Hebrew (עִבְרִית) is the official language of Israel and is also used as a liturgical and intellectual language among Jews around the world, therefore learning Hebrew gives you insight into the faith and culture of the Jewish people. Having knowledge of the language will also help you understand other Semitic languages such as Arabic, Aramaic, and Amharic. You can start through conversations and learn basic vocabulary words with the transliterated Hebrew, then you can move on to the Hebrew alphabet.
Steps
Method 1 of 3: Have Basic Conversations
Step 1. Greet people with a shalom
The word shalom, which literally means peace, is the usual greeting among people, especially when you meet someone for the first time. Like the Sanskrit word namaste, this is a word that everyone knows, even if they don't know any other words in this language.
- The concept of shalom has a very deep cultural and religious significance among people who speak Hebrew. It denotes a sense of mental and spiritual wholeness and wholeness, as well as physical security.
- During the morning, you can say boker tov, which means good morning. Later you can say erev tov instead of good afternoon.
Step 2. Choose the correct phrase to ask someone how they are doing
Normally, after greeting someone, you ask how are you? In Hebrew, the way you say it depends on who you are addressing, a male or a female.
- If you are going to tell a male, use mah shlomkha? But if you are going to tell a woman, you should say mah shlomekh? The literal translation of this phrase is What is your well-being? or What is your peace?
- There are also casual ways to ask someone about how they are doing. For example, you can say mah koreh? This is similar to saying How are you? in Spanish.
Step 3. Introduce yourself in Hebrew
To say your name, use the word shmi followed by your name. You can also say korim li followed by your name. This phrase literally means they call me
- To ask someone by name, say mah shimkah if you are going to speak to a male or ma shmekh if you are to speak to a female.
- When you've introduced yourself you can say naim meod, this means it's nice to meet you.
Step 4. Explain that you are beginning to learn Hebrew
When you speak to someone for the first time, it can be helpful to let them know that you are not fluent in the language yet. If you are going to talk to a male, tell him ani medaber ktstat ivrit, this means I speak little Hebrew. If you are going to talk to a woman, tell her ani medaberet ktstat ivrit.
- You can also say taken bevakasha et hatauyot sheli beivrit, which means correct my Hebrew mistakes please.
- If you don't understand what someone has said, say ata yakhol lakhzor al he? (Could you repeat?)
Step 5. Include kind words and phrases in the conversation
Having good manners sends the message that you don't want to be disrespectful, even when you say the wrong thing. For this reason, you must first learn kind words in Hebrew.
- Todah is thank you. But if you feel very grateful you can say todah rabah, which means thank you very much.
- bevakashah is please. This word is also used to respond to thank you, in this case it would mean nothing.
- If you are trying to pass through a crowd or next to someone, use seliha rega to say with permission. In other contexts, such as when you apologize to someone or when you apologize for a mistake, use bevakashah or slihah sleekhah. The word sleekhah also means sorry.
Step 6. Use shalom to end a conversation and say goodbye
The word shalom is used frequently at the beginning and end of conversation. You can also say kohl toov, which means you're okay.
If you are meeting someone again, you can say l'hitraot, which means see you later
Method 2 of 3: Immerse yourself in Hebrew
Step 1. Find a conversation partner in your area or online
The best way to improve your Hebrew conversation skills is to speak with someone who is fluent in the language. If there is a synagogue or Jewish community center in your neighborhood, you might find someone there who wants to converse in Hebrew with you.
- You can also search for groups of native speakers on Facebook, both in your area and in Israel. You can find an Israeli conversation partner who wants to help you with the language in exchange for you helping them with another language, such as Spanish.
- If you are having trouble finding a language partner in your area, try to find someone online. There are sites like iTalki and Go Speaky that connect learners with native speakers at no charge.
Step 2. Listen to Israeli music
The repetitive and simplistic nature of song lyrics can help you learn quite a few basic words in a relatively short time. Search for Israeli music on YouTube or your favorite music platform. There are many popular artists who record their productions in Hebrew in different musical genres.
Search Hebrew in the international category. If you find an artist that you like, look up their name on the internet to find other related artists who may also interest you
Step 3. Listen to radio stations or podcasts in Hebrew
Many Israeli radios are broadcast over the internet and you can listen to them for free. You can also search for podcasts in Hebrew. Some of these are geared specifically to language learning while others cover various topics including history, culture, and religion.
- Gala'tz, the Israeli army radio, broadcasts live via https://glz.co.il/. You can also search for Reshet Bet, which broadcasts the news; or Reshet Gimmel, which focuses on music.
- At the beginning, you will only be able to catch one or another word, especially if you are at the beginning of your learning of this language. However, over time, you will begin to understand more and more.
Step 4. Watch series and movies on Israeli television
Many popular Israeli television series can be streamed over the internet. You can also find this content on platforms that you must subscribe to such as Netflix or Hulu.
- You can start with captions turned on in your native language, if available. As you get better at your Hebrew, you can turn them off.
- You can also try turning on closed captions in Hebrew so that you can read the words that are being said.
- If you're interested in sports, look up sports broadcasts in Hebrew. Since you are already familiar with the sport, you will be able to recognize the words more easily. Additionally, sportscasters have a tendency to use limited vocabulary that can be repetitive.
Step 5. Take a trip to Israel
For the ultimate immersion experience, visit Israel, where Hebrew is the national language. In large cities, it is very likely that you will find many people who speak other languages. However, in small cities, you will have to rely exclusively on Hebrew to get by.
When people find out where you are from, they may want to speak to you in your native language. For example, if someone finds out that you are from the United States, they will want to practice their English with you. It is up to you if you are going to ask him to speak to you only in Hebrew. If he speaks to you in English, you can try to answer him in Hebrew
Method 3 of 3: Read and Write Hebrew
Step 1. Download an alphabet chart
If you want to learn to read and write Hebrew, you must master the letters of the alphabet first. There are many tables freely available on the internet and each one may have a different look and feel. Choose a table that you can intuitively understand.
- Access empty charts, activity sheets, and other Hebrew language learning materials for free through the Jewish Experience Center at https://www.ourki.org/jec/hebrew-resources/. They also have a page of memory tricks that can help you remember the alphabet.
- The Ancient Hebrew Research Center has 12 lessons for the Hebrew alphabet available for free online. Go to https://www.ancient-hebrew.org/lessons_introduction.html to get started.
Step 2. Practice the alphabet for 15-20 minutes each day
If you are going to learn the alphabet on your own, the easiest way to memorize the letters is to practice writing and pronouncing them. Focus on 2 or 3 letters each day. Before starting new lyrics, review the ones you've already learned so the knowledge stays fresh in your mind.
When practicing a letter, place it on the right side of the page and repeat it to the left. This will help you get used to reading and writing from right to left rather than left to right
Step 3. Learn the vowel punctuation to read beginner's Hebrew
There are no vowels in the Hebrew alphabet. In children's books, grammar books, and other texts for Hebrew learners, vowel punctuation provides the vowel sound for each word. Texts designed for fluent readers, such as novels and newspapers, typically do not use this type of punctuation.
- Vowel punctuation is designed to help you understand how to pronounce words when you start to learn the language.
- The Ancient Hebrew Research Center has lessons on vowel punctuation freely available at
Step 4. Label the objects in your house with Hebrew words
Labeling furniture and other objects with Hebrew words expands your vocabulary as well as helps you get used to reading Hebrew from right to left.
Since it's a good way to practice (and it's also cheaper), make your own labels. But you can also buy labels that have the words in Spanish, transliterated and in Hebrew in one. The product that sticks everywhere is available on the internet and in stores in Israel
Step 5. Read children's books in Hebrew
Children's books are simple and usually include vowel punctuation and other markings to help you with pronunciation. These marks will help you to use vowel sounds correctly or to distinguish between alternative pronunciations of the same letter. Children's books also cover basic vocabulary and conversations.
You can find books in Hebrew at a local library. Jewish community centers also have libraries with books in Hebrew
Step 6. Read the news in Hebrew
When you've turned on the aleph-bet and you know a few basic conversational phrases, you can start reading news pages on the internet. Start with just the titles, then work your way to the articles. You will find it easier to understand the words if you read about topics that you already know.
- If you don't know much Hebrew, look at the headlines and photos that accompany the news and try to understand the subject of the article. The more words you learn, the more you will progress in reading the articles.
- Start with Ynet or Walla as they use simpler Hebrew than Haaretz.