Editing Hebrew alphabet

{{short description|Alphabet of the Hebrew language}}
{{About|the alphabet derived from the Aramaic alphabet (135&nbsp;CE&nbsp;– present)|the original Hebrew alphabet derived directly from the Phoenician alphabet (10th century&nbsp;BCE&nbsp;– 135&nbsp;CE)|Paleo-Hebrew alphabet|the descendant script of the Paleo-Hebrew alphabet|Samaritan script|the insect|Hebrew character}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=July 2022}}
{{Infobox writing system
| name        = Hebrew alphabet
| altname     = 
| type        = [[Abjad]]
| languages   = [[Hebrew language|Hebrew]], [[Yiddish]], [[Judeo-Spanish|Ladino]], [[Mozarabic language|Mozarabic]], [[Levantine Arabic]], [[Aramaic]], [[Knaanic]], other [[Jewish languages]]
| time        = 2nd–1st century BCE to present<ref>"[https://www.britannica.com/topic/Hebrew-alphabet Hebrew alphabet]." ''[[Encyclopedia Britannica]]''. "Square Hebrew became established in the 2nd and 1st centuries bce and developed into the modern Hebrew alphabet over the next 1,500 years."</ref>
| direction   = Right-to-left
| fam1        = [[Egyptian hieroglyphs]]
| fam2        = [[Proto-Sinaitic script]]
| fam3        = [[Phoenician alphabet]]
| fam4        = [[Aramaic alphabet]]
| print       = 
| sisters     = {{Plainlist|
* [[Nabataean alphabet|Nabataean]]
* [[Syriac alphabet|Syriac]]
* [[Palmyrene alphabet|Palmyrene]]
* Edessan
* [[Hatran alphabet|Hatran]]
* [[Elymaic]]
* [[Mandaic alphabet|Mandaic]]
* [[Pahlavi scripts|Pahlavi]]
* [[Kharosthi]]
}}
| children    = {{Plainlist|
* [[Yiddish alphabet]]
* [[Western Neo-Aramaic#Square Maalouli alphabet|Square Maalouli alphabet]]
}}
| sample      = Alefbet ivri.svg
| imagesize   = 221px
| unicode     = {{Plainlist|
* [https://www.unicode.org/charts/PDF/U0590.pdf U+0590 to U+05FF]<br />Hebrew,
* [https://www.unicode.org/charts/PDF/UFB00.pdf U+FB1D to U+FB4F]<br />Alphabetic Presentation Forms
 }}
| iso15924    = Hebr
| iso15924 note = 
| footnotes   = 
| note        = 
}}
{{Contains special characters|Hebrew}}
{{alphabet}}

The '''Hebrew alphabet''' ({{langx|he|[[wikt:אלפבית|אָלֶף־בֵּית]] עִבְרִי}},{{ref label|Common_Hebrew_Spelling|a|}} {{transliteration|he|Alefbet ivri}}), known variously by scholars as the '''[[Ktav Ashuri]]''', '''Jewish script''', '''square script''' and '''block script''', is a [[unicase|unicameral]] [[abjad]] script used in the writing of the [[Hebrew language]] and other [[Jewish languages]], most notably [[Yiddish]], [[Judaeo-Spanish|Ladino]], [[Judeo-Arabic languages|Judeo-Arabic]], and [[Judeo-Persian]]. In modern Hebrew, vowels are increasingly introduced. It is also used informally in Israel to write [[Levantine Arabic]], especially among [[Druze in Israel|Druze]].<ref name="AbuElhija">{{cite journal | last=Abu Elhija | first=Dua'a | title=A new writing system? Developing orthographies for writing Arabic dialects in electronic media | journal=Writing Systems Research | publisher=Informa UK Limited | volume=6 | issue=2 | date=23 January 2014 | issn=1758-6801 | doi=10.1080/17586801.2013.868334 | pages=190–214| s2cid=219568845 }}</ref><ref>Gaash, Amir. "Colloquial Arabic written in Hebrew characters on Israeli websites by Druzes (and other non-Jews)." Jerusalem studies in Arabic and Islam 43 (2016): 15.</ref><ref>Shachmon, Ori, and Merav Mack. "Speaking Arabic, Writing Hebrew. Linguistic Transitions in Christian Arab Communities in Israel". Wiener Zeitschrift Für Die Kunde Des Morgenlandes, vol. 106, 2016, pp. 223–239. JSTOR, www.jstor.org/stable/26449346. Accessed 15 July 2021.</ref> It is an offshoot of the [[Aramaic alphabet|Imperial Aramaic alphabet]], which flourished during the [[Achaemenid Empire]] and which itself derives from the [[Phoenician alphabet]].

Historically, a different abjad script was used to write Hebrew: the original, old Hebrew script, now known as the [[Paleo-Hebrew alphabet]], has been largely preserved in a variant form as the [[Samaritan script|Samaritan alphabet]], and is still used by the [[Samaritans]]. The present ''Jewish script'' or ''square script'', on the contrary, is a stylized form of the [[Aramaic alphabet]] and was technically known by Jewish sages as [[Ktav Ashuri|Ashurit]] ({{lit|Assyrian script}}), since its origins were known to be from [[Assyria]] ([[Mesopotamia]]).<ref>Babylonian Talmud (''Sanhedrin'' 21b–22a); Jerusalem Talmud (''Megillah'' 10a). Cf. [[Mishnah]] (''Megillah'' 1:8): "The Books [of Scripture] differ from phylacteries and ''Mezuzahs'' only in that the Books may be written in any language, while phylacteries and ''Mezuzahs'' may be written '''in the Assyrian writing only'''."  See: ''The Mishnah'' (ed. Herbert Danby), Oxford University Press: London 1977, p. 202.</ref>

Various ''styles'' (in current terms, ''[[font]]s'') of representation of the Jewish script letters described in this article also exist, including a variety of [[cursive Hebrew]] styles. In the remainder of this article, the term ''Hebrew alphabet'' refers to the square script unless otherwise indicated.

The Hebrew alphabet has 22 letters. It does not have [[letter case|case]]. Five letters have different forms when used at the end of a word. Hebrew is [[Writing system#Directionality|written from right to left]]. Originally, the alphabet was an abjad consisting only of [[consonant]]s, but is now considered an [[impure abjad]]. As with other abjads, such as the [[Arabic alphabet]], during its centuries-long use scribes devised means of indicating [[vowel]] sounds by separate vowel points, known in Hebrew as ''[[niqqud]].'' In both biblical and rabbinic Hebrew, the letters {{lang|he|[[Yodh|י]]}} {{lang|he|[[Waw (letter)|ו]]}} {{lang|he|[[He (letter)|ה]]}} {{lang|he|[[Aleph|א]]}} can also function as ''[[mater lectionis|matres lectionis]]'', which is when certain consonants are used to indicate vowels. There is a trend in [[Modern Hebrew]] towards the use of ''matres lectionis'' to indicate vowels that have traditionally gone unwritten, a practice known as ''[[full spelling]]''.

The  [[Yiddish alphabet]], a modified version of the Hebrew alphabet used to write Yiddish, is a true alphabet, with all vowels rendered in the spelling, except in the case of inherited Hebrew words, which typically retain their Hebrew consonant-only spellings.

The Arabic and Hebrew alphabets have similarities in [[acrophony]] because it is said that they are both derived from the Aramaic alphabet, which in turn derives from the [[Phoenician alphabet]], both being slight regional variations of the [[Proto-Canaanite alphabet]] used in ancient times to write the various [[Canaanite languages]] (including Hebrew, Moabite, Phoenician, Punic, et cetera).

==History==
[[File:Paleo-Hebrew abjad.svg|300px|thumb|Paleo-Hebrew alphabet containing 22 letters, period, [[geresh]], and [[gershayim]]]]
[[File:Aleppo Codex Joshua 1 1.jpg|300px|thumb|The ''[[Aleppo Codex]]'', a tenth-century [[Masoretic Text]] of the [[Hebrew Bible]]. [[Book of Joshua]] 1:1]]
{{Main|History of the Hebrew alphabet}}
The [[Canaanite languages|Canaanite]] dialects were largely indistinguishable before around 1000 BCE.<ref>{{Citation | first = Joseph | last = Naveh | year = 1987 | contribution = Proto-Canaanite, Archaic Greek, and the Script of the Aramaic Text on the Tell Fakhariyah Statue | editor1-last = Miller | title = Ancient Israelite Religion|display-editors=etal}}.</ref> An example of related early [[Semitic inscriptions]] from the area include the tenth-century [[Gezer calendar]] over which scholars are divided as to whether its language is [[Hebrew language|Hebrew]] or [[Phoenician language|Phoenician]] and whether the script is [[Proto-Canaanite alphabet|Proto-Canaanite]] or [[Paleo-Hebrew alphabet|Paleo-Hebrew]].<ref>{{cite book |last1=Smith|first1=Mark S.|year=2002 |title=The Early History of God: Yahweh and the other deities in ancient Israel |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=1yM3AuBh4AsC&dq=Gezer+calendar+phoenician&pg=PA20 |pages=20|publisher=Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing Co |isbn=978-0-8028-3972-5}}</ref><ref>[https://esr.academia.edu/AdamBean/Papers/443200/The_Calendar_Tablet_from_Gezer The Calendar Tablet from Gezer, Adam L Bean, Emmanual School of Religion] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110302090228/http://esr.academia.edu/AdamBean/Papers/443200/The_Calendar_Tablet_from_Gezer |date=March 2, 2011 }}</ref><ref>[http://www.bib-arch.org/scholars-study/jezebel-seal-06.asp "Is it "Tenable"?", Hershel Shanks, Biblical Archaeology Review] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101225054108/http://www.bib-arch.org/scholars-study/jezebel-seal-06.asp |date=December 25, 2010 }}</ref><ref>[https://books.google.com/books?id=IhFxx8eQIDsC&q=gezer&pg=PA56 Spelling in the Hebrew Bible: Dahood memorial lecture, By Francis I. Andersen, A. Dean Forbes, p56]</ref><ref>{{cite journal |last1=Pardee|first1=Dennis|title=A Brief Case for the Language of the 'Gezer Calendar' as Phoenician|journal=Linguistic Studies in Phoenician, ed. Robert D. Holmstedt and Aaron Schade|pages=43|publisher=Winona Lake}}</ref><ref name="Rollston2010">{{cite book|author=Chris A. Rollston|title=Writing and Literacy in the World of Ancient Israel: Epigraphic Evidence from the Iron Age|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=kx9Uke_IfloC&pg=PA30|year=2010|publisher=Society of Biblical Lit|isbn=978-1-58983-107-0|pages=30–}}</ref>

A Hebrew variant of the [[Proto-Canaanite alphabet]], called the [[Paleo-Hebrew alphabet]] by scholars, began to emerge around 800 BCE.{{sfn|Saénz-Badillos|1993|page=16}} An example is the [[Siloam inscription]] ({{Circa|700 BCE}}).{{sfn|Saénz-Badillos|1993|page=61&ndash;62}}

The Paleo-Hebrew alphabet was used in the ancient kingdoms of [[Kingdom of Israel (Samaria)|Israel]] and [[Kingdom of Judah|Judah]]. Following the [[Babylonian exile]] of the Kingdom of Judah in the 6th century BCE, [[Jews]] began using a form of the [[Aramaic alphabet|Imperial Aramaic alphabet]], another offshoot of the same family of scripts, which flourished during the [[Achaemenid Empire]] (and which in turn had been adopted from the [[Assyria]]ns). The [[Samaritans]], who remained in the Land of Israel, continued to use the Paleo-Hebrew alphabet. During the 3rd century BCE (after the end of the Achaemenid Empire in 330 BCE), Jews began to use a stylized, "square" form of the Imperial Aramaic alphabet,{{sfn|Saénz-Badillos|1993}} while the Samaritans continued to use a form of the Paleo-Hebrew script called the [[Samaritan alphabet]]. For a few centuries, Jews used both scripts (although use of Paleo-Hebrew was limited then) before eventually, after the 1st century BCE, settling on the square Assyrian form.{{citation needed|date=May 2025}}

The square Hebrew alphabet was later adapted and used for writing languages of the [[Jewish diaspora]]{{dash}}such as [[Karaim language|Karaim]], the [[Judeo-Arabic languages]], Judaeo-Spanish, and Yiddish. The Hebrew alphabet continued in use for scholarly writing in Hebrew and came again into everyday use with the rebirth of the Hebrew language as a spoken language in the 18th and 19th centuries, especially in [[Israel]].{{citation needed|date=May 2025}}

==Description==
{{Hebrew alphabet navigation}}

===General===
In the traditional form, the Hebrew alphabet is an [[abjad]] consisting only of [[consonant]]s, [[Writing system#Directionality|written from right to left]]. It has 22 letters, five of which use different forms at the end of a word.

===Vowels===
{{Unreferenced section|date=March 2025}}
In the traditional form, vowels are indicated by the weak [[consonant]]s [[Aleph]] ({{Script/Hebrew|א}}), [[He (letter)|He]] ({{Script/Hebrew|ה}}), [[Waw (letter)|Waw/Vav]] ({{Script/Hebrew|ו}}), or  [[Yodh]] ({{Script/Hebrew|י}}) serving as vowel letters, or [[Mater lectionis|''matres lectionis'']]: the letter is combined with a previous vowel and becomes silent, or by imitation of such cases in the spelling of other forms. Also, a system of vowel points to indicate vowels (diacritics), called [[niqqud]], was developed. In modern forms of the alphabet, as in the case of [[Yiddish]] and to some extent [[Modern Hebrew]], [[vowel]]s may be indicated. Today, the trend is toward [[Ktiv hasar niqqud|full spelling]] with the weak letters acting as true vowels.

When used to [[Yiddish orthography|write Yiddish]], vowels are indicated, using certain letters, either with niqqud diacritics (e.g. {{Script/Hebrew|אָ}} or {{Script/Hebrew|יִ}}) or without (e.g. {{Script/Hebrew|ע}} or {{Script/Hebrew|י}}), except for Hebrew words, which in Yiddish are written in their Hebrew spelling.

To preserve the proper vowel sounds, scholars developed several different sets of vocalization and diacritical symbols called ''nequdot'' ({{Script/Hebrew|נקודות{{lrm}}}}, literally "points"). One of these, the [[Tiberian vocalization|Tiberian system]], eventually prevailed. [[Aaron ben Moses ben Asher]], and his family for several generations, are credited for refining and maintaining the system. These points are normally used only for special purposes, such as [[Bible|Biblical]] books intended for study, in [[poetry]] or when teaching the language to children.  The Tiberian system also includes a set of [[cantillation marks]], called ''trope'' or {{transliteration|he|te'amim}}, used to indicate how scriptural passages should be chanted in synagogue recitations of scripture (although these marks do not appear in the scrolls). In everyday writing of modern Hebrew, ''niqqud'' are absent; however, patterns of how words are derived from [[Semitic root|Hebrew roots]] (called ''shorashim'' or ''triliterals'') allow Hebrew speakers to determine the vowel-structure of a given word from its consonants based on the word's context and part of speech.

===Alphabet===
Unlike the Paleo-Hebrew writing script, the modern Hebrew script has five [[letter (alphabet)|letters]] that have special [[final form]]s,{{ref label|Pronunciation_in_Different_Word_Positions|c|}} called '''sofit''' ({{langx|he|סופית}}, meaning in this context "final" or "ending") form, used only at the end of a word, somewhat as in the [[Greek alphabet|Greek]] or in the [[Arabic alphabet|Arabic]] and [[Mandaic alphabet]]s.{{ref label|Variants_in_Arabic_Mandaic|b|}} These are shown below the normal form in the following table (letter names are [[List of Unicode characters#Hebrew|Unicode]] standard<ref name="unicode_names_of_hebrew_glyphs_at_unicode.org">{{cite web| url = https://www.unicode.org/charts/PDF/U0590.pdf| title = Hebrew |
format=character code chart |work=The Unicode Standard |publisher=Unicode, Inc. }}</ref><ref name="unicode_names_of_hebrew_glyphs_at_fileformat.info">[https://www.fileformat.info/info/unicode/block/hebrew/list.htm Unicode names of Hebrew characters at fileformat.info].</ref>). Although Hebrew is read and written from right to left, the following table shows the letters in order from left to right:

{|class="wikitable" style="text-align:center; line-height:150%;" dir="ltr"
|-<!--
* Note to editors wishing to change He → Hei, Yod → Yud, Pe → Pei, Tsadi → Tsadiq, Qof → Quf, Tav → Taf:
* The letter names in this table are from the Unicode standard.
* Variants of letter names and their pronunciation, such as colloquial Hebrew pronunciation and Yiddish pronunciation, are listed extensively in the following section, "Pronunciation of letter names".
* Please do not change the Unicode names in this table without explaining your rationale and having it discussed on the talk page – thank you!
-->
!'''[[Aleph|Alef]]'''||'''<div dir="ltr">[[Beth (letter)|Bet]]</div>'''||'''[[Gimel]]'''||'''[[Dalet]]'''||'''<div dir="ltr">[[He (letter)|He]]</div>'''||'''<div dir="ltr">[[Waw (letter)|Waw/Vav]]</div>'''||'''[[Zayin]]'''||'''[[Heth|Chet]]'''||'''[[Teth|Tet]]'''||'''[[Yodh|Yod]]'''||'''[[Kaph|Kaf]]'''
|-
| rowspan="2" style="font-size:200%;" | {{script/Hebrew|א}}
| rowspan="2" style="font-size:200%;" | {{script/Hebrew|ב}}
| rowspan="2" style="font-size:200%;" | {{script/Hebrew|ג}}
| rowspan="2" style="font-size:200%;" | {{script/Hebrew|ד}}
| rowspan="2" style="font-size:200%;" | {{script/Hebrew|ה}}
| rowspan="2" style="font-size:200%;" | {{script/Hebrew|ו}}
| rowspan="2" style="font-size:200%;" | {{script/Hebrew|ז}}
| rowspan="2" style="font-size:200%;" | {{script/Hebrew|ח}}
| rowspan="2" style="font-size:200%;" | {{script/Hebrew|ט}}
| rowspan="2" style="font-size:200%;" | {{script/Hebrew|י}}
| style="font-size:200%;" | {{script/Hebrew|כ}}
|-
|style="font-size:200%;" | {{script/Hebrew|ך}}
|-
!'''[[Lamed]]'''||'''[[Mem]]'''||'''<div dir="ltr">[[Nun (letter)|Nun]]</div>'''||'''[[Samech]]'''||'''[[Ayin]]'''||'''<div dir="ltr">[[Pe (Semitic letter)|Pe]]</div>'''||'''[[Tsade|Tsadi]]'''||'''[[Qoph|Qof]]'''||'''[[Resh]]'''||'''<div dir="ltr">[[Shin (letter)|Shin]]</div>'''||'''[[Taw|Tav]]'''
|-
| rowspan="2"style="font-size:200%;" | {{script/Hebrew|ל}}
|style="font-size:200%;" | {{script/Hebrew|מ}}
|style="font-size:200%;" | {{script/Hebrew|נ}}
| rowspan="2"style="font-size:200%;" | {{script/Hebrew|ס}}
| rowspan="2"style="font-size:200%;" | {{script/Hebrew|ע}}
|style="font-size:200%;" | {{script/Hebrew|פ}}
|style="font-size:200%;" | {{script/Hebrew|צ}}
| rowspan="2"style="font-size:200%;" | {{script/Hebrew|ק}}
| rowspan="2"style="font-size:200%;" | {{script/Hebrew|ר}}
| rowspan="2"style="font-size:200%;" | {{script/Hebrew|ש}}
| rowspan="2"style="font-size:200%;" | {{script/Hebrew|ת}}
|-
|style="font-size:200%;" | {{script/Hebrew|ם}}
|style="font-size:200%;" | {{script/Hebrew|ן}}
|style="font-size:200%;" | {{script/Hebrew|ף}}
|style="font-size:200%;" | {{script/Hebrew|ץ}}
|}

===Order<span class="anchor" id="ayin-pe reversal"></span>===
As far back as the 13th century BCE, ancient Hebrew [[abecedaries]] indicate a slightly different ordering of the alphabet. The [[Zayit Stone]],<ref>Tappy, Ron E., et al. "An Abecedary of the Mid-Tenth Century B.C.E. from the Judaean Shephelah." ''Bulletin of the American Schools of Oriental Research'', no. 344, 2006, pp. 5–46. JSTOR, http://www.jstor.org/stable/25066976. Accessed 17 May 2024.</ref> Izbet Sartah [[ostracon]],<ref>A. Dotan. “The Alphabet Inscription of 'Izbet Ṣarṭah / כתובת הא"ב מעזבת צרטה.” ''Eretz-Israel: Archaeological, Historical and Geographical Studies / ארץ-ישראל: מחקרים בידיעת הארץ ועתיקותיה'', vol. 16 (טז), 1982, pp. 62–69. JSTOR, http://www.jstor.org/stable/23619530. Accessed 17 May 2024.</ref> and one [[Kuntillet Ajrud inscriptions|inscription from Kuntillet Ajrud]]<ref>{{cite book | last1=Renz | first1=Johannes | last2=Röllig | first2=Wolfgang | title=Handbuch der althebräischen Epigraphik | publisher=WBG (Wissenschaftliche Buchgesellschaft) | publication-place=Darmstadt | date=2016 | isbn=978-3-534-26789-7 | language=de|page=62}}</ref> each contain a number of reverse letter orders; such as {{Transliteration|he|vav}}-{{Transliteration|he|he}}, {{Transliteration|he|chet}}-{{Transliteration|he|zayin}}, {{Transliteration|he|pe}}-{{Transliteration|he|ayin}}, etc.

A reversal to {{Transliteration|he|pe-ayin}} can be clearly seen in the [[Book of Lamentations]], whose first four chapters are ordered as alphabetical acrostics.  In the [[Masoretic text]], the first chapter has the now-usual {{Transliteration|he|ayin-pe}} ordering, and the second, third and fourth chapters exhibit {{Transliteration|he|pe-ayin}}.{{sfn|Berlin|2004|p=4}} In the [[Dead Sea Scrolls]] version (4QLam/4Q111), reversed ordering also appears in the first chapter (i.e. in all the first four chapters).{{sfn|Goldingay|2022|p=75}} The fact that these chapters follows the pre-exilic {{Transliteration|he|pe-ayin}} order is evidence for them being written shortly after the events described, rather than being later, post-exilic compositions.{{sfn|First|2017}}{{sfn|First|2014}}{{sfn|Pitre|Bergsma|2018}}

==Pronunciation==

===Alphabet===
{{main|Biblical Hebrew phonology|Modern Hebrew phonology|International Phonetic Alphabet for Hebrew|Yiddish phonology}}
The descriptions that follow are based on the pronunciation of modern standard Israeli Hebrew.

{| class="wikitable"
|-
!rowspan=2|<small>letter</small>
!rowspan=2|<small>[[Help:IPA/Hebrew|IPA]]</small>
! colspan="6" |<small>Name of letter</small>
!<small>Pronunciation</small>
|-
!<small>[[List of Unicode characters#Hebrew|Unicode]]<ref name="unicode_names_of_hebrew_glyphs_at_unicode.org"/><ref name="unicode_names_of_hebrew_glyphs_at_fileformat.info"/></small>
!<small>Hebrew<ref>Kaplan, Aryeh. ''Sefer Yetzirah: The Book of Creation.'' pp. 8, 22.</ref></small>
!<small>[[Modern Hebrew]]<br />pronunciation</small>
!<small>[[Yiddish]] / [[Ashkenazi Hebrew|Ashkenazi]]<br />pronunciation</small>
!<small>[[Sephardi Hebrew|Sephardi]]<br />pronunciation</small>
!'''<small>[[Yemenite Hebrew|Yemenite]]</small>'''
'''<small>pronunciation</small>'''
!<small>Approximate western European equivalent</small><ref>{{Cite web|title=The Hebrew Alphabet (Aleph-Bet)|url=https://www.jewishvirtuallibrary.org/the-hebrew-alphabet-aleph-bet|access-date=2020-10-04|website=www.jewishvirtuallibrary.org}}</ref>
|-
| style="font-size:200%;" | {{script/Hebrew|א}}||{{IPAblink|∅}}, {{IPAblink|ʔ}}||[[Aleph|Alef]]|| style="font-size:125%;" | {{script/Hebrew|אָלֶף}}||{{IPA|/alɛf/}}||{{IPA|/ʔaləf/}}||{{IPA|/ʔalɛf/}}
|{{IPA|/ˈɔlæf/}}
|When ʔ, as in ''bu<u>tt</u>on'' [ˈbʌʔn̩] or ''cli<u>p</u>board'' [ˌklɪʔ⁠ˈbɔɹd]
|-
| style="font-size:200%;" | {{script/Hebrew|בּ}}||{{IPAblink|b}}||rowspan=2|[[Bet (letter)|Bet]]|| style="font-size:125%;" | {{script/Hebrew|בֵּית}}||{{IPA|/bet/}}||{{IPA|/bɛɪs/}}, {{IPA|/bɛɪz/}}||{{IPA|/bɛt/}}
|{{IPA|/be̞θ/}}
|b as in ''<u>b</u>lack''
|-
| style="font-size:200%;" | {{script/Hebrew|ב}}||{{IPAblink|v}}|| style="font-size:125%;" | {{script/Hebrew|בֵית}}||{{IPA|/vet/}}||{{IPA|/vɛɪs/}}, {{IPA|/vɛɪz/}}||{{IPA|/vɛt/}}
|{{IPA|/ve̞θ/}}
|v as in ''<u>v</u>ogue''
|-
| style="font-size:200%;" | {{script/Hebrew|גּ}}||{{IPAblink|ɡ}}|| rowspan="2" |[[Gimel]]|| style="font-size:125%;" | {{script/Hebrew|גִּימֵל}}|| rowspan="2" |{{IPA|/ˈɡimel/}}|| rowspan="2" |{{IPA|/ˈɡɪməl/}}||{{IPA|/ˈɡimɛl/}}
|{{IPA|/ˈdʒime̞l/}}
|g as in ''<u>g</u>ourd''
|-
| style="font-size:200%;" | {{script/Hebrew|ג}}||[<nowiki/>[[Voiced velar fricative|ɣ]]]|| style="font-size:125%;" | {{script/Hebrew|גִימֵל}}||{{IPA|/ˈɣɪmεl/}}
|{{IPA|/ˈɣime̞l/}}
|gh as in Arabic ''<u>gh</u>oul''
|-
| style="font-size:200%;" | {{script/Hebrew|דּ}}||{{IPAblink|d}}|| rowspan="2" |[[Dalet]]|| style="font-size:125%;" | {{script/Hebrew|דָּלֶת}}|| rowspan="2" |{{IPA|/ˈdalɛt/}}, {{IPA|/ˈdalɛd/}}|| rowspan="2" |{{IPA|/ˈdaləd/}}, {{IPA|/ˈdaləs/}}||{{IPA|/ˈdalɛt/}}
|{{IPA|/ˈdɔle̞θ/}}
|d as in ''<u>d</u>oll''
|-
| style="font-size:200%;" | {{script/Hebrew|ד}}||{{IPAblink|ð}}|| style="font-size:125%;" | {{script/Hebrew|דָלֶת}}||{{IPA|/ˈðalεt/}}
|{{IPA|/ˈðɔle̞θ/}}
|th as in ''<u>th</u>at''
|-
| style="font-size:200%;" | {{script/Hebrew|ה}}||{{IPAblink|h}}||[[He (letter)|He]]|| style="font-size:125%;" | {{script/Hebrew|הֵא}}||{{IPA|/he/}}, {{IPA|/hej/}}||{{IPA|/hɛɪ/}}||{{IPA|/he/}}
|{{IPA|/he̞/}}
|h as in ''<u>h</u>old''
|-
| style="font-size:200%;" | {{script/Hebrew|ו}}||{{IPAblink|v}}||[[Waw (letter)|Vav]]|| style="font-size:125%;" | {{script/Hebrew|וָו}}||{{IPA|/vav/}}||{{IPA|/vɔv/}}||{{IPA|/vav/}}
|{{IPA|/wɔw/}}
|v as in ''<u>v</u>ogue''
|-
| style="font-size:200%;" | {{script/Hebrew|ז}}||{{IPAblink|z}}||[[Zayin]]|| style="font-size:125%;" | {{script/Hebrew|זַיִן}}||{{IPA|/ˈzajin/}}, {{IPA|/ˈza.in/}}||{{IPA|/ˈzajɪn/}}||{{IPA|/ˈzajin/}}
|{{IPA|/ˈzajin/}}
|z as in <u>''z''</u>''oo''
|-
| style="font-size:200%;" | {{script/Hebrew|ח}}||[<nowiki/>[[Voiceless uvular fricative|χ]]]
|[[Heth|Chet]]|| style="font-size:125%;" | {{script/Hebrew|חֵית}}||{{IPA|/χet/}}||{{IPA|/χɛs/}}||{{IPA|/ħɛt/}}
|{{IPA|/ħe̞θ/}}
|ch as in ''Ba<u>ch</u>''
|-
| style="font-size:200%;" | {{script/Hebrew|ט}}||{{IPAblink|t}}||[[Teth|Tet]]|| style="font-size:125%;" | {{script/Hebrew|טֵית}}||{{IPA|/tet/}}||{{IPA|/tɛs/}}||{{IPA|/tɛt/}}
|{{IPA|/tˤe̞θ/}}
|t as in ''<u>t</u>ool''
|-
| style="font-size:200%;" | {{script/Hebrew|י}}||{{IPAblink|j}}||[[Yodh|Yod]]|| style="font-size:125%;" | {{script/Hebrew|יוֹד}}||{{IPA|/jod/}}, {{IPA|/jud/}}||{{IPA|/jʊd/}}||{{IPA|/jud/}}
|{{IPA|/jœð/}}
|y as in ''<u>y</u>olk''
|-
| style="font-size:200%;" | {{script/Hebrew|כּ}}||{{IPAblink|k}}||rowspan=4|[[Kaph|Kaf]]|| style="font-size:125%;" | {{script/Hebrew|כַּף}}||{{IPA|/kaf/}}||{{IPA|/kɔf/}}||{{IPA|/kaf/}}
|{{IPA|/kaf/}}
|k as in ''<u>k</u>ing''
|-
| style="font-size:200%;" | {{script/Hebrew|כ}}||{{IPAblink|χ}}|| style="font-size:125%;" | {{script/Hebrew|כַף}}||{{IPA|/χaf/}}||{{IPA|/χɔf/}}||{{IPA|/χaf/}}
|{{IPA|/xaf/}}
|ch as in ''ba<u>ch</u>'' 
|-
| style="font-size:200%;" | {{script/Hebrew|ךּ}}||{{IPAblink|k}}|| style="font-size:125%;" | {{script/Hebrew|כַּף סוֹפִית}}||{{IPA|/kaf sofit/}}||{{IPA|/ˈlaŋɡə kɔf/}}||{{IPA|/kaf sofit/}}
|{{IPA|/kaf sœˈfiθ/}}
|k as in ''<u>k</u>ing''
|-
| style="font-size:200%;" | {{script/Hebrew|ך}}||{{IPAblink|x}}~{{IPAblink|χ}}|| style="font-size:125%;" | {{script/Hebrew|כַף סוֹפִית}}||{{IPA|/χaf sofit/}}||{{IPA|/ˈlaŋɡə χɔf/}}||{{IPA|/χaf sofit/}}
|{{IPA|/xaf sœˈfiθ/}}
|ch as in ''ba<u>ch</u>'' 
|-
| style="font-size:200%;" | {{script/Hebrew|ל}}||{{IPAblink|l}}||[[Lamedh|Lamed]]|| style="font-size:125%;" | {{script/Hebrew|לָמֶד}}||{{IPA|/ˈlamɛd/}}||{{IPA|/ˈlaməd/}}||{{IPA|/ˈlamɛd/}}
|{{IPA|/ˈlɔme̞ð/}}
|l as in ''<u>l</u>uck''
|-
| style="font-size:200%;" | {{script/Hebrew|מ}}||rowspan=2|{{IPAblink|m}}||rowspan=2|[[Mem]]|| style="font-size:125%;" | {{script/Hebrew|מֵם}}||{{IPA|/mem/}}||{{IPA|/mɛm/}}||{{IPA|/mɛm/}}
|{{IPA|/me̞m/}}
|rowspan=2|m as in ''<u>m</u>other''
|-
| style="font-size:200%;" | {{script/Hebrew|ם}}|| style="font-size:125%;" | {{script/Hebrew|מֵם סוֹפִית}}||{{IPA|/mem sofit/}}||{{IPA|/ˈʃlɔs mɛm/}}||{{IPA|/mɛm sofit/}}
|{{IPA|/me̞m sœˈfiθ/}}
|-
| style="font-size:200%;" | {{script/Hebrew|נ}}||rowspan=2|{{IPAblink|n}}||rowspan=2|[[Nun (letter)|Nun]]|| style="font-size:125%;" | {{script/Hebrew|נוּן}}||{{IPA|/nun/}}||{{IPA|/nʊn/}}||{{IPA|/nun/}}
|{{IPA|/nun/}}
|rowspan=2 | n as in ''<u>n</u>ight''
|-
| style="font-size:200%;" | {{script/Hebrew|ן}}|| style="font-size:125%;" | {{script/Hebrew|נוּן סוֹפִית}}||{{IPA|/nun sofit/}}||{{IPA|/ˈlaŋɡə nʊn/}}||{{IPA|/nun sofit/}}
|{{IPA|/nun sœˈfiθ/}}
|-
| style="font-size:200%;" | {{script/Hebrew|ס}}||{{IPAblink|s}}||[[Samekh]]||<big>ְ{{Script/Hebrew|סָמֶךְ}}</big>||{{IPA|/ˈsamɛχ/}}||{{IPA|/ˈsaməχ/}}||{{IPA|/ˈsamɛχ/}}
|{{IPA|/ˈsɔme̞x/}}
|s as in ''<u>s</u>ight''
|-
| style="font-size:200%;" | {{script/Hebrew|ע}}||{{IPAblink|ʔ}}~{{IPAblink|ʕ}}, {{IPAblink|∅}}||[[Ayin]]|| style="font-size:125%;" | {{script/Hebrew|עַיִן}}||{{IPA|/ajin/}}, {{IPA|/ʔa.in/}}||{{IPA|/ajɪn/}}||{{IPA|/ajin/}}
|{{IPA|/ˈʕajin/}}
|When ʔ, as in ''bu<u>tt</u>on'' [ˈbʌʔn̩] or ''cli<u>p</u>board'' [ˌklɪʔ⁠ˈbɔɹd]. When ʕ, no English equivalent.
|-
| style="font-size:200%;" | {{script/Hebrew|פּ}}||{{IPAblink|p}}||rowspan=4|[[Pe (Semitic letter)|Pe]]|| style="font-size:125%;" | {{script/Hebrew|פֵּא}}||{{IPA|/pe/}}, {{IPA|/pej/}}||{{IPA|/pɛɪ/}}||{{IPA|/pe/}}
|{{IPA|/pe̞/}}
|p as in ''<u>p</u>ine''
|-
| style="font-size:200%;" | {{script/Hebrew|פ}}||{{IPAblink|f}}|| style="font-size:125%;" | {{script/Hebrew|פֵא}}||{{IPA|/fe/}}, {{IPA|/fej/}}||{{IPA|/fɛɪ/}}||{{IPA|/fe/}}
|{{IPA|/fe̞/}}
|f as in ''<u>f</u>ine''
|-
| style="font-size:200%;" | {{script/Hebrew|ףּ}}||{{IPAblink|p}}|| style="font-size:125%;" | {{script/Hebrew|פֵּא סוֹפִית}}||{{IPA|/pe sofit/}}, {{IPA|/pej sofit/}}|| {{IPA|/ˈlaŋɡə pɛɪ/}}||{{IPA|/pe sofit/}}
|{{IPA|/pe̞ sœˈfiθ/}}
|p as in ''<u>p</u>ine''
|-
| style="font-size:200%;" | {{script/Hebrew|ף}}||{{IPAblink|f}}|| style="font-size:125%;" | {{script/Hebrew|פֵא סוֹפִית}}||{{IPA|/fe sofit/}}, {{IPA|/fej sofit/}}|| {{IPA|/ˈlaŋɡə fɛɪ/}}||{{IPA|/fe sofit/}}
|{{IPA|/fe̞ sœˈfiθ/}}
|f as in ''<u>f</u>ine''
|-
| style="font-size:200%;" | {{script/Hebrew|צ}}||rowspan=2|{{IPAblink|ts}}|| rowspan="2" |[[Tsade|Tsadi]]|| style="font-size:125%;" | {{script/Hebrew|צָדִי}}||{{IPA|/ˈtsadi/}}||{{IPA|/ˈtsadi/}}, {{IPA|/ˈtsadɪk/}}||{{IPA|/ˈtsadik/}}
|{{IPA|/ˈsˤɔði/}}
|rowspan=2|ts as in ''ca<u>ts</u>''
|-
| style="font-size:200%;" | {{script/Hebrew|ץ}}|| style="font-size:125%;" | {{script/Hebrew| צָדִי סוֹפִית}}||{{IPA|/ˈtsadi sofit/}}||{{IPA|/ˈlaŋɡə ˈtsadɪk/}}, {{IPA|/ˈlaŋɡə ˈtsadək/}}||{{IPA|/ˈtsadik sofit/}}
|{{IPA|/ˈsˤɔði sœˈfiθ/}}
|-
| style="font-size:200%;" | {{script/Hebrew|ק}}||{{IPAblink|k}}||[[Qoph|Qof]]|| style="font-size:125%;" | {{script/Hebrew|קוֹף}}||{{IPA|/kuf/}}, {{IPA|/kof/}}||{{IPA|/kʊf/}}||{{IPA|/kuf/}}
|{{IPA|/gœf/}}
|k as in ''<u>k</u>ing''
|-
| style="font-size:200%;" | {{script/Hebrew|ר}}||{{IPAblink|ʁ}}||[[Resh]]|| style="font-size:125%;" | {{script/Hebrew|רֵישׁ}}||{{IPA|/ʁeʃ/}}||{{IPA|/ʁɛɪʃ/}}||{{IPA|/reʃ/}}
|{{IPA|/re̞ʃ/}}
|r as in French ⟨r⟩ 
|-
| style="font-size:200%;" | {{script/Hebrew|שׁ}}||{{IPAblink|ʃ}}||rowspan=2|[[Shin (letter)|Shin]]|| style="font-size:125%;" | {{script/Hebrew|שִׁין}}||{{IPA|/ʃin/}}||{{IPA|/ʃɪn/}}||{{IPA|/ʃin/}}
|{{IPA|/ʃin/}}
|sh as in ''<u>sh</u>ower''
|-
| style="font-size:200%;" | {{script/Hebrew|שׂ}}||{{IPAblink|s}}|| style="font-size:125%;" | {{script/Hebrew|שִׂין}}||{{IPA|/sin/}}||{{IPA|/sɪn/}}||{{IPA|/sin/}}
|{{IPA|/sin/}}
|s as in ''<u>s</u>our''
|-
| style="font-size:200%;" | {{script/Hebrew|תּ}}||{{IPAblink|t}}||rowspan=2|[[Taw|Tav]]|| style="font-size:125%;" | {{script/Hebrew|תָּו}}
| rowspan="2"|{{IPA|/tav/}}, {{IPA|/taf/}}||{{IPA|/tɔv/}}, {{IPA|/tɔf/}}||{{IPA|/tav/}}
|{{IPA|/tɔw/}}
|t as in ''<u>t</u>ool''
|-
| style="font-size:200%;" | {{script/Hebrew|ת}}||{{IPAblink|θ}}|| style="font-size:125%;" | {{script/Hebrew|תָו}}||{{IPA|/sɔv/}}, {{IPA|/sɔf/}}||{{IPA|/θav/}}
|{{IPA|/θɔw/}}
|th as in ''<u>th</u>in''
|}
{{citation needed span|By analogy with the other dotted/dotless pairs, dotless tav, {{script|Hebr|ת}}, would be expected to be pronounced /θ/ ([[voiceless dental fricative]]), and dotless dalet {{script|Hebr|ד}} as /ð/ ([[voiced dental fricative]]), but these were lost among most Jews due to these sounds not existing in the countries where they lived (such as in nearly all of Eastern Europe). Yiddish modified /θ/ to /s/ (cf. [[seseo]] in Spanish), but in modern Israeli Hebrew, it is simply pronounced /t/. Likewise, historical /ð/ is simply pronounced /d/.|date=March 2025}}

====Shin and sin====

{{further|Shin (letter)}}

{{citation needed span|''Shin'' and ''sin'' are represented by the same letter, {{Script/Hebrew|ש}}, but are two separate [[phoneme]]s. When vowel diacritics are used, the two phonemes are differentiated with a ''shin''-dot or ''sin''-dot; the ''shin''-dot is above the upper-right side of the letter, and the ''sin''-dot is above the upper-left side of the letter.|date=March 2025}}

{| class="wikitable"
|-
! Symbol
! Name
! [[Transliteration]]
! [[Help:IPA chart for Hebrew|IPA]]
! Example
|-
| style="text-align:center; padding-top:9px; padding-bottom:9px;"| <span style="font-size:200%;">{{Script/Hebrew|שׁ}}</span> (right dot)
| ''shin''
| style="text-align:center;"| sh
| style="text-align:center;"| {{IPA|/ʃ/}}
| style="text-align:center;"| '''sh'''ower
|-
| style="text-align:center; padding-top:9px; padding-bottom:9px;"| <span style="font-size:200%;">{{Script/Hebrew|שׂ}}</span> (left dot)
| ''sin''
| style="text-align:center;"| s
| style="text-align:center;"| {{IPA|/s/}}
| style="text-align:center;"| '''s'''our
|}

Historically, ''left-dot-sin'' corresponds to [[Proto-Semitic language|Proto-Semitic]] *{{transliteration|sem|ś}}, which in biblical-Judaic-Hebrew corresponded to the [[Voiceless dental and alveolar lateral fricatives|voiceless alveolar lateral fricative]] {{IPA|/ɬ/}} (or /ś/).<ref>{{Cite book |last=Rendsburg |first=Gary A. |title=Phonologies of Asia and Africa |date=1997 |editor-last=Kaye |editor-first=Alan S. |pages=70, 73 |language=en |chapter=Ancient Hebrew Phonology |chapter-url=https://jewishstudies.rutgers.edu/docman/rendsburg/470-ancient-hebrew-phonology-professional-pdf-from-the-publisher/file |chapter-format=PDF}}</ref>

====Dagesh====
{{Unreferenced section|date=March 2025}}
{{main|Dagesh}}
{{See also|Begadkefat}}
Historically, the consonants {{Script/Hebrew|ב}} ''bet'', {{Script/Hebrew|ג}} ''gimmel'', {{Script/Hebrew|ד}} ''daleth'', {{Script/Hebrew|כ}} ''kaf'', {{Script/Hebrew|פ}} ''pe'' and {{Script/Hebrew|ת}} ''tav'' each had two sounds: one hard ([[plosive]]), and one soft ([[fricative consonant|fricative]]), depending on the position of the letter and other{{which|date=March 2025}} factors. When vowel diacritics are used, the hard sounds are indicated by a central dot called ''dagesh'' ({{Script/Hebrew|דגש}}), while the soft sounds lack a ''dagesh''. In modern Hebrew, however, the ''dagesh'' only changes the pronunciation of {{Script/Hebrew|ב}} ''bet'', {{Script/Hebrew|כ}} ''kaf'', and {{Script/Hebrew|פ}} ''pe'', and does not affect the name of the letter.  The differences are as follows:

{| class="wikitable"
|-
! rowspan=2 | Name
! colspan=4 | With dagesh
! colspan=4 | Without dagesh
|-
!Symbol
! Transliteration
! [[Help:IPA/Hebrew|IPA]]
! Example
! Symbol
! Transliteration
! [[Help:IPA/Hebrew|IPA]]
! Example
|-
| ''bet/vet''
| align=center style="font-size:200%;"| {{Script/Hebrew|בּ}}
| b
| /b/
| '''b'''an
| align=center style="font-size:200%;"| {{Script/Hebrew|ב}}
| v, ḇ
| /v/
| '''v'''an
|-
| ''kaf''
| align=center | <span style="unicode-bidi:bidi-override;"><ref name="kaf_sofit">"{{Script|Hebr|ךּ}}" is rare but exists, e.g. last word in [[Deuteronomy]] 7 1 ({{lang|he|rtl=yes|דברים פרק ז׳ פסוק א׳}}) in the word "{{Script/Hebrew|מִמֶּךָּ}}"{{dash}}see [http://www.mechon-mamre.org/i/t/t0507.htm {{lang|he|rtl=yes|תנ״ך מנוקד, דברים פרק ז׳}}]. There is a single occurrence of "{{Script|Hebr|ףּ}}", see this comment{{ref label|final_pe_D_eg|D|}}.</ref></span><span style="font-size:200%;">{{Script/Hebrew|כּ ךּ}}</span>
| k
| /k/
| '''k'''angaroo
| align=center style="font-size:200%;"| {{Script/Hebrew|כ ך}}
| kh, ch, ḵ, x
| /χ/
| lo'''ch'''
|-
| ''pe''
| align=center style="font-size:200%;"| {{Script/Hebrew|פּ ףּ}}
| p
| /p/
| '''p'''ine
| align=center style="font-size:200%;"| {{Script/Hebrew|פ ף}}
| f, p̄, ph
| /f/
| '''f'''ine
|}

In other dialects (mainly liturgical) there are variations from this pattern.
*In some [[Sephardi Hebrew|Sephardi]] and [[Mizrahi Hebrew|Mizrahi]] dialects, ''bet'' without dagesh is pronounced {{IPA|[b]}}, like ''bet'' with dagesh
*In [[Syrian Jews#Pronunciation of Hebrew|Syrian]] and [[Yemenite Hebrew]], ''gimel'' without dagesh is pronounced {{IPA|[ɣ]}}.
*In Yemenite Hebrew, and in the Iraqi pronunciation of the word ''Adonai'', ''dalet'' without dagesh is pronounced {{IPA|[ð]}} as in ''these''
*In [[Ashkenazi Hebrew]], as well as [[Krymchaks|Krymchaki Hebrew]], ''tav'' without dagesh is pronounced {{IPA|[s]}} as in ''silk''
*In Iraqi and [[Yemenite Hebrew]], and formerly in some other dialects, ''tav'' without dagesh is pronounced {{IPA|[θ]}} as in ''thick''

====Sounds represented with diacritic geresh====
{{Unreferenced section|date=March 2025}}

{{main|Geresh|Hebraization of English}}

The sounds {{IPAblink|t͡ʃ}}, {{IPAblink|d͡ʒ}}, {{IPAblink|ʒ}}, written ⟨{{Script/Hebrew|צ׳}}⟩, ⟨{{Script/Hebrew|ג׳}}⟩, ⟨{{Script/Hebrew|ז׳}}⟩, and {{IPAblink|w}}, non-standardly sometimes transliterated ⟨{{Script/Hebrew|וו}}⟩, are often found in slang and loanwords that are part of the everyday Hebrew colloquial vocabulary. The symbol resembling an apostrophe after the Hebrew letter modifies the pronunciation of the letter and is called a ''[[geresh]]''.

{| class="wikitable"
|-
!! colspan=7 | Hebrew slang and loanwords
|-
!!| Name
!!| Symbol
!!| [[Help:IPA chart for Hebrew|IPA]]
!!| [[Transliteration]]
!! colspan=3 | Example
|-
| align=center | Gimel with a geresh
| align=center style="font-size:200%;"| {{Script/Hebrew|ג׳}}
| style="text-align:center;"| {{IPAblink|d͡ʒ}}
| style="text-align:center;"| ǧ<ref name=foreign_sounds/>
| style="text-align:left;"| [[Jachnun|'''ǧ'''áḥnun]] || {{IPA|[ˈd͡ʒaχnun]}}
| style="text-align:right;"| {{Script/Hebrew|גַּ׳חְנוּן}}
|-
| align=center | Zayin with a geresh
| align=center style="font-size:200%;"| {{Script/Hebrew|ז׳}}
| style="text-align:center;"| {{IPAblink|ʒ}}
| style="text-align:center;"| ž<ref name=foreign_sounds/>
| style="text-align:left;"| [[Collage|kolá'''ž''']] || {{IPA|[koˈlaʒ]}}
| style="text-align:right;"| {{Script/Hebrew|קוֹלַאז׳}}
|-
| align=center | Tsadi with a geresh
| align=center style="font-size:200%;"| {{Script/Hebrew|צ׳}}
| style="text-align:center;"| {{IPAblink|t͡ʃ}}
| style="text-align:center;"| č<ref name=foreign_sounds/>
| style="text-align:left;"| '''č'''upár (treat) || {{IPA|[t͡ʃuˈpar]}}
| style="text-align:right;"| {{Script/Hebrew|צ׳וּפָּר}}
|-
| align=center | Vav with a geresh<br />or double Vav
| align=center| <span style="font-size:200%;">{{Script/Hebrew|וו}}</span> or <span style="font-size:200%;">{{Script/Hebrew|ו׳}}</span> <small>(non standard)</small>{{ref label|Double_Vav|}}
| style="text-align:center;"| {{IPAblink|w}}
| style="text-align:center;"| w
| style="text-align:left;"| a'''w'''ánta (boastful act) || {{IPA|[aˈwanta]}}
| style="text-align:right;"| {{Script/Hebrew|אַוַונְטַה}}
|}

The pronunciation of the following letters can also be modified with the geresh diacritic. The represented sounds are however foreign to [[Modern Hebrew phonology|Hebrew phonology]], i.e., these symbols mainly represent sounds in foreign words or names when transliterated with the Hebrew alphabet, and not [[loanword]]s.

{| class="wikitable"
!! colspan=7 | Transliteration of non-native sounds
|-
!!| Name
!!| Symbol
!!| [[Help:IPA chart for Hebrew|IPA]]
!!| [[Arabic alphabet|Arabic letter]]
!! colspan=2 | Example
! Comment
|-
| align=center | Dalet with a geresh
| align=center style="font-size:200%;"| {{Script/Hebrew|ד׳}}
| style="text-align:center;"| {{IPAblink|ð}}
| align=center | ''[[Ḏāl|{{transliteration|ar|ALA|Dhāl}}]]'' ({{Script/Arabic|ذ}}) <br />[[Voice (phonetics)|Voiced]] th
| style="text-align:left;"| ''{{transliteration|ar|ALA|'''Dh'''ū al-Ḥijjah}}'' ({{lang|ar|ذو الحجة}})&lrm;
| style="text-align:right;"| {{lang|he|rtl=yes|ד׳ו אל־חיג׳ה}}
| style="text-align:left;"| {{blist|Also used for English voiced "th"|Often a simple {{Script/Hebrew|ד}} is written.}}
|-
| align=center | Tav with a geresh
| align=center style="font-size:200%;"| {{Script/Hebrew|ת׳}}
| style="text-align:center;"| {{IPAblink|θ}}
| style="text-align:center;"| ''[[Ṯāʼ|{{transliteration|ar|ALA|Thāʼ}}]]'' ({{Script/Arabic|ﺙ}})<br />[[Voiceless]] th
| style="text-align:left;"| '''Th'''urston
| style="text-align:right;"| {{lang|he|rtl=yes|ת׳רסטון}}
|-
| align=center | Chet with a geresh
| align=center style="font-size:200%;"| {{Script/Hebrew|ח׳}}
| style="text-align:center;"| {{IPAblink|χ}}
| align=center | ''[[Ḫāʾ|{{transliteration|ar|ALA|Khāʼ}}]]'' ({{Script/Arabic|خ}})
| style="text-align:left;"| Shei'''kh''' ({{lang|ar|شيخ}})&lrm;
| style="text-align:right;"| <span dir="rtl">{{lang|he|שייח׳}}</span>
| style="text-align:left;"| Unlike the other sounds in this table, the sound {{IPAblink|χ}} represented by {{Script/Hebrew|ח׳}} is indeed a native sound in Hebrew; the geresh is however used only when transliteration must distinguish between {{IPAblink|χ}} and {{IPAblink|ħ}}, in which case {{Script/Hebrew|ח׳}} transliterates the former and ח the latter, whereas in everyday usage ח without geresh is pronounced {{IPAblink|ħ}} only dialectically but {{IPAblink|χ}} commonly.
|-
| align=center | Ayin with a geresh<br />''or''<br />Resh with a geresh
| align=center "| <span style="font-size:200%;>{{Script/Hebrew|ע׳}}</span><br />''or''<br /><span style="font-size:200%;">{{Script/Hebrew|ר׳}}</span>
| style="text-align:center;"| {{IPAblink|ʁ}}
| align=center | ''[[Ġayn|{{transliteration|ar|ALA|Ghayn}}]]'' ({{script/Arabic|غ}})
| style="text-align:left;"| ''{{transliteration|ar|ALA|'''Gh'''ajar}}'' ({{lang|ar|غجر}});<br />''{{transliteration|ar|ALA|'''Gh'''alib}}'' ({{lang|ar|غالب}})
| style="text-align:right;"| {{lang|he|rtl=yes|ע׳ג׳ר}}<br />{{lang|he|rtl=yes|ר׳אלב}}
| style="text-align:left;"| The guidelines specified by the Academy of the Hebrew Language prefer Resh with a geresh ({{script/Hebrew|ר׳}}); however, this guideline is not universally followed
|}

''Geresh'' is also used to denote an abbreviation consisting of a single Hebrew letter, while ''gershayim'' (a doubled ''geresh'') are used to denote [[acronym]]s pronounced as a string of letters; ''geresh'' and ''gershayim'' are also used to denote [[Hebrew numeral]]s consisting of a single Hebrew letter or of multiple Hebrew letters, respectively.  Geresh is also the name of a cantillation mark used for [[Torah]] recitation, though its visual appearance and function are different in that context.

====Identical pronunciation====
{{Unreferenced section|date=March 2025}}

In much of [[Israel]]'s general population, especially where [[Ashkenazic]] pronunciation is prevalent, many letters have the same pronunciation. They are as follows:

{| class="wikitable"
|-
!! style="text-align:center;" colspan="4"| Letters !! Transliteration !! Pronunciation (IPA)
|-
| rowspan=4 align=center | <span style="font-size:200%;">{{Script/Hebrew|א}}</span><br />''Alef''*
| rowspan=4 style="text-align:center;" colspan="3"| <span style="font-size:200%;">{{Script/Hebrew|ע}}</span> <br />''Ayin''*
| rowspan=2 align=center | not<br />transliterated
| align=center | <small>Usually when in medial word position:</small><br />{{IPAslink|.}}<br /><small>(separation of vowels in a [[Hiatus (linguistics)|hiatus]])</small>
|-
| align=center | <small>In initial, final, or sometimes medial word position:</small><br />[[Silent letter|silent]]
|-
| style="line-height:75%" colspan=2 align=center | <small>[[Alternation (linguistics)|alternatingly]]</small>
|-
| align=center | ʼ || align=center | {{IPAslink|ʔ}}<br /><small>([[glottal plosive]])</small>
|-
| align=center | <span style="font-size:200%;">{{Script/Hebrew|ב}}</span><br />''Bet'' (without ''dagesh'') Vet
| style="text-align:center;" colspan="3" | <span style="font-size:200%;">{{Script/Hebrew|ו}}</span><br />''Vav''
| align=center | v
| align=center | {{IPAslink|v}}
|-
| align=center | <span style="font-size:200%;">{{Script/Hebrew|ח}}</span><br />''Chet''*
| style="text-align:center;" colspan="3" | <span style="font-size:200%;">{{Script/Hebrew|כ}}</span><br />''Kaf'' (without ''dagesh'')<br />Khaf*
| align=center | kh/ch/h
| align=center | {{IPAslink|χ}}
|-
| align=center | <span style="font-size:200%;">{{Script/Hebrew|ט}}</span><br />''Tet''
| style="text-align:center;" colspan="3"|<span style="font-size:200%;">{{Script/Hebrew|תּ}}</span><br />''Tav''
| align=center | t
| align=center | {{IPAslink|t}}
|-
| align=center | <span style="font-size:200%;">{{Script/Hebrew|כּ}}</span><br />''Kaf'' (with ''dagesh'')
| style="text-align:center;" colspan="3"|<span style="font-size:200%;">{{Script/Hebrew|ק}}</span><br />''Qof''
| align=center | k
| align=center | {{IPAslink|k}}
|-
| align=center | <span style="font-size:200%;">{{Script/Hebrew|ס}}</span><br />''Samekh''
| colspan="3" style="text-align:center; padding-top:9px;"| <span style="font-size:200%;">{{Script/Hebrew|שׂ}}</span><br />''Sin'' (with left dot)
| align=center | s
| align=center | {{IPAslink|s}}
|-
| align=center | <span style="font-size:200%;">{{Script/Hebrew|צ}}</span><br />''Tsadi''*
| align=center | <span style="font-size:200%;">{{Script/Hebrew|תס}}</span><br />''Tav-Samekh''*
| align=center | <small>''and''</small>
| style="text-align:center; padding-top:9px;"| <span style="font-size:200%;">{{Script/Hebrew|תשׂ}}</span><br />''Tav-Sin''*
| style="text-align:center;"|ts/tz
| style="text-align:center;"|{{IPAslink|ts}}
|-
| align=center | <span style="font-size:200%;">{{Script/Hebrew|צ׳}}</span><br />''Tsadi (with geresh)''
| align=center | <span style="font-size:200%;">{{Script/Hebrew|טשׁ}}</span><br />''Tet-Shin''*
| align=center | <small>''and''</small>
| style="text-align:center; padding-top:9px;"| <span style="font-size:200%;">{{Script/Hebrew|תשׁ}}</span><br />''Tav-Shin''*
| style="text-align:center;"|ch/tsh (chair)
| style="text-align:center;"|{{IPAslink|tʃ}}
|}
<small>* Varyingly</small>

====Ancient Hebrew pronunciation====
{{Unreferenced section|date=March 2025}}

Some of the variations in sound mentioned above are due to a systematic feature of Ancient Hebrew. The six consonants {{IPA|/b ɡ d k p t/}} were pronounced differently depending on their position. These letters were also called ''[[Begadkefat|BeGeD KeFeT]]'' letters {{IPAc-en|ˌ|b|eɪ|ɡ|ɛ|d|ˈ|k|ɛ|f|ɛ|t}}. The full details are very complex; this summary omits some points. They were pronounced as [[plosive]]s {{IPA|[b ɡ d k p t]}} at the beginning of a syllable, or when doubled. They were pronounced as [[fricative]]s {{IPA|[v ɣ ð x f θ]}} when preceded by a vowel (commonly indicated with a macron, ḇ ḡ ḏ ḵ p̄ ṯ). The plosive and double pronunciations were indicated by the ''dagesh''. In Modern Hebrew the sounds ḏ and ḡ have reverted to {{IPA|[d]}} and {{IPA|[ɡ]}}, respectively, and ṯ has become {{IPA|[t]}}, so only the remaining three consonants {{IPA|/b k p/}} show variation. {{Script/Hebrew|ר}} ''resh'' may have also been a "doubled" letter, making the list ''BeGeD KePoReT''. ([[Sefer Yetzirah]], 4:1)

* {{Script/Hebrew|ח}} ''chet'' and {{Script/Hebrew|ע}} ''ayin'' represented the [[pharyngeal consonant|pharyngeal]] [[fricative consonant|fricatives]] {{IPA|/ħ/}} and {{IPA|/ʕ/}}, respectively, {{Script/Hebrew|צ}} ''tsadi'' represented the [[emphatic consonant]] {{IPA|/sˤ/}}, {{Script/Hebrew|ט}} ''tet'' represented the emphatic consonant {{IPA|/tˤ/}}, and {{Script/Hebrew|ק}} ''qof'' represented the [[uvular consonant|uvular plosive]] {{IPA|/q/}}. All these are common [[Semitic languages|Semitic]] [[consonant]]s.
* {{Script/Hebrew|שׂ}} ''sin'' (the {{IPA|/s/}} variant of {{Script/Hebrew|ש}} ''shin'') was originally different from both {{Script/Hebrew|שׁ}} ''shin'' and {{Script/Hebrew|ס}} ''samekh'', but had become {{IPA|/s/}} the same as {{Script/Hebrew|ס}} ''samekh'' by the time the vowel pointing was devised. Because of [[cognate]]s with other [[Semitic language]]s, this phoneme is known to have originally been a [[lateral consonant]], most likely the [[voiceless alveolar lateral fricative]] {{IPA|/ɬ/}} (the sound of modern [[Welsh language|Welsh]] ''ll'') or the [[voiceless alveolar lateral affricate]] {{IPA|/tɬ/}} (like [[Náhuatl]] ''tl'').

====Regional and historical variation====
{{Unreferenced section|date=March 2025}}

The following table contains the [[pronunciation]] of the Hebrew letters in reconstructed historical forms and [[dialect]]s using the [[help:IPA|International Phonetic Alphabet]]. The apostrophe-looking symbol after some letters is not a [[Yodh|yud]] but a [[geresh]]. It is used for loanwords with non-native Hebrew sounds. The dot in the middle of some of the letters, called a ''[[dagesh]] kal'', also modifies the sounds of the letters <span style="unicode-bidi:bidi-override;">{{script|Hebr|[[ב]]}}, {{script|Hebr|[[כ]]}} and {{script|Hebr|[[פ]]}}</span> in [[modern Hebrew]] (in some forms of Hebrew it modifies also the sounds of the letters <span style="unicode-bidi:bidi-override;">{{script|Hebr|[[ג]]}}, {{script|Hebr|[[ד]]}} and/or {{script|Hebr|[[ת]]}};</span> the ''dagesh chazak''{{dash}}orthographically indistinguishable from the ''dagesh kal''{{dash}}designates [[gemination]], which today is realized only rarely{{dash}}e.g. in biblical recitations or when using [[Arabic]] [[loanword]]s).

:{|class="wikitable"
|-
! rowspan="3" | Symbol
! colspan="8" ! | [[help:IPA|Pronunciation]]
|-
! rowspan="2" ! | [[Israeli Hebrew|Israeli]]
! rowspan="2" ! | [[Ashkenazi Hebrew|Ashkenazi]]
! rowspan="2" ! | [[Sephardi Hebrew language|Sephardi]]
! rowspan="2" ! | [[Yemenite Hebrew language|Yemenite]]
! colspan="3" ! | Reconstructed
! rowspan="2" |[[Imperial Aramaic]]
(ancestral script)
|-
! [[Tiberian Hebrew|Tiberian]] !! [[Mishnaic Hebrew|Mishnaic]] !! [[Biblical Hebrew|Biblical]]
|-
| align="center" lang="hbo" style="font-size:200%" dir="rtl" |{{Script/Hebrew|א}}
|| <big>{{IPA|[ʔ, –]}}</big> || [–] || <big>{{IPA|[ʔ, –]}}</big> || <big>{{IPA|[ʔ, –]}}</big> || <big>{{IPA|[ʔ, –]}}</big> || <big>{{IPA|[ʔ, –]}}</big> || <big>{{IPAblink|ʔ}}</big>
|[[File:Aleph.svg|20px]]
|-
| align="center" lang="hbo" style="font-size:200%" dir="rtl" |{{Script/Hebrew|בּ}}
||  <big>{{IPAblink|b}}</big> || <big>{{IPAblink|b}}</big> || <big>{{IPAblink|b}}</big> || <big>{{IPAblink|b}}</big> || <big>{{IPAblink|b}}</big> || <big>{{IPAblink|b}}</big>
| <big>{{IPAblink|b}}</big>
| rowspan="2" |[[File:Beth.svg|20px]]
|-
| align="center" lang="hbo" style="font-size:200%" dir="rtl" |{{Script/Hebrew|ב}}
|| <big>{{IPAblink|v}}</big> || <big>{{IPA|[v~v̥]}}</big> || <big>{{IPA|[b~β~v]}}</big> || <big>{{IPAblink|β}}</big> || <big>{{IPAblink|v}}</big> || <big>{{IPAblink|β}}</big>
|<big>{{IPAblink|β}}</big>
|-
| align="center" lang="hbo" style="font-size:200%" dir="rtl" |{{Script/Hebrew|גּ}}
| rowspan="2" | <big>{{IPAblink|ɡ}}</big>
| rowspan="2" | <big>{{IPA|[ɡ~ɡ̊]}}</big>
| <big>{{IPAblink|ɡ}}</big> || <big>{{IPAblink|dʒ}}</big> || <big>{{IPAblink|ɡ}}</big> || <big>{{IPAblink|ɡ}}</big>
| <big>{{IPAblink|ɡ}}</big>
| rowspan="2" |[[File:Igimel.png|21x21px]]
|-
| align="center" lang="hbo" style="font-size:200%" dir="rtl" |{{Script/Hebrew|ג}}
| <big>{{IPA|[ɡ~ɣ]}}</big> || <big>{{IPAblink|ɣ}}</big> || <big>{{IPAblink|ɣ}}</big> || <big>{{IPAblink|ɣ}}</big>
|<big>{{IPAblink|ɣ}}</big>
|-
| align="center" lang="hbo" style="font-size:200%" dir="rtl" |{{Script/Hebrew|דּ}}
| rowspan="2" | <big>{{IPAblink|d}}</big>
| rowspan="2" | <big>{{IPA|[d~d̥]}}</big>
| <big>{{IPA|[d̪]}}</big> || <big>{{IPAblink|d̪}}</big> || <big>{{IPAblink|d̪}}</big> || <big>{{IPAblink|d̪}}</big>
| <big>{{IPAblink|d̪}}</big>
| rowspan="2" |[[File:Daleth.svg|21x21px]]
|-
| align="center" lang="hbo" style="font-size:200%" dir="rtl" |{{Script/Hebrew|ד}}
|| <big>{{IPA|[d̪~ð]}}</big> || <big>{{IPAblink|ð}}</big> || <big>{{IPAblink|ð}}</big> || <big>{{IPAblink|ð}}</big>
|<big>{{IPAblink|ð}}</big>
|-
| align="center" lang="hbo" style="font-size:200%" dir="rtl" |{{Script/Hebrew|ה}}
|| <big>{{IPA|[h~ʔ, –]}}</big> || <big>{{IPA|[h, –]}}</big> || <big>{{IPA|[h, –]}}</big> || <big>{{IPA|[h, –]}}</big> || <big>{{IPA|[h, –]}}</big> || <big>{{IPA|[h, –]}}</big> || <big>{{IPAblink|h}}</big>
|[[File:He0.svg|21x21px]]
|-
| align="center" lang="hbo" style="font-size:200%" dir="rtl" |{{Script/Hebrew|ו}}
|| <big>{{IPAblink|v}}</big> || <big>{{IPA|[v~v̥]}}</big> || <big>{{IPAblink|v}}</big> || <big>{{IPAblink|w}}</big> || <big>{{IPAblink|w}}</big> || <big>{{IPAblink|w}}</big> || <big>{{IPAblink|w}}</big>
| rowspan="3" |[[File:Waw.svg|21x21px]]
|-
| align="center" lang="hbo" style="font-size:200%" dir="rtl" |{{Script/Hebrew|וּ}}
| <big>{{IPAblink|uː}}</big> || <big>{{IPA|[uː]}}</big> || <big>{{IPA|[uː]}}</big> || <big>{{IPA|[əw]}}</big> || ? || ? || ?
|-
| align="center" lang="hbo" style="font-size:200%" dir="rtl" |{{Script/Hebrew|וֹ}}
| <big>{{IPAblink|o̞ː}}</big> || <big>{{IPA|[əʊ, ɐʊ]}}</big> || <big>{{IPA|[oː]}}</big> || <big>{{IPA|[œː]}}</big> || ? || ? || ?
|-
| align="center" lang="hbo" style="font-size:200%" dir="rtl" |{{Script/Hebrew|ז}}
|| <big>{{IPAblink|z}}</big> || <big>{{IPA|[z~z̥]}}</big> || <big>{{IPAblink|z}}</big> || <big>{{IPAblink|z}}</big> || <big>{{IPAblink|z}}</big> || <big>{{IPAblink|z}}</big> || <big>{{IPAblink|z}}</big>
|[[File:Zayin.svg|21x21px]]
|-
| align="center" lang="hbo" style="font-size:200%" dir="rtl" |{{Script/Hebrew|ח}}
|| <big>{{IPA|[x~χ]}}</big> || <big>{{IPAblink|x}}</big> || <big>{{IPAblink|ħ}}</big> || <big>{{IPAblink|ħ}}</big> || <big>{{IPAblink|ħ}}</big> || <big>{{IPAblink|ħ}}</big> || <big>{{IPA|[ħ, χ]}}</big>
|[[File:Heth.svg|21x21px]]
|-
| align="center" lang="hbo" style="font-size:200%" dir="rtl" |{{Script/Hebrew|ט}}
|| <big>{{IPAblink|t}}</big> || <big>{{IPAblink|t}}</big> || <big>{{IPA|[t̪]}}</big> || <big>{{IPA|[t̴̪]}}</big> <small>(1)</small> || <big>{{IPA|[t̴̪]}}</big> || <big>{{IPA|[t̪ˤ]}}</big> <small>(2)</small> || <big>{{IPA|[t̪ʼ]}}</big> <small>(3)</small>
|[[File:Teth.svg|21x21px]]
|-
| align="center" lang="hbo" style="font-size:200%" dir="rtl" |{{Script/Hebrew|י}}
|| <big>{{IPAblink|j}}</big> || <big>{{IPAblink|j}}</big> || <big>{{IPAblink|j}}</big> || <big>{{IPAblink|j}}</big> || <big>{{IPAblink|j}}</big> || <big>{{IPAblink|j}}</big> || <big>{{IPAblink|j}}</big>
| rowspan="2" |[[File:Yod.svg|21x21px]]
|-
| align="center" lang="hbo" style="font-size:200%" dir="rtl" |ִ{{Script/Hebrew|י}}
| <big>{{IPAblink|iː}}</big> || <big>{{IPAblink|iː}}</big> || <big>{{IPAblink|iː}}</big> || <big>{{IPAblink|iː}}</big> || ? || ? || ?
|-
| align="center" lang="hbo" style="font-size:200%" dir="rtl" |{{Script/Hebrew|כּ ךּ}}
|| <big>{{IPAblink|k}}</big> || <big>{{IPAblink|k}}</big> || <big>{{IPAblink|k}}</big> || <big>{{IPAblink|k}}</big> || <big>{{IPAblink|k}}</big> || <big>{{IPAblink|k}}</big>
|<big>{{IPAblink|kʰ}}</big>
| rowspan="2" |[[File:Kaph.svg|21x21px]]
|-
| align="center" lang="hbo" style="font-size:200%" dir="rtl" |{{Script/Hebrew|כ ך}}
|| <big>{{IPA|[x~χ]}}</big> || <big>{{IPAblink|x}}</big> || <big>{{IPAblink|x}}</big> || <big>{{IPAblink|x}}</big> || <big>{{IPAblink|x}}</big> || <big>{{IPAblink|x}}</big>
|<big>{{IPAblink|x}}</big>
|-
| align="center" lang="hbo" style="font-size:200%" dir="rtl" |{{Script/Hebrew|ל}}
|| <big>{{IPAblink|l}}</big> || <big>{{IPA|[l~ɫ]}}</big> || <big>{{IPAblink|l}}</big> || <big>{{IPAblink|l}}</big> || <big>{{IPAblink|l}}</big> || <big>{{IPAblink|l}}</big> || <big>{{IPAblink|l}}</big>
|[[File:Lamed.svg|21x21px]]
|-
| align="center" lang="hbo" style="font-size:200%" dir="rtl" |{{Script/Hebrew|מ ם}}
|| <big>{{IPAblink|m}}</big> || <big>{{IPAblink|m}}</big> || <big>{{IPAblink|m}}</big> || <big>{{IPAblink|m}}</big> || <big>{{IPAblink|m}}</big> || <big>{{IPAblink|m}}</big> || <big>{{IPAblink|m}}</big>
|[[File:Mem.svg|21x21px]]
|-
| align="center" lang="hbo" style="font-size:200%" dir="rtl" |{{Script/Hebrew|נ ן}}
|| <big>{{IPAblink|n}}</big> || <big>{{IPAblink|n}}</big> || <big>{{IPAblink|n̪}}</big> || <big>{{IPAblink|n̪}}</big> || <big>{{IPAblink|n̪}}</big> || <big>{{IPAblink|n̪}}</big> || <big>{{IPAblink|n̪}}</big>
|[[File:Nun.svg|21x21px]]
|-
| align="center" lang="hbo" style="font-size:200%" dir="rtl" |{{Script/Hebrew|ס}}
|| <big>{{IPAblink|s}}</big> || <big>{{IPAblink|s}}</big> || <big>{{IPAblink|s}}</big> || <big>{{IPAblink|s}}</big> || <big>{{IPAblink|s}}</big> || <big>{{IPAblink|s}}</big> || <big>{{IPAblink|s}}</big>
|[[File:Samekh.svg|21x21px]]
|-
| align="center" lang="hbo" style="font-size:200%" dir="rtl" |{{Script/Hebrew|ע}}
|| <big>[<nowiki/>[[Voiced pharyngeal fricative|ʕ]], –]</big> || [–] || <big>{{IPA|[ʕ, ŋ,}} –]</big> ||<big>{{IPAblink|ʕ}}</big> || <big>{{IPAblink|ʕ}}</big> || <big>{{IPA|[ʕ]}}</big> || <big>{{IPA|[ʕ, ʁ]}}</big>
|[[File:Ayin.svg|21x21px]]
|-
| align="center" lang="hbo" style="font-size:200%" dir="rtl" |{{Script/Hebrew|פּ ףּ}}
|| <big>{{IPAblink|p}}</big> || <big>{{IPAblink|p}}</big> || <big>{{IPAblink|p}}</big> || <big>{{IPAblink|p}}</big> || <big>{{IPAblink|p}}</big> || <big>{{IPAblink|p}}</big>
| <big>{{IPAblink|p}}</big>
| rowspan="2" |[[File:Pe0.svg|21x21px]]
|-
| align="center" lang="hbo" style="font-size:200%" dir="rtl" |{{Script/Hebrew|פ ף}}
|| <big>{{IPAblink|f}}</big> || <big>{{IPAblink|f}}</big> || <big>{{IPAblink|f}}</big> || <big>{{IPAblink|f}}</big> || <big>{{IPAblink|f}}</big> || <big>{{IPAblink|ɸ}}</big>
|<big>{{IPAblink|ɸ}}</big>
|-
| align="center" lang="hbo" style="font-size:200%" dir="rtl" |{{Script/Hebrew|צ ץ}}
|| <big>{{IPAblink|t͡s}}</big> || <big>{{IPAblink|t͡s}}</big> || <big>{{IPAblink|t͡s}}</big> || <big>{{IPA|[s̴]}}</big> <small>(1)</small> || <big>{{IPA|[s̴]}}</big> || <big>{{IPA|[sˤ]}}</big> <small>(2)</small> || <big>{{IPA|[sˤ]}}</big>
|[[File:Sade_1.svg|21x21px]], [[File:Sade_2.svg|21x21px]]
|-
| align="center" lang="hbo" style="font-size:200%" dir="rtl" |{{Script/Hebrew|ק}}
|| <big>{{IPAblink|k}}</big> || <big>{{IPAblink|k}}</big> || <big>{{IPAblink|k}}</big> || <big>{{IPAblink|ɡ}}</big>, <big>{{IPAblink|ɢ}}</big>, <big>{{IPAblink|q}}</big> || <big>{{IPAblink|q}}</big> || <big>{{IPAblink|q}}</big> || <big>{{IPAblink|q}}</big>
|[[File:Qoph.svg|21x21px]]
|-
| align="center" lang="hbo" style="font-size:200%" dir="rtl" |{{Script/Hebrew|ר}}
|| <big>{{IPA|[ɣ~ʁ]}}</big> || <big>{{IPAblink|ɹ}}~{{IPAblink|ʀ}}</big> || <big>{{IPAblink|r}}~{{IPAblink|ɾ}}</big> || <big>{{IPAblink|r}}~{{IPAblink|ɾ}}</big> || <big>{{IPAblink|ʀ}}</big> || <big>{{IPAblink|r}}</big> || <big>{{IPAblink|ɾ}}</big>
|[[File:Resh.svg|21x21px]]
|-
| align="center" lang="hbo" style="font-size:200%" dir="rtl" |{{Script/Hebrew|שׁ}}
|| <big>{{IPAblink|ʃ}}</big> || <big>{{IPAblink|ʃ}}</big> || <big>{{IPAblink|ʃ}}</big> || <big>{{IPAblink|ʃ}}</big> || <big>{{IPAblink|ʃ}}</big> || <big>{{IPAblink|ʃ}}</big> || <big>{{IPAblink|ʃ}}</big>
| rowspan="2" |[[File:Shin.svg|21x21px]]
|-
| align="center" lang="hbo" style="font-size:200%" dir="rtl" |{{Script/Hebrew|שׂ}}
|| <big>{{IPAblink|s}}</big> || <big>{{IPAblink|s}}</big> || <big>{{IPAblink|s}}</big> || <big>{{IPAblink|s}}</big> || <big>{{IPAblink|s}}</big> || <big>{{IPAblink|s}}</big> || <big>{{IPAblink|ɬ}}</big>
|-
| align="center" lang="hbo" style="font-size:200%" dir="rtl" |{{Script/Hebrew|תּ}}
| rowspan="2" | <big>{{IPAblink|t}}</big>
| <big>{{IPAblink|t}}</big>
| rowspan="2" | <big>{{IPAblink|t}}</big>
| <big>{{IPAblink|t̪}}</big> || <big>{{IPAblink|t̪}}</big> || <big>{{IPAblink|t̪}}</big>
| <big>{{IPAblink|t̪}}</big>
| rowspan="2" |[[File:Taw.svg|21x21px]]
|-
| align="center" lang="hbo" style="font-size:200%" dir="rtl" |{{Script/Hebrew|ת}}
|| <big>{{IPAblink|s}}</big> || <big>{{IPAblink|θ}}</big> || <big>{{IPAblink|θ}}</big> || <big>{{IPAblink|θ}}</big>
|<big>{{IPAblink|θ}}</big>
|}

# [[velarization|velarized]] or [[pharyngealization|pharyngealized]]
# pharyngealized
# sometimes said to be [[ejective consonant|ejective]] but more likely [[glottalized]].

===Vowels===
{{Unreferenced section|date=March 2025}}

====Matres lectionis====
{{main|Mater lectionis}}

{{Script/Hebrew|א}} ''alef'', {{Script/Hebrew|ע}} ''ayin'', {{Script/Hebrew|ו}} ''waw/vav'' and {{Script/Hebrew|י}} ''yod'' are letters that can sometimes indicate a vowel instead of a consonant (which would be, respectively, {{IPA|/ʔ/, /ʕ/, /v/ and /j/}}). When they do, {{Script/Hebrew|ו}} and {{Script/Hebrew|י}} are considered to constitute part of the vowel designation in combination with a niqqud symbol{{dash}}a vowel diacritic (whether or not the diacritic is marked), whereas {{Script/Hebrew|א}} and {{Script/Hebrew|ע}} are considered to be mute, their role being purely indicative of the non-marked vowel.

:{|class="wikitable"
|-
!<small>Letter</small>!!<small>Name<br />of letter</small>!!<small>Consonant <br />indicated<br />when letter<br />consonantal</small>||<small>Vowel<br />designation</small>!!<small>Name of<br />vowel designation</small>||<small>Indicated<br />Vowel</small>
|- align=center
| style="font-size:200%;"| {{Script/Hebrew|א}}
|| ''alef''|| {{IPA|/ʔ/}} || — || —
|| ê, ệ, ậ, â, ô
|- align=center
| style="font-size:200%;"| {{Script/Hebrew|ע}}
|| ''ayin''|| {{IPA|/ʔ/}} or {{IPA|/ʕ/}}|| — || —
|| ê, ệ, ậ, â, ô
|- align=center
|rowspan=2 style="font-size:200%;"| {{Script/Hebrew|ו}}
|rowspan=2| ''waw/vav''
|rowspan=2| {{IPA|/w/}} or {{IPA|/v/}}
| style="font-size:200%;"| {{Script/Hebrew|וֹ}}
|ḥolám malé
| ô
|- align=center
| style="font-size:200%;"| {{Script/Hebrew|וּ}}
|shurúq
| û
|- align=center
|rowspan=2 style="font-size:200%;"| {{Script/Hebrew|י}}
|rowspan=2| ''yud''
|rowspan=2| {{IPA|/j/}}
|<span style="font-size:200%;">{{Script/Hebrew|ִ י}}</span>
|ḥiríq malé
| î
|- align=center
|<span style="font-size:200%;">{{Script/Hebrew|ֵ י}}</span>
|tseré malé
| ê, ệ
|}

====Vowel points====

''[[Niqqud]]'' is the system of dots that help determine vowels and consonants. In Hebrew, all forms of ''niqqud'' are often omitted in writing, except for children's books, prayer books, poetry, foreign words, and words which would be ambiguous to pronounce. Israeli Hebrew has five vowel phonemes, {{IPA|/i e a o u/}}, but many more written symbols for them:

{| class="wikitable"
|-
!! rowspan=2 | Name
!! rowspan=2 | Symbol
! rowspan="2" |Written Position
!! colspan=3 |[[Israeli Hebrew]]
|-
!!| [[Help:IPA chart for Hebrew|IPA]]
!!| [[Transliteration]]
!!| English<br />example
|-
| [[Hiriq]]
| style="text-align:center;"| [[File:Hebrew Hiriq.svg|35px]]
|''vowel written below consonant''
| style="text-align:center;"| {{IPAblink|i}}
| style="text-align:center;"| i
| style="text-align:center;" | m'''ee'''t
|-
| [[Tsere]]
| style="text-align:center;"| [[File:Hebrew Zeire.svg|35px]]
|''vowel written below consonant''
| style="text-align:center;"| {{IPAblink|e̞}}, <small>({{IPA|[e̞j]}} with<br />succeeding [[yodh|yod]])</small>
| style="text-align:center;"|eh (precise pronunciation); ei (imprecise due to modern pronunciation, even if with succeeding yod{{dash}}see '''Note 2''')
| style="text-align:center;"|b'''e'''d, p'''e'''nguin
|-
| [[Segol]]
| style="text-align:center;"| [[File:Hebrew Segol.svg|35px]]
|''vowel written below consonant''
| style="text-align:center;"| {{IPAblink|e̞}}
| style="text-align:center;"| e
| style="text-align:center;"| m'''e'''n
|-
| [[Patach]]
| style="text-align:center;"| [[File:Hebrew Patah.svg|35px]]
|''vowel written below consonant''
| style="text-align:center;"| {{IPAblink|ä}}
| style="text-align:center;"| a
| style="text-align:center;"|f'''a'''ther
|-
| [[Kamatz]]
| style="text-align:center;"| [[File:Hebrew Qamaz.svg|35px]]
|''vowel written below consonant''
| style="text-align:center;"| {{IPAblink|ä}}, (or {{IPAblink|o̞}})
| style="text-align:center;"|ah, (or oh)
| style="text-align:center;"| f'''a'''ther, l'''o'''gin
|-
| [[Holam|Holam Haser]]
| style="text-align:center;"| [[File:Hebrew Holam.svg|23px]]
|''vowel written above consonant''
| style="text-align:center;" rowspan="2" | {{IPAblink|o̞}}
| style="text-align:center;" rowspan="2" | o
| style="text-align:center;" rowspan="2" |h'''o'''me
|-
| [[Holam|Holam Male]]
| style="text-align:center;font-size:30px;"|{{Script/Hebrew|וֹ}}
|''isolated vowel written on its own''
|-
| [[Shuruk]]
| style="text-align:center;font-size:30px;"|{{Script/Hebrew|וּ}}
|''isolated vowel written on its own''
| style="text-align:center;" rowspan="2" | {{IPAblink|u}}
| style="text-align:center;" rowspan="2" | u
| style="text-align:center;" rowspan="2" | f'''oo'''d
|-
| [[Kubutz]]
| style="text-align:center;"| [[File:Hebrew Backslash Qubuz.svg|35px]]
|''vowel written below consonant''
|}
<small>'''Note 1:''' The circle represents whatever Hebrew letter is used.<br />
'''Note 2:''' The pronunciation of ''tsere'' and sometimes ''segol''{{dash}}with or without the letter ''yod''{{dash}}is sometimes ''ei'' in Modern Hebrew. This is not correct in the normative pronunciation and not consistent in the spoken language.<ref>{{cite book
  |last = Laufer
  |first = Asher
  |title = Chapters in Phonetics and Phonetic Transcription
  |publisher = Magnes
  |location = Jerusalem
  |year = 2008
  |isbn = 978-965-493-401-5
  |pages=207–211
}}</ref><br />
'''Note 3:''' The ''[[dagesh]]'', ''[[mappiq]]'', and ''[[Kubutz and Shuruk|shuruk]]'' have different functions, even though they look the same.<br />
'''Note 4:''' The letter {{Script/Hebr|ו}} (''waw/vav'') is used since it can only be represented by that letter.</small>

=====Meteg=====
{{main|Meteg}}

By adding a vertical line (called ''[[Meteg]]'') underneath the letter and to the left of the vowel point, the vowel is made long. The ''meteg'' is only used in [[Biblical Hebrew]], not [[Modern Hebrew]].

=====Sh'va=====
{{main|Sh'va}}

By adding two vertical dots (called ''[[sh'va]]'') underneath the letter, the vowel is made very short. When sh'va is placed on the first letter of the word, mostly it is "è" (but in some instances, it makes the first letter silent without a vowel (vowel-less): e.g. '''<big>וְ</big>''' ''wè'' to "w").

{| class="wikitable"
|-
!! rowspan=2 | Name
!! rowspan=2 | Symbol
!! colspan=3 |[[Israeli Hebrew]]
|-
!!| [[Help:IPA chart for Hebrew|IPA]]
!!| [[Transliteration]]
!!| English<br />example
|-
| [[Shva]]
| style="text-align:center;"| [[File:Tilde Schwa.svg|35px]]
| style="text-align:center;"| {{IPAblink|e̞}} ''or'' {{IPA link|∅}}
| style="text-align:center;"| ''apostrophe'', e,<br />''or silent''
| style="text-align:center;"| m'''e'''t or silent
|-
| [[Reduced Segol]]
| style="text-align:center;"| [[File:Hataf Segol.svg|35px]]
| style="text-align:center;"| {{IPAblink|e̞}}
| style="text-align:center;"| e
| style="text-align:center;"| m'''e'''t
|-
| [[Reduced Patach]]
| style="text-align:center;"| [[File:Hataf Patah.svg|35px]]
| style="text-align:center;"| {{IPAblink|ä}}
| style="text-align:center;"| a
| style="text-align:center;"| c'''a'''t
|-
| [[Reduced Kamatz]]
| style="text-align:center;"| [[File:Hataf Qamaz.svg|35px]]
| style="text-align:center;"| {{IPAblink|o̞}}
| style="text-align:center;"| o
| style="text-align:center;"| '''o'''n
|}

=====Comparison table=====
{| class="wikitable"
|+ Vowel comparison table <ref>{{cite web| url = http://www.hebrew4christians.com/Grammar/Unit_Two/unit_two.html| title = Hebrew lessons for Christians}}</ref>
|- align=center
! colspan=3 | [[Vowel length]]<br /><small>(phonetically not manifested in Israeli Hebrew)</small>
! rowspan=2 | [[Help:IPA chart for Hebrew|IPA]]
! rowspan=2 | [[Transliteration]]
! rowspan=2 | English<br />example
|-
! Long
! Short
! Very Short
|- align=center
|style="padding-bottom:0.5em;font-size:200%;"| {{Script/Hebrew| ָ }}
|style="padding-bottom:0.5em;font-size:200%;"| {{Script/Hebrew| ַ }}
|style="padding-bottom:0.5em;font-size:200%;"| {{Script/Hebrew| ֲ }}
| {{IPAblink|ä}} || a
| f'''a'''ll
|- align=center
|style="padding-bottom:0.5em;font-size:200%;"| {{Script/Hebrew| ֵ }}
|style="padding-bottom:0.5em;font-size:200%;"| {{Script/Hebrew| ֶ }}
|style="padding-bottom:0.5em;font-size:200%;"| {{Script/Hebrew| ֱ }}
| {{IPAblink|e̞}} || e
| m'''e'''n
|- align=center
|style="padding-bottom:0.5em;font-size:180%;"| {{Script/Hebrew| וֹ }}
|style="padding-bottom:0.5em;font-size:180%;"| {{Script/Hebrew| ֹ }}
|style="padding-bottom:0.5em;font-size:180%;"| {{Script/Hebrew| ֳ }}
| {{IPAblink|o̞}} || o
| j'''o'''ke
|- align=center
| style="font-size:180%;" | {{script/Hebrew|וּ}}
|style="padding-bottom:0.5em;font-size:200%;"| {{Script/Hebrew| ֻ }}
| style="text-align:center;" |
| {{IPAblink|u}} || u
| d'''u'''ty
|- align=center
| style="font-size:180%;" | {{script/Hebrew| ִ&nbsp;י }}&nbsp;
|style="padding-bottom:0.5em;font-size:200%;"| {{Script/Hebrew| ִ }}
|
| {{IPAblink|i}} || i
| med'''i'''a
|- align=center
! colspan=2 | '''Note I:'''
| colspan=4 | By adding two vertical dots (''[[sh'va]]'') <span style="font-size:200%;">{{Script/Hebrew| ְ }}</span> <br />the vowel is made very short.
|-
! colspan=2 | '''Note II:'''
| colspan="4" style="text-align:center;"| The short ''o'' and long ''a'' have the same ''niqqud''.
|-
! colspan=2 | '''Note III:'''
| colspan="4" style="text-align:center;"| The short ''o'' is usually promoted to a long ''o''<br />in Israeli writing for the sake of disambiguation.
|-
! colspan=2 | '''Note IV:'''
| colspan="4" style="text-align:center;"| The short ''u'' is usually promoted to a long ''u''<br />in Israeli writing for the sake of disambiguation.
|}

===Gershayim===
{{main|Gershayim}}
The symbol {{Script/Hebrew|'''״'''}} is called a ''[[gershayim]]'' and is a punctuation mark used in the Hebrew language to denote acronyms. It is written before the last letter in the acronym, e.g. {{Script/Hebrew|ר״ת}}. ''Gershayim'' is also the name of a [[cantillation mark]] in the reading of the [[Torah]], printed above the accented letter, e.g. {{Script/Hebrew|א֞}}.

==Stylistic variants==
{{Unreferenced section|date=March 2025}}
{{further|Cursive Hebrew|Rashi script|Ashuri alphabet|History of the Hebrew alphabet}}

The following table displays typographic and chirographic variants of each letter. For the letters that have different forms in word-final position, the final forms are displayed beneath the regular forms.

The block (''square'', or ''print'' form) and cursive (''handwritten'' form) are the only variants in widespread contemporary use. Rashi is also used, for historical reasons, in a handful of standard texts.

{|class="wikitable noresize"
|-
! colspan=2 rowspan="3" style="width:13%;"| Letter<br />name<br />([[Unicode]])
! colspan=7 | Variants
|-
! colspan=3 | Contemporary
! colspan=1 | Early modern
! colspan=3 | Ancestral
|-  style="line-height:.75em;"
! style="width:12%;"|<small>Block [[serif]]</small>
! style="width:12%;"|<small>Block [[sans-serif]]</small>
! style="width:12%;"|<small>[[cursive Hebrew|Cursive]]</small>
! style="width:12%;"|<small>[[Rashi script|Rashi]]</small>
! style="width:13%;"|<small>[[Phoenician alphabet|Phoenician]]</small>
! style="width:13%;"|<small>[[Paleo-Hebrew alphabet|Paleo-Hebrew]]</small>
! style="width:13%;"|<small>[[Aramaic alphabet|Aramaic]]</small>
|- style="text-align:center; font-size:200%;"
| colspan=2 style="font-size:50%;"| Alef
| lang="he" style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', 'SBL Hebrew', David, Narkisim, 'Taamey Frank CLM', 'New Peninim MT', 'Noto Serif Hebrew', FreeSerif, serif;"| א
| lang="he" style="font-family: Arial, 'DejaVu Sans Condensed', 'DejaVu Sans', Tahoma, 'Noto Sans Hebrew', Alef, FreeSans, sans-serif;"| א
| [[File:Hebrew letter Alef handwriting.svg|17px]]
| [[File:Alef (Rashi-script - Hebrew letter).svg|17px]]
|𐤀
| [[File:Early Aramaic character - Alaph.svg|20px|Alef]]
| [[File:Aleph.svg|20px]]
|- style="text-align:center; font-size:200%;"
| colspan=2 style="font-size:50%;"| Bet
| lang="he" style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', 'SBL Hebrew', David, Narkisim, 'Taamey Frank CLM', 'New Peninim MT', 'Noto Serif Hebrew', FreeSerif, serif;"| ב
| lang="he" style="font-family: Arial, 'DejaVu Sans Condensed', 'DejaVu Sans', Tahoma, 'Noto Sans Hebrew', Alef, FreeSans, sans-serif;"| ב
| [[File:Hebrew letter Bet handwriting.svg|17px]]
| [[File:Bet (Rashi-script - Hebrew letter).svg|17px]]
|𐤁
| [[File:Early Aramaic character - Beth.svg|40px|Bet]]
| [[File:Beth.svg|20px]]
|- style="text-align:center; font-size:200%;"
| colspan=2 style="font-size:50%;"| Gimel
| lang="he" style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', 'SBL Hebrew', David, Narkisim, 'Taamey Frank CLM', 'New Peninim MT', 'Noto Serif Hebrew', FreeSerif, serif;"| ג
| lang="he" style="font-family: Arial, 'DejaVu Sans Condensed', 'DejaVu Sans', Tahoma, 'Noto Sans Hebrew', Alef, FreeSans, sans-serif;"| ג
| [[File:Hebrew letter Gimel handwriting.svg|17px]]
| [[File:Gimel (Rashi-script - Hebrew letter).svg|17px]]
|𐤂
| [[File:Early Aramaic character - gimmel.svg|40px|Gimel]]
| [[File:Igimel.png|20px]]
|- style="text-align:center; font-size:200%;"
| colspan=2 style="font-size:50%;"| Dalet
| lang="he" style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', 'SBL Hebrew', David, Narkisim, 'Taamey Frank CLM', 'New Peninim MT', 'Noto Serif Hebrew', FreeSerif, serif;"| ד
| lang="he" style="font-family: Arial, 'DejaVu Sans Condensed', 'DejaVu Sans', Tahoma, 'Noto Sans Hebrew', Alef, FreeSans, sans-serif;"| ד
| [[File:Hebrew letter Daled handwriting.svg|17px]]
| [[File:Daled (Rashi-script - Hebrew letter).svg|17px]]
| 𐤃
| [[File:Early Aramaic character - daled.svg|40px|Daled]]
| [[File:daleth.svg|20px]]
|- style="text-align:center; font-size:200%;"
| colspan=2 style="font-size:50%;"| He
| lang="he" style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', 'SBL Hebrew', David, Narkisim, 'Taamey Frank CLM', 'New Peninim MT', 'Noto Serif Hebrew', FreeSerif, serif;"| ה
| lang="he" style="font-family: Arial, 'DejaVu Sans Condensed', 'DejaVu Sans', Tahoma, 'Noto Sans Hebrew', Alef, FreeSans, sans-serif;"| ה
| [[File:Hebrew letter He handwriting.svg|17px]]
| [[File:He (Rashi-script - Hebrew letter).svg|17px]]
|𐤄
| [[File:Early Aramaic character - heh.svg|40px|Heh]]
| [[File:he0.svg|20px]]
|- style="text-align:center; font-size:200%;"
| colspan=2 style="font-size:50%;"| Vav (Unicode)<ref name="unicode_names_of_hebrew_glyphs_at_unicode.org"/> / Waw
| lang="he" style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', 'SBL Hebrew', David, Narkisim, 'Taamey Frank CLM', 'New Peninim MT', 'Noto Serif Hebrew', FreeSerif, serif;"| ו
| lang="he" style="font-family: Arial, 'DejaVu Sans Condensed', 'DejaVu Sans', Tahoma, 'Noto Sans Hebrew', Alef, FreeSans, sans-serif;"| ו
| [[File:Hebrew letter Vav handwriting.svg|17px]]
| [[File:Vav (Rashi-script - Hebrew letter).svg|17px]]
|𐤅
| [[File:Early Aramaic character - vav.svg|40px|Vav]]
| [[File:waw.svg|20px]]
|- style="text-align:center; font-size:200%;"
| colspan=2 style="font-size:50%;"| Zayin
| lang="he" style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', 'SBL Hebrew', David, Narkisim, 'Taamey Frank CLM', 'New Peninim MT', 'Noto Serif Hebrew', FreeSerif, serif;"| ז
| lang="he" style="font-family: Arial, 'DejaVu Sans Condensed', 'DejaVu Sans', Tahoma, 'Noto Sans Hebrew', Alef, FreeSans, sans-serif;"| ז
| [[File:Hebrew letter Zayin handwriting.svg|17px]]
| [[File:Zayin (Rashi-script - Hebrew letter).svg|17px]]
| 𐤆
| [[File:Early Aramaic character - zayin.svg|40px|Zayin]]
| [[File:zayin.svg|20px]]
|- style="text-align:center; font-size:200%;"
| colspan=2 style="font-size:50%;"| Chet
| lang="he" style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', 'SBL Hebrew', David, Narkisim, 'Taamey Frank CLM', 'New Peninim MT', 'Noto Serif Hebrew', FreeSerif, serif;"| ח
| lang="he" style="font-family: Arial, 'DejaVu Sans Condensed', 'DejaVu Sans', Tahoma, 'Noto Sans Hebrew', Alef, FreeSans, sans-serif;"| ח
| [[File:Hebrew letter Het handwriting.svg|17px]]
| [[File:Het (Rashi-script - Hebrew letter).svg|17px]]
| 𐤇
| [[File:Early Aramaic character - khet.svg|40px|Khet]]
| [[File:Heth.svg|20px]]
|- style="text-align:center; font-size:200%;"
| colspan=2 style="font-size:50%;"| Tet
| lang="he" style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', 'SBL Hebrew', David, Narkisim, 'Taamey Frank CLM', 'New Peninim MT', 'Noto Serif Hebrew', FreeSerif, serif;"| ט
| lang="he" style="font-family: Arial, 'DejaVu Sans Condensed', 'DejaVu Sans', Tahoma, 'Noto Sans Hebrew', Alef, FreeSans, sans-serif;"| ט
| [[File:Hebrew letter Tet handwriting.svg|17px]]
| [[File:Tet (Rashi-script - Hebrew letter).svg|17px]]
| 𐤈
| [[File:Early Aramaic character - tet.svg|40px|Tet]]
| [[File:teth.svg|20px]]
|- style="text-align:center; font-size:200%;"
| colspan=2 style="font-size:50%;"| Yod
| lang="he" style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', 'SBL Hebrew', David, Narkisim, 'Taamey Frank CLM', 'New Peninim MT', 'Noto Serif Hebrew', FreeSerif, serif;"| י
| lang="he" style="font-family: Arial, 'DejaVu Sans Condensed', 'DejaVu Sans', Tahoma, 'Noto Sans Hebrew', Alef, FreeSans, sans-serif;"| י
| [[File:Hebrew letter Yud handwriting.svg|17px]]
| [[File:Yud (Rashi-script - Hebrew letter).svg|17px]]
|𐤉
| [[File:Early Aramaic character - yud.svg|40px|Yud]]
| [[File:yod.svg|20px]]
|- style="text-align:center; font-size:200%;"
| rowspan=2 style="font-size:50%;"| Kaf
| style="font-size:50%;"| Non-final
| lang="he" style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', 'SBL Hebrew', David, Narkisim, 'Taamey Frank CLM', 'New Peninim MT', 'Noto Serif Hebrew', FreeSerif, serif;"| כ
| lang="he" style="font-family: Arial, 'DejaVu Sans Condensed', 'DejaVu Sans', Tahoma, 'Noto Sans Hebrew', Alef, FreeSans, sans-serif;"| כ
| [[File:Hebrew letter Kaf handwriting.svg|17px]]
| [[File:Kaf-nonfinal (Rashi-script - Hebrew letter).svg|17px]]
| rowspan="2" |𐤊
|rowspan=2| [[File:Early Aramaic character - khof.svg|40px|Khof]]
|rowspan=2| [[File:kaph.svg|20px]]
|- style="text-align:center; font-size:200%;"
| style="font-size:50%;"| Final
| lang="he" style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', 'SBL Hebrew', David, Narkisim, 'Taamey Frank CLM', 'New Peninim MT', 'Noto Serif Hebrew', FreeSerif, serif;"| ך
| lang="he" style="font-family: Arial, 'DejaVu Sans Condensed', 'DejaVu Sans', Tahoma, 'Noto Sans Hebrew', Alef, FreeSans, sans-serif;"| ך
| [[File:Hebrew letter Kaf-final handwriting.svg|17px]]
| [[File:Kaf-final (Rashi-script - Hebrew letter).svg|17px]]
|- style="text-align:center; font-size:200%;"
| colspan=2 style="font-size:50%;"| Lamed
| lang="he" style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', 'SBL Hebrew', David, Narkisim, 'Taamey Frank CLM', 'New Peninim MT', 'Noto Serif Hebrew', FreeSerif, serif;"| ל
| lang="he" style="font-family: Arial, 'DejaVu Sans Condensed', 'DejaVu Sans', Tahoma, 'Noto Sans Hebrew', Alef, FreeSans, sans-serif;"| ל
| [[File:Hebrew letter Lamed handwriting.svg|17px]]
| [[File:Lamed (Rashi-script - Hebrew letter).svg|35x35px]]
|𐤋
| [[File:Early Aramaic character - lamed.svg|40px|Lamed]]
| [[File:lamed.svg|20px]]
|- style="text-align:center; font-size:200%;"
| rowspan=2 style="font-size:50%;"| Mem
| style="font-size:50%;"| Non-final
| lang="he" style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', 'SBL Hebrew', David, Narkisim, 'Taamey Frank CLM', 'New Peninim MT', 'Noto Serif Hebrew', FreeSerif, serif;"| מ
| lang="he" style="font-family: Arial, 'DejaVu Sans Condensed', 'DejaVu Sans', Tahoma, 'Noto Sans Hebrew', Alef, FreeSans, sans-serif;"| מ
| [[File:Hebrew letter Mem handwriting.svg|17px]]
| [[File:Mem-nonfinal (Rashi-script - Hebrew letter).svg|17px]]
| rowspan="2" |𐤌
|rowspan=2| [[File:Early Aramaic character - mem.svg|40px|Mem]]
|rowspan=2| [[File:mem.svg|20px]]
|- style="text-align:center; font-size:200%;"
| style="font-size:50%;"| Final
| lang="he" style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', 'SBL Hebrew', David, Narkisim, 'Taamey Frank CLM', 'New Peninim MT', 'Noto Serif Hebrew', FreeSerif, serif;"| ם
| lang="he" style="font-family: Arial, 'DejaVu Sans Condensed', 'DejaVu Sans', Tahoma, 'Noto Sans Hebrew', Alef, FreeSans, sans-serif;"| ם
| [[File:Hebrew letter Mem-final handwriting.svg|17px]]
| [[File:Mem-final (Rashi-script - Hebrew letter).svg|17px]]
|- style="text-align:center; font-size:200%;"
| rowspan=2 style="font-size:50%;"| Nun
| style="font-size:50%;"| Non-final
| lang="he" style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', 'SBL Hebrew', David, Narkisim, 'Taamey Frank CLM', 'New Peninim MT', 'Noto Serif Hebrew', FreeSerif, serif;"| נ
| lang="he" style="font-family: Arial, 'DejaVu Sans Condensed', 'DejaVu Sans', Tahoma, 'Noto Sans Hebrew', Alef, FreeSans, sans-serif;"| נ
| [[File:Hebrew letter Nun handwriting.svg|17px]]
| [[File:Nun-nonfinal (Rashi-script - Hebrew letter).svg|17px]]
| rowspan="2" |𐤍
|rowspan=2| [[File:Early Aramaic character - nun.svg|40px|Nun]]
|rowspan=2| [[File:nun.svg|20px]]
|- style="text-align:center; font-size:200%;"
| style="font-size:50%;"| Final
| lang="he" style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', 'SBL Hebrew', David, Narkisim, 'Taamey Frank CLM', 'New Peninim MT', 'Noto Serif Hebrew', FreeSerif, serif;"| ן
| lang="he" style="font-family: Arial, 'DejaVu Sans Condensed', 'DejaVu Sans', Tahoma, 'Noto Sans Hebrew', Alef, FreeSans, sans-serif;"| ן
| [[File:Hebrew letter Nun-final handwriting.svg|17px]]
| [[File:Nun-final (Rashi-script - Hebrew letter).svg|17px]]
|- style="text-align:center; font-size:200%;"
| colspan=2 style="font-size:50%;"| Samekh
| lang="he" style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', 'SBL Hebrew', David, Narkisim, 'Taamey Frank CLM', 'New Peninim MT', 'Noto Serif Hebrew', FreeSerif, serif;"| ס
| lang="he" style="font-family: Arial, 'DejaVu Sans Condensed', 'DejaVu Sans', Tahoma, 'Noto Sans Hebrew', Alef, FreeSans, sans-serif;"| ס
| [[File:Hebrew letter Samekh handwriting.svg|17px]]
| [[File:Samekh (Rashi-script - Hebrew letter).svg|17px]]
| 𐤎
| [[File:Early Aramaic character - samekh.svg|20px|Samekh]]
| [[File:samekh.svg|20px]]
|- style="text-align:center; font-size:200%;"
| colspan=2 style="font-size:50%;"| Ayin
| lang="he" style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', 'SBL Hebrew', David, Narkisim, 'Taamey Frank CLM', 'New Peninim MT', 'Noto Serif Hebrew', FreeSerif, serif;"| ע
| lang="he" style="font-family: Arial, 'DejaVu Sans Condensed', 'DejaVu Sans', Tahoma, 'Noto Sans Hebrew', Alef, FreeSans, sans-serif;"| ע
| [[File:Hebrew letter Ayin handwriting.svg|17px]]
| [[File:Ayin (Rashi-script - Hebrew letter).svg|17px]]
|𐤏
| [[File:Early Aramaic character - ayin.svg|40px|Ayin]]
| [[File:ayin.svg|20px]]
|- style="text-align:center; font-size:200%;"
| rowspan=2 style="font-size:50%;"| Pe
| style="font-size:50%;"| Non-final
| lang="he" style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', 'SBL Hebrew', David, Narkisim, 'Taamey Frank CLM', 'New Peninim MT', 'Noto Serif Hebrew', FreeSerif, serif;"| פ
| lang="he" style="font-family: Arial, 'DejaVu Sans Condensed', 'DejaVu Sans', Tahoma, 'Noto Sans Hebrew', Alef, FreeSans, sans-serif;"| פ
| [[File:Hebrew letter Pe handwriting.svg|17px]]
| [[File:Pe-nonfinal (Rashi-script - Hebrew letter).svg|17px]]
| rowspan="2" |𐤐
|rowspan=2| [[File:Early Aramaic character - pey.svg|40px|Pey]]
|rowspan=2| [[File:pe0.svg|20px]]
|- style="text-align:center; font-size:200%;"
| style="font-size:50%;"| Final
| lang="he" style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', 'SBL Hebrew', David, Narkisim, 'Taamey Frank CLM', 'New Peninim MT', 'Noto Serif Hebrew', FreeSerif, serif;"| ף
| lang="he" style="font-family: Arial, 'DejaVu Sans Condensed', 'DejaVu Sans', Tahoma, 'Noto Sans Hebrew', Alef, FreeSans, sans-serif;"| ף
| [[File:Hebrew letter Pe-final handwriting.svg|17px]]
| [[File:Pe-final (Rashi-script - Hebrew letter).svg|17px]]
|- style="text-align:center; font-size:200%;"
| rowspan=2 style="font-size:50%;"| Tsadi
| style="font-size:50%;"| Non-final
| lang="he" style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', 'SBL Hebrew', David, Narkisim, 'Taamey Frank CLM', 'New Peninim MT', 'Noto Serif Hebrew', FreeSerif, serif;"| צ
| lang="he" style="font-family: Arial, 'DejaVu Sans Condensed', 'DejaVu Sans', Tahoma, 'Noto Sans Hebrew', Alef, FreeSans, sans-serif;"| צ
| [[File:Hebrew letter Tsadik handwriting.svg|17px]]
| [[File:Tsadik-nonfinal (Rashi-script - Hebrew letter).svg|17px]]
| rowspan="2" |𐤑
|rowspan=2| [[File:Early Aramaic character - tzadi.svg|40px|Tzadi]]
|rowspan=2| [[File:Sade 1.svg|20px]], [[File:Sade 2.svg|20px]]
|- style="text-align:center; font-size:200%;"
| style="font-size:50%;"| Final
| lang="he" style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', 'SBL Hebrew', David, Narkisim, 'Taamey Frank CLM', 'New Peninim MT', 'Noto Serif Hebrew', FreeSerif, serif;"| ץ
| lang="he" style="font-family: Arial, 'DejaVu Sans Condensed', 'DejaVu Sans', Tahoma, 'Noto Sans Hebrew', Alef, FreeSans, sans-serif;"| ץ
| [[File:Hebrew letter Tsadik-final handwriting.svg|17px]]
| [[File:Tsadik-final (Rashi-script - Hebrew letter).svg|17px]]
|- style="text-align:center; font-size:200%;"
| colspan=2 style="font-size:50%;"| Qof
| lang="he" style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', 'SBL Hebrew', David, Narkisim, 'Taamey Frank CLM', 'New Peninim MT', 'Noto Serif Hebrew', FreeSerif, serif;"| ק
| lang="he" style="font-family: Arial, 'DejaVu Sans Condensed', 'DejaVu Sans', Tahoma, 'Noto Sans Hebrew', Alef, FreeSans, sans-serif;"| ק
| [[File:Hebrew letter Kuf handwriting.svg|17px]]
| [[File:Kuf (Rashi-script - Hebrew letter).svg|17px]]
|𐤒
| [[File:Early Aramaic character - quf.svg|40px|Quf]]
| [[File:qoph.svg|20px]]
|- style="text-align:center; font-size:200%;"
| colspan=2 style="font-size:50%;"| Resh
| lang="he" style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', 'SBL Hebrew', David, Narkisim, 'Taamey Frank CLM', 'New Peninim MT', 'Noto Serif Hebrew', FreeSerif, serif;"| ר
| lang="he" style="font-family: Arial, 'DejaVu Sans Condensed', 'DejaVu Sans', Tahoma, 'Noto Sans Hebrew', Alef, FreeSans, sans-serif;"| ר
| [[File:Hebrew letter Resh handwriting.svg|17px]]
| [[File:Resh (Rashi-script - Hebrew letter).svg|17px]]
|𐤓
| [[File:Early Aramaic character - resh.svg|40px|Resh]]
| [[File:resh.svg|20px]]
|- style="text-align:center; font-size:200%;"
| colspan=2 style="font-size:50%;"| Shin
| lang="he" style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', 'SBL Hebrew', David, Narkisim, 'Taamey Frank CLM', 'New Peninim MT', 'Noto Serif Hebrew', FreeSerif, serif;"| ש
| lang="he" style="font-family: Arial, 'DejaVu Sans Condensed', 'DejaVu Sans', Tahoma, 'Noto Sans Hebrew', Alef, FreeSans, sans-serif;"| ש
| [[File:Hebrew letter Shin handwriting.svg|17px]]
| [[File:Shin (Rashi-script - Hebrew letter).svg|17px]]
|𐤔
| [[File:Early Aramaic character - shin.svg|40px|Shin]]
| [[File:shin.svg|20px]]
|- style="text-align:center; font-size:200%;"
| colspan=2 style="font-size:50%;"| Tav
| lang="he" style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', 'SBL Hebrew', David, Narkisim, 'Taamey Frank CLM', 'New Peninim MT', 'Noto Serif Hebrew', FreeSerif, serif;"| ת
| lang="he" style="font-family: Arial, 'DejaVu Sans Condensed', 'DejaVu Sans', Tahoma, 'Noto Sans Hebrew', Alef, FreeSans, sans-serif;"| ת
| [[File:Hebrew letter Taf handwriting.svg|17px]]
| [[File:Taf (Rashi-script - Hebrew letter).svg|17px]]
|𐤕
| [[File:Early Aramaic character - tof.svg|40px|Tof]]
| [[File:taw.svg|20px]]
|}

===Yiddish symbols===

{| class="wikitable"
|-
! Symbol
! Explanation
|-
| align=center style="font-size:180%;"| {{script/Hebrew| װ ױ ײ ײַ }}
| These are intended for [[Yiddish orthography#The Standard Yiddish Orthography|Yiddish]]. They are not used in Hebrew, aside from in loan words{{ref label|Double_Vav_as_Ligature_or_as_Separate_Letters|d|}}. They are possible to visually recreate using a sequence of letters, {{script/Hebrew|וו וי יי}}, except when a diacritic is inserted underneath that would not appear in the middle.
|-
| align=center style="font-size:180%;"| {{script/Hebrew|בֿ}}
| The ''[[rafe]]'' ({{lang|he|rtl=yes|רפה}}) [[Hebrew diacritics|diacritic]] is no longer regularly used in Hebrew. In [[Masoretic Text]]s and some other older texts, [[lenition|lenited]] consonants and sometimes ''matres lectionis'' are indicated by a small line on top of the letter. Its use has been largely discontinued in modern printed texts. It is still used to mark fricative consonants in the [[YIVO]] orthography of [[Yiddish]].
|}

==Numeric values of letters==
{{Main|Hebrew numerals}}

Following the adoption of Greek Hellenistic alphabetic numeration practice, Hebrew letters started being used to denote numbers in the late 2nd century BCE,<ref>[[Colette Sirat|Sirat, Colette]] (1976), ''Ecriture et civilisations'', Paris: Editions du CNRS.</ref> and performed this arithmetic function for about a thousand years. {{citation needed span|Nowadays alphanumeric notation is used only in specific contexts, e.g. denoting dates in the [[Hebrew calendar]], denoting grades of school in Israel, other listings (e.g. {{lang|he|rtl=yes|שלב א׳}}, {{lang|he|rtl=yes|שלב ב׳}}{{dash}}"phase a, phase b"), commonly in [[Kabbalah]] ([[Judaism|Jewish]] [[mysticism]]) in a practice known as ''[[gematria]]'', and often in religious contexts.|date=March 2025}}

[[File:Hohe Synagoge Prag 1.jpg|thumb|260px| The lower clock on the [[Jewish Town Hall (Prague)|Jewish Town Hall]] building in [[Prague]], with Hebrew numerals in counterclockwise order.]]
{|class=wikitable
|-
!<small>letter</small>!!<small>numeric value</small>
!<small>letter</small>!!<small>numeric value</small>
!<small>letter</small>!!<small>numeric value</small>
|-
|<big>{{script|Hebr|[[א]]}}</big>||1||<big>{{script|Hebr|[[י]]}}</big>||10||<big>{{script|Hebr|[[ק]]}}</big>||100
|-
|<big>{{script|Hebr|[[ב]]}}</big>||2||<big>{{script|Hebr|[[כ]]}}</big>||20||<big>{{script|Hebr|[[ר]]}}</big>||200
|-
|<big>{{script|Hebr|[[ג]]}}</big>||3||<big>{{script|Hebr|[[ל]]}}</big>||30||<big>{{script|Hebr|[[ש]]}}</big>||300
|-
|<big>{{script|Hebr|[[ד]]}}</big>||4||<big>{{script|Hebr|[[מ]]}}</big>||40||<big>{{script|Hebr|[[ת]]}}</big>||400
|-
|<big>{{script|Hebr|[[ה]]}}</big>||5||<big>{{script|Hebr|[[נ]]}}</big>||50
|-
|<big>{{script|Hebr|[[ו]]}}</big>||6||<big>{{script|Hebr|[[ס]]}}</big>||60
|-
|<big>{{script|Hebr|[[ז]]}}</big>||7||<big>{{script|Hebr|[[ע]]}}</big>||70
|-
|<big>{{script|Hebr|[[ח]]}}</big>||8||<big>{{script|Hebr|[[פ]]}}</big>||80
|-
|<big>{{script|Hebr|[[ט]]}}</big>||9||<big>{{script|Hebr|[[צ]]}}</big>||90
|}

{{citation needed span|The numbers 500, 600, 700, 800 and 900 are commonly represented by the juxtapositions {{script|Hebr|ת״ק}}, {{script|Hebr|ת״ר}}, {{script|Hebr|ת״ש}}, {{script|Hebr|ת״ת}}, and {{script|Hebr|תת״ק}} respectively.
Adding a [[geresh]] ⟨{{script|Hebr|׳}}⟩ to a letter multiplies its value by one thousand, for example, the year 5778 is portrayed as {{script|Hebr|ה׳תשע״ח}}, where {{script|Hebr|ה׳}} represents 5000, and {{script|Hebr|תשע״ח}} represents 778.|date=March 2025}}

==Transliterations and transcriptions==
{{Main|Romanization of Hebrew|Biblical Hebrew|Biblical Hebrew orthography|Yiddish|Yiddish orthography}}

The following table lists transliterations and transcriptions of Hebrew letters used in [[Modern Hebrew]].

Clarifications:
*For some letters, the [[Academy of the Hebrew Language]] offers a ''precise'' transliteration that differs from the ''regular'' standard it has set. When omitted, no such precise alternative exists and the regular standard applies.
*The [[International Phonetic Alphabet|IPA]] [[phoneme|phonemic]] transcription is specified whenever it uses a different symbol from the one used for the '''regular''' standard Israeli transliteration.
*The [[International Phonetic Alphabet|IPA]] [[phonetics|phonetic]] transcription is specified whenever it differs from IPA '''phonemic''' transcription.

Note: [[Society of Biblical Literature|SBL's]] transliteration system, recommended in its ''Handbook of Style'',<ref name=SBL>{{cite web| url = http://www.viceregency.com/Translit.htm| title = Resources for New Testament Exegesis – Transliteration Standards of The SBL Handbook of Style}}</ref> differs slightly from the 2006 ''precise'' transliteration system of the Academy of the Hebrew Language; for ⟨{{script|Hebr|[[צ]]}}⟩ SBL uses ⟨ṣ⟩ (≠ AHL ⟨ẓ⟩), and for {{lang|he|rtl=yes|[[Begadkefat|בג״ד כפ״ת]]}} with no dagesh, SBL uses the same symbols as for with dagesh (i.e. ⟨b⟩, ⟨g⟩, ⟨d⟩, ⟨k⟩, ⟨f⟩, ⟨t⟩).<!-- THIS INFORMATION RELIES ON http://www.viceregency.com/Translit.htm, IF BETTER SOURCE AVAILABLE, PLEASE CORRECT! -->

{|class=" wikitable collapsible collapsed"
!colspan=15 style="text-transform: uppercase; font-size:xx-small;" |Click&nbsp;"show"&nbsp;to&nbsp;view&nbsp;extended&nbsp;table&nbsp;including&nbsp;examples.
|-
!<small>Hebrew letter</small> ||<small>example</small>
!<small>Translation</small>
| rowspan="45" style="background:white;"|
!<small>Standard<br />Israeli<br />transliteration<br />– ''regular''</small><ref name=akademya>{{cite web|url=http://hebrew-academy.huji.ac.il/hahlatot/TheTranscription/Documents/taatiq2007.pdf |title=Transliteration guidelines |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140703210016/http://hebrew-academy.huji.ac.il/hahlatot/TheTranscription/Documents/taatiq2007.pdf |archive-date=2014-07-03 |publisher=Academy of the Hebrew Language |date=November 2006 }}</ref>||<small>example</small>
| rowspan="45" style="background:white;"|
!<small>standard<br />Israeli<br />transliteration<br />– ''precise''</small><ref name=akademya/>||<small>example</small>
| rowspan="45" style="background:white; border-bottom-color:white;"|
!<small>[[International Phonetic Alphabet|IPA]]&nbsp;[[phoneme|phonemic]]<br />transcription</small>||<small>example</small>
| rowspan="45" style="background:white;"|
!<small>[[International Phonetic Alphabet|IPA]]&nbsp;[[phonetics|phonetic]]<br />transcription</small>||<small>example</small>
|-
| <span style="font-size:180%">{{script|Hebr|א}}</span><small><div style="line-height:1em;">consonantal, in<br />initial word<br />positions</div></small>||{{lang|he|rtl=yes|אִם}} || <small>if</small> || <small>''none''</small>{{ref label|silent_A1_eg|A1|}} || im || || || || || {{IPAblink|ʔ}} || {{IPA|[ʔim]}}
|-
| <span style="font-size:180%">{{script|Hebr|א}}</span><small><div style="line-height:1em;">consonantal, in<br />non-initial word<br />positions</div></small>|| {{lang|he|rtl=yes|שָׁאַל}} || <small>asked</small> || <big>'</big> || sha<big>'</big>ál || <big>ʾ</big> || sha<big>ʾ</big>ál || {{IPAslink|ʔ}} || {{IPA|/ʃaˈʔal/}} || ||
|-
| <span style="font-size:180%">{{script|Hebr|א}}</span><small><div style="line-height:1em;">silent</div></small> || {{lang|he|rtl=yes|רִאשׁוֹן}} || <small>first</small> || <small>''none''</small>{{ref label|silent_A2_eg|A2|}} || rishón  || || || || || ||
|-
| <span style="font-size:180%">{{script|Hebr|בּ}}</span>|| {{lang|he|rtl=yes|בֵּן}} || <small>son</small> || b || ben || || || || || ||
|-
| <span style="font-size:180%">{{script|Hebr|ב}}</span>|| {{lang|he|rtl=yes|טוֹב}} || <small>good</small> || v || tov || || || || || ||
|-
| <span style="font-size:180%">{{script|Hebr|גּ}}</span>
|rowspan=2| {{lang|he|rtl=yes|גַּג}}
|rowspan=2| <small>roof</small>
|rowspan=2| g
|rowspan=2| gag
| g
|rowspan=2| gaḡ
|rowspan=2|
|rowspan=2|
|rowspan=2|
|rowspan=2|
|-
|<span style="font-size:180%">{{script|Hebr|ג}}</span>||ḡ
|-
|<span style="font-size:180%">{{script|Hebr|ג׳}}</span>|| {{lang|he|rtl=yes|ג׳וּק}} || <small>roach</small> ||[[ǧ]]{{ref label|geresh_B1_eg|B1|}}<ref name=foreign_sounds>[http://hebrew-academy.huji.ac.il/hahlatot/TheTranscription/Documents/ATAR1.pdf Transliteration guidelines preceding 2006-update] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111116075851/http://hebrew-academy.huji.ac.il/hahlatot/TheTranscription/Documents/ATAR1.pdf |date=2011-11-16 }}, p. 3 Academy of the Hebrew Language</ref>||ǧuk || || || {{IPAslink|d͡ʒ}} || {{IPA|/d͡ʒuk/}} || ||
|-
| <span style="font-size:180%">{{script|Hebr|דּ}}</span>
|rowspan=2| {{lang|he|rtl=yes|דּוּד}}
|rowspan=2| <small>boiler</small>
|rowspan=2| d
|rowspan=2| dud
| d
|rowspan=2| duḏ
|rowspan=2|
|rowspan=2|
|rowspan=2|
|rowspan=2|
|-
|<span style="font-size:180%">{{script|Hebr|ד}}</span>||ḏ
|-
| <span style="font-size:180%">{{script|Hebr|ה}}</span><small><div style="line-height:1em;">consonantal</div></small> || {{lang|he|rtl=yes|הֵד}} || <small>echo</small> || h || hed || || || || || ||
|-
| <span style="font-size:180%">{{script|Hebr|ה}}</span><small><div style="line-height:1em;">silent</div></small> || {{lang|he|rtl=yes|פֹּה}} || <small>here</small> || <small>''none''</small>{{ref label|silent_A3_eg|A3|}} || po || || || || || ||
|-
| <span style="font-size:180%">{{script|Hebr|ו}}</span><small><div style="line-height:1em;">consonantal</div></small> || {{lang|he|rtl=yes|וָו}} || <small>hook</small> || v || vav || w || waw || || || ||
|-
| <span style="font-size:180%">{{script|Hebr|וּ}}</span> || {{lang|he|rtl=yes|הוּא}} || <small>he</small> || u || hu || || || || || ||
|-
| <span style="font-size:180%">{{script|Hebr|וֹ}}</span> || {{lang|he|rtl=yes|לוֹ}} || <small>to him</small> || o || lo || || || || || {{IPAblink|o̞}} <small>or</small> {{IPAblink|ɔ̝}} || {{IPA|[lo̞, lɔ̝]}}
|-
| <span style="font-size:180%">{{script|Hebr|ז}}</span> || {{lang|he|rtl=yes|זֶה}} || <small>this</small> || z || ze || || || || || ||
|-
|<span style="font-size:180%">{{script|Hebr|ז׳}}</span>|| {{lang|he|rtl=yes|זָ׳רְגוֹן}} || <small>jargon</small> ||[[ž]]{{ref label|geresh_B2_eg|B2|}}<ref name=foreign_sounds/>||žargón|| || || {{IPAslink|ʒ}} ||  {{IPA|/ʒarˈɡon/}} || ||
|-
|rowspan=2| <span style="font-size:180%">{{script|Hebr|ח}}</span>
|rowspan=2| {{lang|he|rtl=yes|חַם}}
|rowspan=2| <small>hot</small>
|rowspan=2| ẖ {{ref label|ch_C1_eg|C1|}}
|rowspan=2| ẖam
|rowspan=2| ḥ
|rowspan=2| ḥam || {{IPAslink|x}} <small>or</small> {{IPAslink|χ}} || {{IPA|/xam/}} || {{IPAblink|χ}} || {{IPA|[χam]}}
|-
|valign=bottom|<small>[[dialect]]ical</small><br />{{IPAblink|ħ}}
|valign=bottom| {{IPA|[ħam]}}
|
|
|-
| <span style="font-size:180%">{{script|Hebr|ט}}</span> || {{lang|he|rtl=yes|קָט}} || <small>tiny</small> || t || kat || ṭ || kaṭ || || || ||
|-
| <span style="font-size:180%">{{script|Hebr|י}}</span><small><div style="line-height:1em;">consonantal</div></small> || {{lang|he|rtl=yes|יָם}} || <small>sea</small> || y || yam || || || {{IPAslink|j}} || {{IPA|/jam/}} || ||
|-
| <span style="font-size:200%">{{script|Hebr|י}}</span><small><div style="line-height:1em;">part of hirik male<br />(/i/&nbsp;vowel)</div></small> || {{lang|he|rtl=yes|בִּי}} || <small>in me</small> || i || bi || || || || || ||
|-
| <span style="font-size:180%">{{script|Hebr|י}}</span><small><div style="line-height:1em;">part of tsere male<br />(/e/&nbsp;vowel or<br />/ei/&nbsp;diphthong)</div></small> || {{lang|he|rtl=yes|מֵידָע}} || <small>information</small> || e || medá || é || médá || {{IPAslink|e̞|e}} <small>or</small> {{IPA|/ej/}} || {{IPA|/meˈda/}} <small>or</small> {{IPA|/mejˈda/}} || {{IPAblink|e̞}} <small>or</small> {{IPA|/e̞j/}} || {{IPA|[me̞ˈda]}} <small>or</small> {{IPA|[me̞jˈda]}}
|-
| <span style="font-size:180%; line-height:1em;">{{script|Hebr|כּ, ךּ}}</span><span style="unicode-bidi:bidi-override"><ref name="kaf_sofit"/></span> || {{lang|he|rtl=yes|כֹּה}} || <small>so</small> || k || ko || || || || || ||
|-
| <span style="font-size:180%;">{{script|Hebr|כ, ך}}</span> || {{lang|he|rtl=yes|סְכָךְ}} || <small>branch-roofing</small> || kh {{ref label|ch_C2_eg|C2|}} || skhakh || ḵ || sḵaḵ || {{IPAslink|x}} <small>or</small> {{IPAslink|χ}} || {{IPA|/sxax/}} || {{IPAblink|χ}} || {{IPA|[sχaχ]}}
|-
| <span style="font-size:180%">{{script|Hebr|ל}}</span> || {{lang|he|rtl=yes|לִי}} || <small>to me</small> || l || li || || || || || ||
|-
| <span style="font-size:180%">{{script|Hebr|מ, ם}}</span> || {{lang|he|rtl=yes|מוּם}} || <small>defect</small> || m || mum || || || || || ||
|-
| <span style="font-size:180%">{{script|Hebr|נ, ן}}</span> || {{lang|he|rtl=yes|נִין}} || <small>great-grandson</small> || n || nin || || || || || ||
|-
| <span style="font-size:180%">{{script|Hebr|ס}}</span> || {{lang|he|rtl=yes|סוֹף}} || <small>end</small> || s || sof || || || || || ||
|-
|rowspan=2| <span style="font-size:180%">{{script|Hebr|ע}}</span><small><div style="line-height:1em;">in initial or final<br />word positions</div></small>
|rowspan=2| {{lang|he|rtl=yes|עַדְלֹאיָדַע}}
|rowspan=2| <small>[[Purim]]-parade</small>
|rowspan=2| <small>''none''</small>{{ref label|silent_A4_eg|A4|}}
|rowspan=2| adloyáda
|rowspan=2| <big>ʿ</big>
|rowspan=2| <big>ʿ</big>adloyáda<big>ʿ</big>
| || ||<small>only in initial<br />word position<br /></small>{{IPAblink|ʔ}} || {{IPA|[ˌʔadlo̞ˈjada]}}
|-
|<small>[[dialect]]ical</small><br />{{IPAslink|ʕ}}
|valign=bottom| {{IPA|/ˌʕadloˈjadaʕ/}} || ||
|-
|rowspan=2| <span style="font-size:180%">{{script|Hebr|ע}}</span><small><div style="line-height:1em;">in medial<br />word positions</div></small>
|rowspan=2| {{lang|he|rtl=yes|מוֹעִיל}}
|rowspan=2| <small>useful</small>
|rowspan=2| <big>'</big>
|rowspan=2| mo<big>'</big>íl
|rowspan=2| <big>ʿ</big>
|rowspan=2| mo<big>ʿ</big>íl
|{{IPAslink|ʔ}} || {{IPA|/moˈʔil/}} || ||
|-
|<small>[[dialect]]ical</small><br />{{IPAslink|ʕ}} || {{IPA|/moˈʕil/}} || ||
|-
| <span style="font-size:180%; line-height:1em;">{{script|Hebr|פּ}}</span><span style="unicode-bidi:bidi-override">{{ref label|final_pe_D_eg|D|}}</span> || {{lang|he|rtl=yes|טִיפּ}} || <small>tip</small> || p || tip || || || || || ||
|-
| <span style="font-size:180%">{{script|Hebr|פ, ף}}</span> || {{lang|he|rtl=yes|פִסְפֵס}} || <small>missed</small> || f || fisfés || || || || || ||
|-
| <span style="font-size:180%">{{script|Hebr|צ, ץ}}</span> || {{lang|he|rtl=yes|צִיץ}} || <small>bud</small> || ts || tsits || ẓ || ẓiẓ || {{IPAslink|t͡s}} || {{IPA|/t͡sit͡s/}} || ||
|-
| <span style="font-size:180%">{{script|Hebr|צ׳, ץ׳}}</span> ||{{lang|he|rtl=yes|ריצ׳רץ׳}} || <small>zip</small> ||[[č]]{{ref label|geresh_B3_eg|B3|}}<ref name=foreign_sounds/>||ríčrač|| || || {{IPAslink|t͡ʃ}} || {{IPA|/ˈrit͡ʃrat͡ʃ/}} || ||
|-
| <span style="font-size:180%">{{script|Hebr|ק}}</span> || {{lang|he|rtl=yes|קוֹל}} || <small>sound</small> || k || kol || q || qol || || || ||
|-
|rowspan=2| <span style="font-size:180%">{{script|Hebr|ר}}</span> ||rowspan=2| {{lang|he|rtl=yes|עִיר}} ||rowspan=2| <small>city</small> ||rowspan=2| r ||rowspan=2| ir ||rowspan=2| ||rowspan=2| ||rowspan=2| ||rowspan=2| || {{IPAblink|ʀ}} <small>or</small> {{IPAblink|ʁ}} || {{IPA|[iʀ]}} <small>or</small> {{IPA|[iʁ]}}
|-
| <small>[[dialect]]ical</small><br />{{IPAblink|r}} <small>or</small> {{IPAblink|ɾ}} ||valign=bottom| {{IPA|[ir]}} <small>or</small> {{IPA|[iɾ]}}
|-
| <span style="font-size:180%">{{script|Hebr|שׁ}}</span> || {{lang|he|rtl=yes|שָׁם}} || <small>there</small> || sh || sham || š || šam || {{IPAslink|ʃ}} || {{IPA|/ʃam/}} ||
|-
| <span style="font-size:180%">{{script|Hebr|שׂ}}</span> || {{lang|he|rtl=yes|שָׂם}} || <small>put</small> || s || sam || ś || śam || || || ||
|-
| <span style="font-size:180%">{{script|Hebr|תּ}}</span>
|rowspan=2| {{lang|he|rtl=yes|תּוּת}}
|rowspan=2| <small>strawberry</small>
|rowspan=2| t
|rowspan=2| tut
| t
|rowspan=2| tuṯ
|rowspan=2|
|rowspan=2|
|rowspan=2|
|rowspan=2|
|-
| valign=bottom| <span style="font-size:180%">{{script|Hebr|ת}}</span>
| valign=bottom| ṯ
|}

{|class="wikitable collapsible"
|-
!<small>Hebrew letter</small>
| rowspan="45" style="background:white;"|
!<small>Standard<br />Israeli<br />transliteration<br />– ''regular''</small><ref name=akademya/>
| rowspan="45" style="background:white;"|
! <small>standard<br />Israeli<br />transliteration<br />– ''precise''</small><ref name=akademya/>
| rowspan="45" style="background:white; border-bottom-color:white;"|
!<small>[[International Phonetic Alphabet|IPA]]&nbsp;[[phoneme|phonemic]]<br />transcription</small>
| rowspan="45" style="background:white;"|
!<small>[[International Phonetic Alphabet|IPA]]&nbsp;[[phonetics|phonetic]]<br />transcription</small>
|-
| <span style="font-size:180%">{{script|Hebr|א}}</span><small><div style="line-height:1em;">consonantal, in<br />initial word<br />positions</div></small>|| <small>''none''</small>{{ref label|silent_A1|A1|}} || || || {{IPAblink|ʔ}}
|-
| <span style="font-size:180%">{{script|Hebr|א}}</span><small><div style="line-height:1em;">consonantal, in<br />non-initial word<br />positions</div></small>|| <big>'</big> || <big>ʾ</big> || {{IPAslink|ʔ}} ||
|-
| <span style="font-size:180%">{{script|Hebr|א}}</span><small><div style="line-height:1em;">silent</div></small> || <small>''none''</small>{{ref label|silent_A2|A2|}} || || ||
|-
| <span style="font-size:180%">{{script|Hebr|בּ}}</span>|| b || || ||
|-
| <span style="font-size:180%">{{script|Hebr|ב}}</span>|| v || || ||
|-
| <span style="font-size:180%">{{script|Hebr|גּ}}</span>
|rowspan=2| g
| g
|rowspan=2|
|rowspan=2|
|-
|<span style="font-size:180%">{{script|Hebr|ג}}</span>||ḡ
|-
|<span style="font-size:180%">{{script|Hebr|ג׳}}</span>||[[ǧ]]{{ref label|geresh_B1|B1|}}<ref name=foreign_sounds/>|| || {{IPAslink|d͡ʒ}} ||
|-
| <span style="font-size:180%">{{script|Hebr|דּ}}</span>
|rowspan=2| d
| d
|rowspan=2|
|rowspan=2|
|-
|<span style="font-size:180%">{{script|Hebr|ד}}</span>||ḏ
|-
| <span style="font-size:180%">{{script|Hebr|ה}}</span><small><div style="line-height:1em;">consonantal</div></small> || h || || ||
|-
| <span style="font-size:180%">{{script|Hebr|ה}}</span><small><div style="line-height:1em;">silent</div></small> || <small>''none''</small>{{ref label|silent_A3|A3|}} || || ||
|-
| <span style="font-size:180%">{{script|Hebr|ו}}</span><small><div style="line-height:1em;">consonantal</div></small> || v || w || ||
|-
| <span style="font-size:180%">{{script|Hebr|וּ}}</span> || u || || ||
|-
| <span style="font-size:180%">{{script|Hebr|וֹ}}</span> || o || || || {{IPAblink|o̞}} <small>or</small> {{IPAblink|ɔ̝}}
|-
| <span style="font-size:180%">{{script|Hebr|ז}}</span> || z || || ||
|-
|<span style="font-size:180%">{{script|Hebr|ז׳}}</span>||[[ž]]{{ref label|geresh_B2|B2|}}<ref name=foreign_sounds/>|| || {{IPAslink|ʒ}} ||
|-
|rowspan=2| <span style="font-size:180%">{{script|Hebr|ח}}</span>
|rowspan=2| ẖ{{ref label|ch_C1|C1|}}
|rowspan=2| ḥ
| {{IPAslink|x|x}} <small>or</small> {{IPAslink|χ}} || {{IPAblink|χ}}
|-
|valign=bottom|<small>[[dialect]]ical</small><br />{{IPAblink|ħ}} ||
|-
| <span style="font-size:180%">{{script|Hebr|ט}}</span> || t || ṭ || ||
|-
| <span style="font-size:180%">{{script|Hebr|י}}</span><small><div style="line-height:1em;">consonantal</div></small> || y || || {{IPAslink|j}} ||
|-
| <span style="font-size:180%">{{script|Hebr|י}}</span><small><div style="line-height:1em;">part of hirik male<br />(/i/&nbsp;vowel)</div></small> || i || || ||
|-
| <span style="font-size:180%">{{script|Hebr|י}}</span><small><div style="line-height:1em;">part of tsere male<br />(/e/&nbsp;vowel or<br />/ei/&nbsp;diphthong)</div></small> || e || é || {{IPAslink|e̞|e}} <small>or</small> {{IPA|/ej/}} || {{IPAblink|e̞}} <small>or</small> {{IPA|[e̞j]/}}
|-
| <span style="font-size:180%; line-height:1em;">{{script|Hebr|כּ, ךּ}}</span><span style="unicode-bidi:bidi-override"><ref name="kaf_sofit"/></span> || k || || ||
|-
| <span style="font-size:180%;">{{script|Hebr|כ, ך}}</span> || kh{{ref label|ch_C2|C2|}} || ḵ || {{IPAslink|x}} <small>or</small> {{IPAslink|χ}} || {{IPAblink|χ}}
|-
| <span style="font-size:180%">{{script|Hebr|ל}}</span> || l || || ||
|-
| <span style="font-size:180%">{{script|Hebr|מ, ם}}</span> || m || || ||
|-
| <span style="font-size:180%">{{script|Hebr|נ, ן}}</span> || n || || ||
|-
| <span style="font-size:180%">{{script|Hebr|ס}}</span> || s || || ||
|-
|rowspan=2| <span style="font-size:180%">{{script|Hebr|ע}}</span><small><div style="line-height:1em;">in initial or final<br />word positions</div></small>
|rowspan=2| <small>''none''</small>{{ref label|silent_A4|A4|}}
|rowspan=2| <big>ʿ</big> || || <small>only in initial<br />word position<br /></small>{{IPAblink|ʔ}}
|-
|<small>[[dialect]]ical</small><br />{{IPAslink|ʕ}} ||
|-
|rowspan=2| <span style="font-size:180%">{{script|Hebr|ע}}</span><small><div style="line-height:1em;">in medial<br />word positions</div></small>
|rowspan=2| <big>'</big>
|rowspan=2| <big>ʿ</big>
|{{IPAslink|ʔ}} ||
|-
|<small>[[dialect]]ical</small><br />{{IPAslink|ʕ}} ||
|-
| <span style="font-size:180%; line-height:1em;">{{script|Hebr|פּ}}</span><span style="unicode-bidi:bidi-override">{{ref label|final_pe_D|D|}}</span> || p || || ||
|-
| <span style="font-size:180%">{{script|Hebr|פ, ף}}</span> || f || || ||
|-
| <span style="font-size:180%">{{script|Hebr|צ, ץ}}</span> || ts || ẓ || {{IPAslink|t͡s}} ||
|-
|<span style="font-size:180%">{{script|Hebr|צ׳, ץ׳}}</span>||[[č]]{{ref label|geresh_B3|B3|}}<ref name=foreign_sounds/>|| || {{IPAslink|t͡ʃ}} ||
|-
| <span style="font-size:180%">{{script|Hebr|ק}}</span> || k || q || ||
|-
|rowspan=2| <span style="font-size:180%">{{script|Hebr|ר}}</span> ||rowspan=2| r ||rowspan=2| ||rowspan=2| || {{IPAblink|ʀ}} <small>or</small> {{IPAblink|ʁ}}
|-
|<small>[[dialect]]ical</small><br />{{IPAblink|r}} <small>or</small> {{IPAblink|ɾ}}
|-
| <span style="font-size:180%">{{script|Hebr|שׁ}}</span> || sh || š || {{IPAslink|ʃ}} ||
|-
| <span style="font-size:180%">{{script|Hebr|שׂ}}</span> || s || ś || ||
|-
| <span style="font-size:180%">{{script|Hebr|תּ}}</span>
|rowspan=2| t
| t
|rowspan=2|
|rowspan=2|
|-
| valign=bottom| <span style="font-size:180%">{{script|Hebr|ת}}</span>
| valign=bottom| ṯ
|}
;Notes:
{{note label|silent_A1_eg|}}{{note label|silent_A2_eg|}}{{note label|silent_A3_eg|}}{{note label|silent_A4_eg|}}<sup>'''A'''1{{note|silent_A1}}2{{note|silent_A2}}3{{note|silent_A3}}4{{note|silent_A4}}</sup>In transliterations of modern Israeli Hebrew, initial and final {{script|Hebr|ע}} (in regular transliteration), silent or initial {{script|Hebr|א}}, and silent {{script|Hebr|ה}} are ''not'' transliterated. To the eye of readers orientating themselves on Latin (or similar) alphabets, these letters might seem to be transliterated as vowel letters; however, these are in fact transliterations of the vowel diacritics{{dash}}niqqud (or are representations of the spoken vowels). E.g., in {{lang|he|rtl=yes|אִם}} ("if", {{IPA|[ʔim]}}), {{lang|he|rtl=yes|אֵם}} ("mother", {{IPA|[ʔe̞m]}}) and {{lang|he|rtl=yes|אֹם}} ("[[nut (hardware)|nut]]", {{IPA|[ʔo̞m]}}), the letter {{script|Hebr|א}} always represents the same consonant: {{IPAblink|ʔ}} ([[glottal stop]]), whereas the vowels /i/, /e/ and /o/ respectively represent the spoken vowel, whether it is orthographically denoted by diacritics or not. Since the Academy of the Hebrew Language ascertains that {{script|Hebr|א}} in initial position is not transliterated, the symbol for the glottal stop &nbsp;<big>ʾ</big>&nbsp; is omitted from the transliteration, and only the subsequent vowels are transliterated (whether or not their corresponding vowel diacritics appeared in the text being transliterated), resulting in "im", "em" and "om", respectively.

{{note label|geresh_B1_eg|}}{{note label|geresh_B2_eg|}}{{note label|geresh_B3_eg|}}<sup>'''B'''1{{note|geresh_B1}}2{{note|geresh_B2}}3{{note|geresh_B3}}</sup>The [[diacritic]] [[geresh]] ⟨{{script|Hebr|׳}}⟩ is used with some other letters as well ({{script|Hebr|ד׳}}, {{script|Hebr|ח׳}}, {{script|Hebr|ט׳}}, {{script|Hebr|ע׳}}, {{script|Hebr|ר׳}}, {{script|Hebr|ת׳}}), but only to transliterate ''from'' other languages ''to'' Hebrew{{dash}}never to spell Hebrew words; therefore they were not included in this table (correctly translating a Hebrew text with these letters would require using the spelling in the language from which the transliteration to Hebrew was originally made). The non-standard ⟨{{script|Hebr|ו׳}}⟩ and ⟨{{script|Hebr|וו}}⟩ {{ref label|Double_Vav_and_Vav_with_Geresh_1|e1|}} are sometimes used to represent {{IPAslink|w}}, which like {{IPAslink|d͡ʒ}}, {{IPAslink|ʒ}} and {{IPAslink|t͡ʃ}} appears in Hebrew slang and loanwords.

{{note label|ch_C1_eg|}}{{note label|ch_C2_eg|}}<sup>'''C'''1{{note|ch_C1}}2{{note|ch_C2}}</sup>The sound {{IPAslink|χ}} (as ⟨ch⟩ in [[loch]]) is often transcribed ⟨ch⟩, inconsistently with the guidelines specified by the Academy of the Hebrew Language: {{lang|he|rtl=yes|חם}} {{IPA|/χam/}} → "cham"; {{lang|he|rtl=yes|סכך}} {{IPA|/sχaχ/}} → "schach".

{{note label|final_pe_D_eg|}}<sup>'''D'''{{note|final_pe_D}}</sup>Although the Bible does include a single occurrence of a final pe with a dagesh ([[Book of Proverbs]] 30, 6: {{lang|he|rtl=yes|אַל-תּוֹסְףְּ עַל-דְּבָרָיו: פֶּן-יוֹכִיחַ בְּךָ וְנִכְזָבְתָּ.}}), in modern Hebrew {{IPAslink|p}} is always represented by [[Pe (Semitic letter)|pe]] in its regular, not final, form {{script|Hebr|פ}}, even when in word-final position, which occurs with loanwords (e.g. {{lang|he|rtl=yes|שׁוֹפּ}} {{IPA|/ʃop/}} "shop"), foreign names (e.g. {{lang|he|rtl=yes|פִילִיפּ}} {{IPA|/ˈfilip/}} "Philip") and some slang (e.g. {{lang|he|rtl=yes|חָרַפּ}} {{IPA|/χaˈrap/}} "slept deeply").

==Religious use==
The letters of the Hebrew alphabet have played varied roles in Jewish religious literature over the centuries, primarily in mystical texts. Some sources{{which|date=March 2025}} in classical [[rabbinical literature]] seem to acknowledge the historical provenance of the currently used Hebrew alphabet and deal with them as a mundane subject (the [[Jerusalem Talmud]], for example, records that "the Israelites took for themselves square calligraphy", and that the letters "came with the Israelites from Ashur [Assyria]");<ref>Jerusalem Talmud, Tractate Sanhedrin 21b</ref> others{{which|date=March 2025}} attribute mystical significance to the letters, connecting them with the process of creation or [[Jewish messianism|the redemption]]. In mystical conceptions, the alphabet is considered eternal, pre-existent to the Earth, and the letters themselves are seen as having holiness and power, sometimes to such an extent that several stories from the [[Talmud]] illustrate the idea that they cannot be destroyed.<ref>Babylonian Talmud, Tractate Pesach 87b, Avodah Zarah 18a.</ref>

{{citation needed span|The idea of the letters' creative power finds its greatest{{opinion|date=March 2025}} vehicle in the [[Sefer Yezirah]], or ''Book of Creation'', a mystical text of uncertain origin which describes a story of creation highly divergent from that in the [[Book of Genesis]], largely through exposition on the powers of the letters of the alphabet.|date=March 2025}} The supposed creative powers of the letters are also referenced in the Talmud and [[Zohar]].<ref>Babylonian Talmud, Tractate Berachot 55c</ref><ref>Zohar 1:3; 2:152</ref>

[[File:Tefillin.JPG|thumb|right|upright=0.9|The four-pronged [[Shin (letter)|Shin]]]]
Another book, the 13th-century [[Kabbalistic]] text [[Sefer HaTemunah]], holds that a single letter of unknown pronunciation, held by some to be the four-pronged shin on one side of the [[teffilin]] box, is missing from the current alphabet. The world's flaws, the book teaches, are related to the absence of this letter, the eventual revelation of which will [[Tikkun Olam|repair the universe]].<ref name="ReferenceA">''The Book of Letters''. Woodstock, Vermont: Jewish Lights Publishing, Woodstock. 1990</ref> Another example of messianic significance attached to the letters is the teaching of Rabbi Eliezer that the five letters of the alphabet with distinct final forms hold the "secret of redemption".<ref name="ReferenceA"/>

{{citation needed span|In addition, the letters occasionally feature in [[aggadic]] portions of non-mystical rabbinic literature. In such aggada the letters are often given [[anthropomorphic]] qualities and depicted as speaking to God. Commonly their shapes are used in parables to illustrate points of ethics or theology. An example from the [[Babylonian Talmud]] (a parable intended to discourage speculation about the universe before creation):|date=March 2025}}

{{quote box
| align = center
| width = 50%
| quote = ''Why does the story of creation begin with bet?... In the same manner that the letter bet is closed on all sides and only open in front, similarly you are not permitted to inquire into what is before or what was behind, but only from the actual time of Creation.''
| source = Babylonian Talmud, Tractate Hagigah, 77c
}}

Extensive instructions about the proper methods of forming the letters are found in Mishnat Soferim, within [[Mishna Berura]] of [[Yisrael Meir Kagan]].

==Mathematical use==
{{Unreferenced section | date= March 2025}}
In [[set theory]], <math>\aleph_0</math>, pronounced aleph-naught, aleph-zero, or aleph-null, is used to mark the [[cardinal number]] of an infinite [[countable set]], such as <math>\mathbb Z</math>, the set of all integers. More generally, the <math>\aleph_\alpha</math> [[aleph number]] notation marks the ordered sequence of all distinct infinite cardinal numbers.

Less frequently used, the <math>\beth_\alpha</math> [[beth number]] notation is used for the iterated [[power set]]s of <math>\aleph_0</math>. The second element <math>\beth_1</math> is the [[cardinality of the continuum]]. Very occasionally, a [[gimel function]] is used in cardinal notation.

==Unicode and HTML==
{{main|Unicode and HTML for the Hebrew alphabet|Hebrew keyboard}}
[[File:Hebrew keyboard layout.svg|thumb|An example of a Hebrew keyboard]]
The [[Unicode]] Hebrew block extends from U+0590 to U+05FF and from U+FB1D to U+FB4F. It includes [[letter (alphabet)|letters]], [[ligature (typography)|ligatures]], [[combining diacritical mark]]s (''[[Niqqud]]'' and [[cantillation marks]]) and [[punctuation]].<ref name="unicode_names_of_hebrew_glyphs_at_unicode.org" /> The [[Numeric character reference|Numeric Character References]] is included for HTML. These can be used in many markup languages, and they are often used in Wiki to create the Hebrew [[glyphs]] compatible with the majority of web browsers.

Standard Hebrew keyboards have a 101-key layout.  Like the standard [[QWERTY]] layout, the Hebrew layout was derived from the order of letters on Hebrew [[typewriter]]s.

==See also==
*[[Hebrew braille]]
*[[Hebrew diacritics]]
*[[Cursive Hebrew]]
*[[Hebrew punctuation]]
*[[Hebrew spelling]]
*[[Help:Hebrew]]
*[[Inverted nun]]
*[[Koren Type]]
*[[Ktiv hasar niqqud]] ("spelling lacking niqqud")
*[[Significance of numbers of Judaism]]

==Notes==
<sup>a{{note|Common_Hebrew_Spelling}}</sup>"Alef-bet" is commonly written in Israeli Hebrew without the ''{{transliteration|he|maqaf}}'' ({{lang|he|rtl=yes|מקף}}, "[Hebrew] hyphen"), {{lang|he|rtl=yes|אלפבית עברי}}, as opposed to with the hyphen, {{lang|he|rtl=yes|אלף־בית עברי}}.

<sup>b{{note|Variants_in_Arabic_Mandaic}}</sup>The [[Arabic alphabet|Arabic letters]] generally have four forms each, though six of the primary letters can have only two variants, according to their places in words (initial, medial, final, and isolate). The same applies the [[Mandaic alphabet|Mandaic letters]], except for three of the 22 letters, which each have only one form.

<sup>c{{note|Pronunciation_in_Different_Word_Positions}}</sup>In forms of Hebrew older than Modern Hebrew, {{script|Hebr|בי״ת}}, {{script|Hebr|כ״ף}}, and {{script|Hebr|פ״א}} can only be read ''b'', ''k'' and ''p'', respectively, at the beginning of a word, while they will have the sole value of ''v'', ''kh'' and ''f'' in a ''sofit'' (final) position, with few exceptions.<ref name="kaf_sofit"/> In medial positions, both pronunciations are possible. In Modern Hebrew this restriction is not absolute, e.g. {{lang|he|rtl=yes|פִיזִיקַאי}} {{IPA|/fiziˈkaj/}} and never {{IPA|/piziˈkaj/}} (= "physicist"), {{lang|he|rtl=yes|סְנוֹבּ}} {{IPA|/snob/}} and never {{IPA|/snov/}} (= "snob"). A ''[[dagesh]]'' may be inserted to unambiguously denote the [[plosive]] variant: {{script|Hebr|בּ}} = {{IPA|/b/}}, {{script|Hebr|כּ}} = {{IPA|/k/}}, {{script|Hebr|פּ}} ={{IPA|/p/}}; similarly (though today very rare in Hebrew and common only in [[Yiddish]]) a [[rafe|rafé]] placed above the letter unambiguously denotes the [[fricative]] variant: {{script|Hebr|בֿ}} = {{IPA|/v/}}, {{script|Hebr|כֿ}} = {{IPA|/χ/}} and {{script|Hebr|פֿ}} = {{IPA|/f/}}. In [[Modern Hebrew]] [[orthography]], the sound {{IPAblink|p}} at the end of a word is denoted by the regular form {{script|Hebr|פ}}, as opposed to the final form {{script|Hebr|ף}}, which always denotes {{IPAblink|f}} (see [[#Transliterations and transcriptions|table of transliterations and transcriptions]], comment{{ref label|final_pe_D_eg|D|}}).

<sup>d{{note|Double_Vav_as_Ligature_or_as_Separate_Letters}}</sup>However, {{script|Hebr|וו}} (two separate vavs), used in [[Ktiv hasar niqqud|Ktiv male]], is to be distinguished from the ''Yiddish ligature'' {{script|Hebr|װ}} (also two vavs but together as one character).

<sup>e1{{note|Double_Vav_and_Vav_with_Geresh_1}}e2{{note|Double_Vav_and_Vav_with_Geresh_2}}e3{{note|Double_Vav_and_Vav_with_Geresh_3}}e4{{note|Double_Vav_and_Vav_with_Geresh_4}}e5{{note|Double_Vav_and_Vav_with_Geresh_5}}</sup>The Academy of the Hebrew Language states that both {{IPAblink|v}} and {{IPAblink|w}} be indistinguishably represented in Hebrew using the letter vav.<ref name=akademya/> Sometimes the vav is indeed doubled, however not to denote {{IPA|[w]}} as opposed to {{IPA|[v]}} but rather, when [[Ktiv hasar niqqud|spelling without niqqud]], to denote the [[phoneme]] /v/ at a non-initial and non-final position in the word, whereas a single vav at a non-initial and non-final position in the word in spelling without niqqud denotes one of the [[phoneme]]s /u/ or /o/. To pronounce foreign words and [[loanword]]s containing the sound {{IPAblink|w}}, Hebrew readers must therefore rely on former knowledge and context.

Explanatory footnotes
{{notelist}}

==References==
{{Reflist|30em}}

==Bibliography==
* {{Cite GHG|5}} ff.
* {{Cite book |last = Berlin |first = Adele |title = Lamentations: A Commentary |publisher = Westminster John Knox Press |year = 2004 |url = https://books.google.com/books?id=iTH9qth5cbEC |isbn = 9780664229740}}
* {{cite journal
|last1=First
|first1=Mitchell
|title     = Using the Pe–Ayin Order of the Abecedaries of Ancient Israel to Date the Book of Psalms
|journal   = Journal for the Study of the Old Testament
|date      = June 2014
|volume    = 38
|issue     = 4
|pages     = 471–485
|doi       = 10.1177/0309089214536490
|s2cid=170926400
|url       = https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/abs/10.1177/0309089214536490
|issn      = 0309-0892
}}
* {{cite book 
|last1        = First 
|first1       = Mitchell 
|title        = Pe before Ayin in Biblical Pre-Exilic Acrostics
|url          = https://www.thetorah.com/article/pe-before-ayin-in-biblical-pre-exilic-acrostics
|year         = 2017
}}
* {{Cite book |last = Goldingay |first = John |author-link=John Goldingay |title = The Book of Lamentations |publisher = Eerdmans Publishing Company |year = 2022 |isbn = 9780802825421}}
* [https://books.google.com/books?id=momIk7nVNdkC Hoffman, Joel M. 2004. ''In the Beginning: A Short History of the Hebrew Language.'' New York: New York University Press.]
* {{cite book
|last1              = Pitre
|first1             = Brant J.
|last2              = Bergsma
|first2             = John S.
|title              = A Catholic Introduction to the Bible: The Old Testament
|date               = 2018
|publisher          = Ignatius Press
|isbn               = 978-1-58617-722-5
|page               = 280
|url                = https://books.google.com/books?id=nvEmDwAAQBAJ&pg=PA820
}}
* {{cite book |last=Saénz-Badillos |first=Angel |year=1993 |title=A History of the Hebrew Language |location=Cambridge, UK |publisher=Cambridge University Press}}
* [http://www.adath-shalom.ca/history_of_hebrew.htm Steinberg, David. ''History of the Hebrew Language.'']

==External links==
{{Commons}}
{{Wikiquote}}

===General===
<!--Previous contributors to this article have expressed a preference for refraining from adding additional links; see also [[Wikipedia:External links]] and [[Wikipedia:Spam]].
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* [http://www.levsoftware.com/alefbet.htm How to draw letters]
* [https://www.unicode.org/charts/PDF/U0590.pdf Official Unicode standards document for Hebrew]
* [http://www.unicode.org/charts/collation/ Unicode collation charts]{{dash}}including Hebrew letters, sorted by shape

===Keyboards===
* [http://litetype.com/?lang=hebrew&style=moon LiteType.com]{{dash}}Virtual & Interactive Hebrew Keyboard
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20060614000600/http://www.mikledet.com/ Mikledet.com]{{dash}}For typing Hebrew with an English keyboard (Hebrew keyboard|Hebrew layout)
* [http://www.bib-arch.org/bar/article.asp?PubID=BSBA&Volume=36&Issue=2&ArticleID=9 Prize Find: Oldest Hebrew Inscription] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120229232512/http://www.bib-arch.org/bar/article.asp?PubID=BSBA&Volume=36&Issue=2&ArticleID=9 |date=2012-02-29 }} Biblical Archaeology Review

{{Hebrew language|state=collapsed}}
{{list of writing systems}}
{{Northwest Semitic abjad}}

{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Hebrew Alphabet}}
[[Category:Hebrew alphabet| ]]
[[Category:1st-millennium BC introductions]]
[[Category:Alphabets]]
[[Category:Assyrian (Ashuri) script]]
[[Category:Language and mysticism]]
[[Category:Right-to-left writing systems]]
[[Category:Hebrew language]]
[[Category:Abjad writing systems]]