The Hebrew Alphabet - The Hebrew Letters - Essentials
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Introduction to the Hebrew Letters
- The Hebrew alphabet, the holy language of the Bible, is used for biblical Hebrew, Modern Hebrew, Jewish Aramaic, Yiddish, and Ladino.
- It consists of 22 letters, all consonants, none of which are lowercase.
- Each letter has its own sound and numerical value. In addition, the presence of a dagesh (a dot placed within a letter to add emphasis) can modify the sound of a letter, essentially making one letter into two; although, how one pronounces these sounds varies. Over the centuries, pronunciation has changed to the point that some communities have lost the distinction between the sounds of certain letters of the Hebrew Alphabet.
- The letters and the words they form are holy, with layers of meaning from the literal to the mystical. It was pronounced by G‑d when the Jews received the Torah at Sinai, and it is read from the Torah by Jews all over the world. The Hebrew letters are precise. Every letter and every vowel has a distinct pronunciation. Though some of these distinctions were lost to some communities over the years, they were preserved by other communities.
Click here for a Hebrew Alphabet PDF chart.
In this article: The Hebrew Letters Certain Letters at the End of Words Hebrew Typography The Vowels Gematria (Numerical Value) Hebrew Alphabet Chart (PDF)The Hebrew Letters
| Name | Form | Sound | Numerical Value |
| Aleph | א | silent | 1 |
| Beis | בּ | b | 2 |
| Veis | ב | v | 2 |
| Gimel | ג | g | 3 |
| Dalet | ד | d | 4 |
| Hay | ה | h | 5 |
| Vav | ו | v1 or oo | 6 |
| Zayin | ז | z | 7 |
| Khes | ח | kh | 8 |
| Tes | ט | t | 9 |
| Yud | י | y | 10 |
| Kaf | כּ | k | 20 |
| Lamed | ל | l | 30 |
| Mem | מ | m | 40 |
| Nun | נ | n | 50 |
| Samekh | ס | s | 60 |
| Ayin | ע | silent2 | 70 |
| Pay | פּ | p | 80 |
| Fay | פ | f | 80 |
| Tzadi(k) | צ | tz | 90 |
| Kuf | ק | k | 100 |
| Raysh | ר | r | 200 |
| Shin | שׁ | sh | 300 |
| Sin | שׂ | s | 300 |
| Tav | תּ | t | 400 |
| Sav | ת | s | 400 |
Note that the final two letters, tav and sav, were differentiated. This is how it is done by Ashkenazi (European) Jews. In Modern Hebrew, however, they are pronounced as tav, even when there is no dagesh (point) within the letter.
Certain Letters at the End of Words
When appearing at the end of a word, five Hebrew letters change forms. Although they look different, they are still pronounced exactly the same. Here are the final letters:
| Default Name | Default Form | Final Name | Final Form | Sound |
| Khaf | כ | Final Khaf | ך | kh |
| Mem | מ | Final Mem | ם | m |
| Nun | נ | Final Nun | ן | n |
| Fay | פ | Final Fay | ף | f |
| Tzadi(k) | צ | Final Tzadi(k) | ץ | tz |
The Hebrew alphabet currently appears in three forms:
Block Letters
The Hebrew alphabet (excluding final letters) in standard block print. Block letters are the most ancient of forms, based closely on (and including) the Ktav Ashurit, the calligraphic letters of the Torah and other sacred books. This is the most common form of printed Hebrew. Read more about the history of Ktav Ashurit, as well as another ancient (and no longer practiced) form of Hebrew script called Ktav Ivri.
The Hebrew alphabet (excluding final letters) in Ashurit script. Rashi Letters
This form of Hebrew was once commonly used as cursive writing and is still used among some Sepharadic Jews. However, it is most commonly used as the preferred typeface for rabbinic commentaries of a more scholarly nature. It is called “Rashi Script,” since it was first introduced (and still widely used) by printers for Rashi’s commentary on the Bible. Read more about Rashi Script.
The Hebrew alphabet (excluding final letters) in Rashi script as rendered by Koren Publishers. Hebrew Cursive
Widely used in Israel and the diaspora, Hebrew cursive is like its English counterpart in that it is easy to write but not commonly used in print (other than an occasional headline or advertisement). Unlike English cursive, however, the letters are not attached to each other.
The Hebrew alphabet (excluding final letters) in cursive. The Vowels
As noted, the Hebrew letters themselves consist entirely of consonants. Additional symbols (placed below or on top of letters) make vowels, known as nekkudot (dots). These nekkudot make a string of letters into pronounceable and meaningful words. The names of vowels, below, indicate how the nekkudot are pronounced by Ashkenazim as well as by Modern Hebrew speakers, whose accent has been heavily influenced by Sepharadic tradition.
Komatz
Looks like a “T” and can be found under the letter, makes a short “u” sound (as in fun)3
Patach
Looks like a flat horizontal line under the letter and makes an “ah” sound (as in barn)
Note: The Modern Hebrew (Sepharadic) pronunciation for both the komatz and the patach is the sound, “ah.”
Tzayray
Two side-by-side dots under the letter, makes a long “a” sound (as in day)
Segol
Three dots arranged as an inverted pyramid under the letter, makes a short “e” sound (as in bed)
Note: The Modern Hebrew (Sepharadic) pronunciation for both the tzayray and the segol is a short “e.”
Sheva
Two dots stacked below the letter, can either have no sound at all (this is called a sheva nach) or it can make a quick “ih” sound, as in tick (in which case it is called a sheva na)
Cholam
Can either make a long “o” sound (as in bone), or among some Ashkenazim it makes an “oy” (as in boy). The cholam can either appear as a dot at the upper left of a letter, or it takes the form of a vav with the dot above it.
Cheereek
A single dot below the letter, makes a long “e” sound when followed by a yud. Otherwise it makes a short “i” sound.
Shoorook
Makes an “oo” sound (like boot) and appears like a vav with a dot to its left
Kubutz
Makes a shorter “oo” sound like in "book" and appears like three dots, arranged like an ascending staircase below the letter
(At times, the komatz, patach and segol may appear with a sheva on their right side. In this case, they are pronounced more briefly, but are known as chataf komatz, chataf patach, and chataf segol.)
Practice your reading with our interactive Hebrew reading trainer.
Gematria (Numerical Value)
In Hebrew every letter has a numerical value. The first 10 letters (aleph to yud) each correspond to a number, one through ten. The next nine letters (khaf to kuf) represent 20 through 100, and the final three letters (raysh, shin and tav) are from 200 to 400. Similar to Roman numerals, letters are added together to equal a given number, and the letters retain their essential worth no matter where they are placed in a sequence, so tav, khaf, and aleph, for example, equal 421. With this system, any word or phrase can be given a specific numerical value, known as gematria. Often, great secrets of the Torah are steeped in gematria. In fact, one of the most popular commentaries on the Torah, written by Rabbi Jacob ben Asher, known as the Baal Haturim, uncovers layers of hidden meaning in the text by way of gematria (and other close analysis of the texts).
Ever wonder why the number 18 in Judaism represents life? The word “life” in Hebrew is pronounced, “Chai,” which is comprised of two letters, “khet” and “yud.” “Khet” represents the number eight, and the letter “yud,” ten. These two letters added together equal 18. “L’Chaim!” To life!
Learn more by reading Everything You Need to Know About Gematria .
Art by Sefira Lightstone The Code to Creation
The Hebrew letters are not just a handy tool to transcribe Hebrew speech. Rather, they are the vessels through which G‑d created the universe. As told in the opening chapters of Genesis, G‑d spoke ten utterances, and the world came into being. These ten statements are the “garments” through which the Divine energy is translated into physical existence. How about the things, such as computers and books, not mentioned specifically in the ten utterances? That is where gematria and other exchange systems come into play. These allow the Hebrew terms, based on the ten utterances, to “become” the Hebrew name of every given item, which is its life-source.
Learn more by watching KabAlefBet!, a video series on the kabbalistic meaning of the Hebrew letters.
Hebrew Alphabet Chart (PDF)
Footnotes 1.Yemenite Jews pronounce this as a "w," a sound that does not exist in many European languages and was therefore lost to many others.
2.Sepharadim correctly pronounce this with a gutteral sound, different from the aleph, which was lost to Ashkenazim.
3.In some instances it can sound like the “o” in “long.” This is known as komatz gadol.
© Copyright, all rights reserved. If you enjoyed this article, we encourage you to distribute it further, provided that you comply with Chabad.org's copyright policy.More in this section
- 10 Facts About the Hebrew Language Every Jew Should Know
- 13 Basic Hebrew Words to Know and Use All the Time
- Hebrew Alphabet PDF Chart
- What Is Gematria?
- Gematria FAQ
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Sort By:NewestOldest 114 CommentsBH! Super helpful! Reply
Isn't Beis in fact Bet? Reply
My first name is not hebrew it's Helen (of greek origin) is their a numerical value? (when I was born it was Elena). But my parents changed it to Helen to anglicise it and make it easier to pronounce. There is no 'e' in the hebrew alphabet to get a hebrew letter. How do I get a numerical value. Reply
Rabbi Mendel Adelman for chabad.org September 14, 2025 in response to Helen :If you are Jewish, you can choose a Hebrew name that resonates with you and find the numerical value of it. The name Helen itself can also be written in Hebrew as הלן. Hei (5), Lammed (30), Nun (50), for a numerical value of 85. Reply
My name is Elizabeth, what is the number of my name ? Reply
Dani E. Iowa August 20, 2025 in response to Elizabeth :The meaning and significance of gematria are rooted in Hebrew names and words, not English names—even if you write the English name in Hebrew letters. If you want the numerical value for “Elizabeth” as spelled in English, traditional gematria doesn’t really apply; there are separate systems (like “English gematria”), but those aren’t part of Jewish tradition and don’t carry the same significance.If you have a Hebrew name, you’ll get a much more meaningful answer by using that name instead. Transliteration can provide a number for “Elizabeth,” but it’s more of an estimate and doesn’t hold the same weight as a genuine Hebrew name in the context of gematria. Reply
Lisa Thynne England September 26, 2025 in response to Elizabeth :Elizabeth or Elizabeta, means Word of God. If you look at the meaning of the individual Hebrew letters both standard an spiritual it will give you a deeper understanding of your name. You can analyse each letter as is rather than a near translation, and its number.There are also translation tools online you can use. Look at more than one source. My name is Lisa, my given name, but it is form Elizabeth and always comes up as Elizabeth when I search, but the meaning and value of Lisa also gives me different insight. Reply
Hansen Asia August 22, 2025 in response to Dani E.:Aaron's wife was named Elisabeth, an Anglicized form of אֱלִישֶׁבַע. See Exodus 6:23.You might calculate the numerical value of that name Reply
Dani E Iowa August 22, 2025 in response to Hansen:Her name was Elisheba, not Elizabeth. Reply
Hansen Asia September 11, 2025 in response to Dani E:Elisabeth is an anglicised form of אֱלִישֶׁבַע. The Greek form is Ἐλισάβετ. In the Greek of Ex. 6:23 the name of Aaron's wife was Ἐλισάβετ. John the Baptist's mother was named Ἐλισάβετ.The Hebrew translation reads וְהִנֵּה אֱלִישֶׁבַע קְרוֹבָתֵךְ אֲשֶׁר קָרְאוּ־לָהּ עֲקָרָה גַּם־הִיא הָרָה לָלֶדֶת בֵּן בְּזִקְנָתָהּ וְזֶה לָּהּ הַחׂדֶשׁ הַשִּׁשִּׁי. Same name as Aaron's wife translated as "Elisabeth." Reply
Dani Iowa September 15, 2025 in response to Hansen:I understand. But tracing names through Greek or Latin doesn’t make them interchangeable. If your name is Hansen and I called you Johannes, I’d be using the wrong name. Likewise, Elizabeth and Elisheva are related but not the same. Reply
I believe God has giving me understanding to make sense of the Ancient Hebrew. I just want to share all about it, any takers? Reply
Joey September 13, 2024 in response to Ambassador for Christ :I’d love to learn. Reply
Theresa Scott WA November 1, 2024 in response to Ambassador for Christ :me too! pls Reply
Andrew Bristol, England November 4, 2024 in response to Ambassador for Christ :Count me in. Reply
Ted usa November 24, 2024 in response to Ambassador for Christ :hello, thank you for your offer. I am looking for an English translation and/or meaning of the hebrew word ַבַּמַּֽחֲנ֣וֹת The English translations seem to say camps or tents. Zechariah 14:15. What is the full or deeper meaning of this word. Does the word actually mean some type of abode?Thank you,Ted Reply
MarkFromWinlock Winlock March 16, 2025 in response to Ambassador for Christ :I am at least interested, please share. Reply
Scott United Kingdom September 14, 2024 in response to Joey :send me an email and we can start the ball rollingscott.trentintrf at gmail Reply
Rex Florida November 25, 2024 in response to Ted:The Hebrew word בַּמַּחֲנ֣וֹת (bamachanot) can be broken down and understood in its context:Definitionבַּמַּחֲנ֣וֹת (bamachanot) is a combination of the preposition בַּ (ba), meaning "in" or "at," and the noun מַחֲנֶה (machaneh), meaning "camp" or "encampment." The suffix -ות (ot) indicates the plural form.Literal Translation: "In the camps" or "at the camps."Expanded MeaningContextual Use: This word is often used in the context of the Israelites' encampments during their journey through the wilderness, as described in the Torah. It refers to the various locations where the Israelites set up their camps.Biblical References: The term appears in several places in the Hebrew Bible, particularly in the books of Exodus, Numbers, and Deuteronomy, where it describes the organization and movement of the Israelite tribes.Example in ScriptureNumbers 2:17: "Then the Tent of Meeting and the camp of the Levites will set out in the middle of the camps (בַּמַּחֲנ֣וֹת). They will set out Reply
Ted USA December 1, 2024 in response to Rex:Great explanation. Thank you Rex. Reply
Rex Florida December 3, 2024 in response to Ted:Your welcome Ted! Reply
Thank you for this article.I understand that the Hebrew Alphabet is the basis for the Greek Alphabet which is the basis for the Roman Alphabet.I was surprised to see the word 'bible' used for 'the Tanakh'. The Bible is the word we Christians use for our Holy Book.However, it is not my place to complain about this, since this is a Jewish website.Thank you again for your excellent articles.Andrew Reply
Penny July 13, 2025 in response to Andrew:What Christians call the “Old Testament” is called the “Tanakh” by the Jews. Tanakh (TNK) is an acronym and stands for Torah (Pentateuch) , Nevi’im (prophets) and Ketuvim (writings) 🙂 Reply
Dani E Iowa August 20, 2025 in response to Andrew:It’s a common misconception that the Hebrew alphabet is the basis for the Greek alphabet, which in turn led to the Roman (Latin) alphabet. In reality, the Greek alphabet descends from the ancient Phoenician script: Greek adapted the Phoenician letters, and Latin was later adapted from Greek (via the Etruscans).& You’re absolutely right that Jews refer to the Hebrew Scriptures as the “Tanakh” (an acronym for Torah, Nevi’im, and Ketuvim→TaNaKh). The term “Bible” is more commonly used in Christian contexts and usually refers to what Christians call the “Old Testament” and the “New Testament.” On Jewish websites, “Tanakh” is generally preferred to reflect Jewish tradition and terminology, but sometimes “[Hebrew] Bible” appears as a more neutral academic term—especially in interfaith or scholarly discussions, since it makes the text accessible to a wider audience. Reply
Why are there two “s”…sin and sav? Reply
Rabbi EK for Chabad.org July 7, 2024 in response to Stacey:I am taking the liberty of sharing with you a passage from the book Letters of Light that explains the difference between the Shin and Sin. The dot in the Tav is for the emphasis- Dagesh, but the letter is one on and the same. Reply
Shmuel September 14, 2024 in response to Rabbi EK for Chabad.org:Hi do we pronounce a letter if there's no nekuda under it like י in חלולים and the א ,ה and other letters at end of word without the nekuda Reply
I need help translating a word. סעה (The Ayin has a komatz under it as well.)I’ve looked everywhere and got basic knowledge, but I’m just not sure I’m getting it right. This word is paired with the word “ruach” for wind. I don’t know if that helps any. Reply
Rex Florida July 25, 2024 in response to Kelsey:The translation you are looking for is "to run, rush." Used also of storms. Read Ps. 55:9, (a rushing wind). Look at the Strong's Concordance #5584. Hope this helps! :) Reply
Steve W Scotland September 5, 2024 in response to Kelsey:The Hebrew ruʹach (spirit) is has the same meaning as the Greek pneuʹma (spirit) comes from pneʹo, meaning “breathe or blow,” but have extended meanings beyond that. Both can also mean spirit persons, including God and his angelic creatures, and God’s active force, or holy spirit used in creation or miracles. It includes wind and the vital (life) force in living creatures - animals and mankind, one's spirit. Ruach refers to a force that is invisible to us as humans, but we see visible effects of this 'ruach' in motion. A human has "life force" and there is evidence of life, even if they are unconscious. For reference, you could check the Hebrew and English Lexicon of the Old Testament, 1980, pp. 924-926 by Brown, Driver, & Briggs. Reply
5784, is there a Hebrew word(s) for this? maybe a prophecy for this year…which began last Sept. right? Is there somewhere on this website that gives English meanings of #s? Reply
I was using Duolingo and a bit confused. This helped very much, Thank you! Reply
So my name has numerical value of 200, 2, 100, 5. How would that be combined? Reply
Luis January 1, 2024 in response to Rivika :Just add! 307 Reply
Cobena Dick (scotty) McAlester USA January 2, 2024 in response to Rivika :I've learned that 200 +2+100+5=307 you are connected in some way with every other word that has a value of 307. try using the letters in a different lay out. Rbkv Bkvr and see if you have hidden in your name a suttle meaning.> also check if you have a meaning in the Abbrevation Dictionary. Will be fun to look up the pictorail of each letter will help with the understanding of your name(in a lot of cases they give a charatic meaning of your name which is also a discripting of YOU. Enjoy the adventure. word study will lead you on an adventure. Don't be afraid to check with different branches, Yiddish, Caldees, Aramic and such. Reply
Hansen Asia February 6, 2024 in response to Rivika :200+2+100+5=10. Drop the zeros. Your name amounts to 1. Reply
Still çonfused Reply
This was a GREAT EXPERIENCE and G-D enlightening. Thank you and G-D Blessings. Reply
I love this and Iam going to learn! so cool. Thanks Reply
I'm not sure how I ended up here but this is very interesting stuff. Reply
Alex San December 18, 2022 in response to Mereane :Me too! Reply
Is the letter Bet open for a reason. The word bayit : is it connected with bereishit Reply
Terry Ghana August 28, 2022 in response to Anita shagam:It used to be a prefix before the vowel sounds were introduced… Bet means “in” Reply
I was taught that a ה with a dot is pronounced using one's breath. What about a ה at the end of a word, such asוּמַגְבִּיהַּ. What about other letters that have a dot in them, such as וַתְּלַמְּדֵם? Are the dotted letters doubled? Also, why do some words in Tehillat Hashem siddur have a vertical line under them, such as אָבִֽינוּ ? Reply
Naum I Kostinskiy Philadelphia November 8, 2022 in response to Mrs. S.:yes Reply
Awon is it Ayin , vav, nun , ? the Vav and nun look very much a like do have I have this right please correct thank you Shalom Reply
Stadi צ looks like a backwards Y. Ayin ע looks like a Y. Reply
Duane Benkhardt Memphis TN September 30, 2021 in response to Margo Epperson:What does stadi mean? And do you know of any one who has this mark on their forehead and if so what does it mean Reply
I need help trying to spell my daughters name can anyone help!?1) Ayani liz Pronunciation: ah Y AW n e L ih z2) Anelis lorena Pronunciation: ah neh lihz loh - r ai - n uh Reply
Lavi September 26, 2021 in response to Yahaira Nieves:1) אַיָןִ לִז2) אָנְּז לֳרַיןְאַיָןִ לִז אָנְּז לֳרַיןְ Reply
Linda Loosle Logan May 4, 2022 in response to Lavi:ok, I'd love to answer in Hebew but I haven't completed my application.I have named many of my dolls OT Hebrew names. Reply
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