Hebrew phrasebook

Pronunciation guide

The Hebrew script is an abjad, not an alphabet, meaning that it consists entirely of consonants, and vowels are usually not written out. Vowels can be indicated by a system of dots and dashes next to the letters (called the Hebrew Nikud), these are normally omitted in modern Hebrew books with the exception in Bibles and children's books. It is common for words, especially foreign words, to be spelled in more than one way; the Abu-l`afia Synagogue has five different spellings of its name on its signs. The stress is usually on the last syllable; most of the exceptions are segol-ates (words in which segol, the /e/-sound), such as elef "thousand". Some words have a diphthong "ua" or "ia" which is one syllable but sounds like two, like English "oil". This is called patah gnuva "stolen /a/-sound" and occurs in שבוע shavua[`] "week", which is stressed on the -u-. In conversational Hebrew, only three letters (בכפ) are pronounced differently when they contain a dot in the center called a dagesh. Five letters (מנצפכ) have a different form at the end of a word (םןץףך, respectively). These are named by adding סופית (sofit - so-FEET) "final" to the name of the letter, e.g. נון סופית (nun sofit - noon so-feet). Below you will find a list of the letters, those letters which sound differently and have a dagesh (dot in the middle) are noted, as well as letters with final forms. For audio pronunciations of all letter below you can use Free Hebrew Pronouncing Guide

Geresh (apostrophe ׳) additions — used mainly for sounds borrowed from other languages:

Phrase list

Hebrew verbs conjugate according to the gender of the sentence's subject: different verb forms must thus be used when referring to men and women. These have been noted below when appropriate.

Basics

Hello (Peace) .שלום (shalom - shah-LOHM)The Hebrew greeting, literally "peace." The English "Hi" is also used. Bye (Peace) .שלום (shalom - shah-LOHM)Yes, the greeting is the same for the start and end of conversation. See also "See you later". See you later .להתראות (lehitra'ot - leh-hit-rah-'OHT)The most common farewell greeting, besides the English "Bye". Again, the English "Bye" is also used. Good morning .בוקר טוב (boker tov - BOH-ker TOHV) Good afternoon .צהריים טובים (tsohorayim tovim - tsoh-hoh-RAH-yeem toh-VEEM) (literally: "good noon", afternoon is אחר-צהריים ahar tsohorayim tovim - aKHAR tsoh-hoh-RAH-yeem toh-VEEM) Good evening .ערב טוב (`erev tov - EH-rev TOHV) Good night .לילה טוב (laylah tov - LIGH-lah TOHV) How are you? (What's your wellbeing/peace?)- addressing to a man. ‫מה שלומך?‬ (mah shlomkha? - mah shlom-KHAH) How are you? (What's your wellbeing/peace?)- addressing to a woman. ‫מה שלומך?‬ (mah shlomekh? - mah shloh-MEKH) How are you? (What's being heard?). ‫מה נשמע?‬ (mah nishma[`]? - mah nish-MAH) What's up? (What's happening?). ?מה קורה (mah koreh? - mah kor-EH) What's up #2? (What's the business?). ?מה העיניינים (mah ha-`inyanim? - mah ha-`in-ya-NIM?) Thank you .תודה (todah - toh-DAH) Please/ You're welcome .בבקשה (bevakashah - be-vah-kuh-SHAH) Excuse me .סליחה (slihah - slee-KHAH) I don't understand (said by a man). .אני לא מבין (ani lo mevin - ahni loh meh-VEEN) I don't understand (said by a woman). .אני לא מבינה (ani lo mevinah - ahni loh meh-VEENA) What is your name? (said to a man, more formal). ?מה שמך (ma shimkha) What is your name? (said to a woman, more formal). ?מה שמך (ma shmekh) What is your name? #2 (said to a man) (lit. "How are you called?"). ?איך קוראים לך (ekh kor'im lekha) What is your name? #2 (said to a woman) (literally "How are you called?"). : ?איך קוראים לך (eck kor'im lakh) My name is... שמי (shmi) My name is #2 (literally I am called...) : קוראים לי (kor'im li - kor-'EEM lee ...) How much is