many helpful resources out there, you can learn to read Hebrew in no time if you put in the effort. Here are some of the best resources and tools.
- Flashcard apps: Phone apps like Memrise and Quizlet offers flashcards to improve your Hebrew memorization.
- Self-paced courses: There are many websites like Easy Learn Hebrew that offer lessons, activities, and quizzes for you to do at your own pace.
- Online lessons: Working with a Hebrew tutor on sites like TakeLessons allows you to take customized lessons to help you master Hebrew with confidence.
No matter what sparked your interest in learning Hebrew, you’ll find that putting in the time to practice is well worth it. We wish you the best on your Hebrew learning journey!
Are you coming across any obstacles or questions while you learn to read Hebrew? Let us know in the comments section below!
Guest Post Author: Zachary Stevens has spent the last two years serving as a Hebrew Language Teaching Assistant at Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary. He has a Master’s in Biblical Studies and is currently working toward a Master of Theology in Hamilton, MA.
Thanks Zachary for this helpful article. I’m about to partner up with a friend who is in a master of divinity program. My background is in greek, so we will be learning together, and I’ll be looking for all of the online assistance I can get. Thanks again, this introduction was encouraging.