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Alphabet & Pronunciation

Hebrew alphabet (alef-bet), final letters, vowel points (niqqud) and reading right-to-left
אותיות דומות: ב/כ, ג/נ, ה/ח/ת
similar-looking letters
bet/kaf, gimel/nun
Distinguishing visually similar Hebrew letters
דגש קל: ב/ו, כ/ך, פ/ף
dagesh: b/v, k/kh, p/f
dagesh kal
Dot changes pronunciation: בּ=b/ב=v, כּ=k/כ=kh, פּ=p/פ=f
תנועות: קמץ, פתח, חיריק
vowels: kamatz, patach, chirik
kamatz(a), patach(a), chirik(i)
Main vowel signs and their sounds
שווא נע ושווא נח
moving vs resting sh'va
sh'va na / sh'va nach
Sh'va can be pronounced (na) or silent (nach)
אם קריאה: א, ה, ו, י
matres lectionis: alef, he, vav, yod
imot kri'a
These letters can also signal vowels
הטעמה: מלרע ומלעיל
stress: final vs penultimate
milra / mil'el
Most Hebrew words stress the last syllable (milra)
עיצורים גרוניים: א, ה, ח, ע
guttural consonants: alef, he, chet, ayin
gutturals
Gutturals behave specially and affect surrounding vowels
ר — resh
resh pronunciation
resh (uvular)
Modern Hebrew resh is usually uvular [ʁ]
כתיב מלא וכתיב חסר
full vs defective spelling
ktiv male / ktiv chaser
With or without vowel letters when niqqud is absent
קריאה ללא ניקוד
reading without niqqud
reading unvocalised text
Everyday Hebrew is written without vowel points