Hebrew (עִבְרִית) is both the official language of the modern State of Israel and the sacred language of Jewish culture and Judaism.
Learning at least the basics of Hebrew will introduce you to an understanding of the words, faith and culture of a people and a place rich in a history spanning several thousand years. Learning Hebrew will open the door for you to other ancient and modern Semitic languages, such as Arabic, Maltese, Aramaic, Syriac and Amharic, as well as other languages overwhelmingly indebted to the Hebrew language and culture, like Yiddish and Ladin.
The following is a list of guidelines on how to start your Hebrew journey.
Steps
Step 1. Take a Hebrew course or an intensive program
Whether it is a school, a local Jewish community center or even a personal teacher, attending it will allow you a greater commitment and better understanding in learning the language. If you live in Israel, you can sign up for multi-level intensive programs called "ulpan" or "ulpanim", where you can live and breathe nothing but Hebrew.
Step 2. Surround yourself with Jewish and Israeli culture
Instead of the usual radio station, listen to Israeli radio, buy or download music in Hebrew, read beginner books etc.
Step 3. Buy or borrow Hebrew children's books
Many Disney books, such as Aladdin, Cinderella, and Hercules, have a Hebrew version. You can also choose from several popular Israeli children's book authors, such as Leah Goldberg.
- There are many places to buy books throughout Israel. A suitable place is the bookshop located at Jerusalem Central Station: the shop is visible once you go up the escalators.
- Jewish community centers also house libraries full of Hebrew books for children and adults of all ages, both classic and modern.
Step 4. Learn to pronounce the guttural "r" and the khet, as in the German "Bach"
These two sounds are very important in the modern Hebrew phonetic system and are foreign to ours.
Step 5. Apply masculine and feminine genders to nouns and verbs
Hebrew, like many Semitic languages, is similar to many European languages (such as German, French and Italian) in the declension of the gender of nouns. Masculine words often have no specific ending, while feminine words end with "it" or "ah".
Step 6. Learn simple words and phrases, such as the following:
- Yom Huledet Sameach - happy birthday
- Chaim - life
- Beseder - good
- Sebaba - fantastic / great
- Boker tov - good morning
- Yom tov - have a nice day
- Mazal tov - congratulations
- Ima - mother
- Abba - father
- But shlomech? - how are you? (addressed to a female)
- But shlomcha? - how are you? (addressed to a male)
- Shalom - hello / goodbye / peace
- Ma nishma - how are you? (male Female)
- Korim li _ - my name is (literally: "they call me") _
- Ani ben (number) - I am (number) years old (if you are a boy)
- Ani bat (number) - I am (number) years old (if you are a girl)
- Ha Ivrit sheli lo kol kakh tova - I don't speak Hebrew very well
- Ani meh _ - I'm from _
- Todah (rabah) - thank you (very much)
- bevakasha - please / please
- Eich korim lekha / lakh? - What is your name? (speaking to a male or female)
- Eifo ata gar? / Eifo at garah? - where do you live? (m / f)
- Eich omrim (the word you are trying to say) well Ivrit? - how do you say (word) in Hebrew?
Step 7. Learn the correct use of the plural and singular
The plural ending for masculine nouns is usually "im", while feminine ones end in "ot". For verbs, plurals end in "oo". There is also a number of irregular verbs, for which there is no formula; all you can do is memorize them.
Step 8. Use the masculine and feminine forms of numbers:
- ekhad (masculine), akhat (feminine)
- shnayim (masculine), shtayim (feminine) ["ay" pronounced as in English "buy"]
- shlosha (masculine), shalosh (feminine)
- arba'ah (masculine), arbah (feminine)
- khamisha (masculine), khamesh (feminine)
- shisha (masculine), shesh (feminine)
- shiv'ah (masculine), sheva (feminine)
- shmon'ah (masculine), shmonay (feminine)
- tish'ah (masculine), tesha (feminine)
- asarah (masculine), eser (feminine)
Step 9. You must understand that Hebrew is a complex language
Unlike, for example, English, where the verbs do not change much (I ate, you ate, he ate…), in Hebrew almost every verbal form differs according to the object being spoken of and the tense. Take, for example, the word "ochel", which means "to eat":
- I ate: achalti
- You ate (masculine singular): achalta
- You ate (feminine singular): achalt
- He ate: achal
- She ate: achla
- You ate (plural for a group that includes at least one male): achaltem
- You ate (plural for a group of females only): achalten
- They ate: achlu
Step 10. Be careful to conjugate correctly
To help you, use a special conjugation dictionary, and don't worry. This is the part of Hebrew that most people struggle with and make mistakes with, so you're certainly not alone.
Advice
- The internet offers many resources for learning Hebrew. Find out which ones suit your needs best.
- You can't learn a language in just one day. It takes motivation and commitment, which takes time, but if you try hard you can be successful; it's all in exercise and tenacity.
- To help you, get a Hebrew-Italian dictionary.
- Ask a friend for help or find a pen pal who can help you.
- Get a good dictionary of Hebrew verbs, you'll need it. A high percentage of people who can learn Hebrew will need a verb dictionary until they are able to converse in this language. After you have consulted it many times, these verbs will be imprinted on your mind. In addition, the book provides several examples of sentences, very useful in making you understand how to use a verb.
- As an additional exercise, watch Israeli films in their original language and listen to Israeli music.
