Lipush
Gold Member
Not long ago on a thread we discussed the general idea of language. So I thought as a way of getting do discuss something in a polite manner which will not include bashing or sluring, but simple idea which means to help, I'll start a "little thread" which is dedicated to my mother tongue- Hebrew.
If you're interested, I'll start by explaining the simple things, if not, tell me and I'll simply leave it and not continue.
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So, the simple things you need to know for starters, is that in Hebrew there are 22 letters. two kinds of writing. We call it the "Dfus" letters ("printing letters") and the Khtav letters ("writing letters")
Dfus letters
Khtav letters (informal writing)
The first letter in hebrew, is "Aleph":
This letter can appear in two situations. The "regular" Aleph, which is pronounced as the English letter "A" like in the name "Abraham". Other situation is where the Aleph is "silent" where its sound is unheard.
Second letter will be "Beit":
or
The first is prounaunces "Beit" like in the word "Boy" and the second, the one without the tiny dot, is prounanced "Veit" like in the word "Vegas"
In Hebrew there is no difference between B and V in letters. For both the letter will be "Beit".
The tiny dot symbolizes the difference between the way of speech.
Third letter will be "Gimel"-
Gimel also has two ways of pronouncing. First will be the regular "Gimal" like in the word "Goal". Second will be when above the letter there is a small comma, which will turn it into sounding like a "J". like "Jack".
In Hebrew the letter J and letter G are both "Gimel".
Next will be "Dalet"
Said like letter "D". I don't think there's anything special about this one
Next will be "Hei":
This letter is said like an "H". It also has two situations. Pronounced "Hei" and the silent "Hei". pronounced will be like in the word "Harbe", "הרבה" which means "a lot", and silent like in the word "Neshika", "נשיקה" which means "touch" or "kiss".
In Hebrew, the letter "Hei" stands also for the God of Israel.
Next in line is "Vav"
Vav is the letter of many options. It stand for 3 basic shapes of saying. Simple Vav will be similar to the English letter "V". Vav with the tiny dot inside (Like seen in letter "Beit") will be pronounced like U, or OO, as in the word "Baloon". Vav will be also said as an "O" when the dot will not be in its middle but on top of the letter.
Number seven is "Zayin"-
Will be pronounced as the English letter "Z".
Next is Cheit
Hebrew, like Arabic, is called "Language of the throat" and not "of the tongue". Letter Cheit, will have the sound of "kh", or like in spanish "J" or "X".
Next is the letter Tet
For non-Natural Hebrew speakers, this letter will be frustrating. It's a letter exactly like the letter "T", and pronounced exactly like the finale Hebrew letter "Taf"(ת, up to the point that its not very clear why it exists in the first place. It simply does
Difference is with spelling. There are Hebrew words which can be used only by letter "Tet", like the word "Tavas", "טווס", which means "peacock". Other words will be always used by "Taf", like the word "Te'om","תאום" which means "twin". But there are words which can be used either by Taf or Teit, and it won't be considered a spelling mistake. Such is the word "Turkey"(state). It can be written by "Taf"- תורכיה, or "Tet"- טורקיה
number 10 will be "Yod":
This letter will be standing for both "Y" and "U".
Next in line is "Kaf":
or
or
Letter with a few options, as well. When the dot appears in middle of the letter it will be pronounced as "Kaf", like a "K". example will be the word "Kelev", "כלב" which is "dog". In the second example this letter will have the sound of "Kh" like the letter "Cheit", like the word "Kahal","כחל" which is a specific bird species. Third example will be "ך" which is the "finale" shape of the letter "Kaf". It will be used in the words which end with "Kaf" like "Anach","אנך" which means "a straight line".
If you're interested, I'll start by explaining the simple things, if not, tell me and I'll simply leave it and not continue.
--------------
So, the simple things you need to know for starters, is that in Hebrew there are 22 letters. two kinds of writing. We call it the "Dfus" letters ("printing letters") and the Khtav letters ("writing letters")
Dfus letters
Khtav letters (informal writing)
The first letter in hebrew, is "Aleph":
This letter can appear in two situations. The "regular" Aleph, which is pronounced as the English letter "A" like in the name "Abraham". Other situation is where the Aleph is "silent" where its sound is unheard.
Second letter will be "Beit":
The first is prounaunces "Beit" like in the word "Boy" and the second, the one without the tiny dot, is prounanced "Veit" like in the word "Vegas"
In Hebrew there is no difference between B and V in letters. For both the letter will be "Beit".
The tiny dot symbolizes the difference between the way of speech.
Third letter will be "Gimel"-
Gimel also has two ways of pronouncing. First will be the regular "Gimal" like in the word "Goal". Second will be when above the letter there is a small comma, which will turn it into sounding like a "J". like "Jack".
In Hebrew the letter J and letter G are both "Gimel".
Next will be "Dalet"
Said like letter "D". I don't think there's anything special about this one
Next will be "Hei":
This letter is said like an "H". It also has two situations. Pronounced "Hei" and the silent "Hei". pronounced will be like in the word "Harbe", "הרבה" which means "a lot", and silent like in the word "Neshika", "נשיקה" which means "touch" or "kiss".
In Hebrew, the letter "Hei" stands also for the God of Israel.
Next in line is "Vav"
Vav is the letter of many options. It stand for 3 basic shapes of saying. Simple Vav will be similar to the English letter "V". Vav with the tiny dot inside (Like seen in letter "Beit") will be pronounced like U, or OO, as in the word "Baloon". Vav will be also said as an "O" when the dot will not be in its middle but on top of the letter.
Number seven is "Zayin"-
Will be pronounced as the English letter "Z".
Next is Cheit
Hebrew, like Arabic, is called "Language of the throat" and not "of the tongue". Letter Cheit, will have the sound of "kh", or like in spanish "J" or "X".
Next is the letter Tet
For non-Natural Hebrew speakers, this letter will be frustrating. It's a letter exactly like the letter "T", and pronounced exactly like the finale Hebrew letter "Taf"(ת, up to the point that its not very clear why it exists in the first place. It simply does
Difference is with spelling. There are Hebrew words which can be used only by letter "Tet", like the word "Tavas", "טווס", which means "peacock". Other words will be always used by "Taf", like the word "Te'om","תאום" which means "twin". But there are words which can be used either by Taf or Teit, and it won't be considered a spelling mistake. Such is the word "Turkey"(state). It can be written by "Taf"- תורכיה, or "Tet"- טורקיה
number 10 will be "Yod":
This letter will be standing for both "Y" and "U".
Next in line is "Kaf":
Letter with a few options, as well. When the dot appears in middle of the letter it will be pronounced as "Kaf", like a "K". example will be the word "Kelev", "כלב" which is "dog". In the second example this letter will have the sound of "Kh" like the letter "Cheit", like the word "Kahal","כחל" which is a specific bird species. Third example will be "ך" which is the "finale" shape of the letter "Kaf". It will be used in the words which end with "Kaf" like "Anach","אנך" which means "a straight line".