The Hebrew alphabet — called the Aleph-Bet (אָלֶף-בֵּית) — is one of the oldest writing systems still in active use. Its 22 letters form the foundation of Biblical Hebrew, the language of the Torah, the Psalms, and the Prophets. Learning to recognize and read these letters is the first step toward reading the scriptures in the language they were written in.
Hebrew is written and read right to left. There are no capital letters. The alphabet contains only consonants — vowel sounds are indicated by small marks called nikud (נִקוּד) placed above or below the letters.
All 22 Letters of the Hebrew Alphabet
Below are all 22 letters with their name, primary sound, gematria (numerical) value, and sofit form where applicable. Five letters have a special "sofit" (final) form used only at the end of a word.
The Five Final Letters (Sofit Forms)
Five Hebrew letters change shape when they appear at the end of a word. These are called sofit (סוֹפִית) forms, from the root meaning "end" or "final." The five letters with sofit forms are: Kaf (כ → ך), Mem (מ → ם), Nun (נ → ן), Pe (פ → ף), and Tsadi (צ → ץ).
Recognizing these forms is essential for reading the Torah — they appear constantly at word endings throughout the text.
The Dagesh: One Dot, Two Sounds
Six letters have two possible pronunciations depending on whether they contain a dot inside called the dagesh (דָּגֵשׁ). The six letters are Bet, Gimel, Dalet, Kaf, Pe, and Tav — sometimes remembered by the Hebrew mnemonic BeGeD KeFaT (בגד כפת).
For example: בּ (Bet with dagesh) = B sound; ב (Vet without dagesh) = V sound. In modern Israeli Hebrew, only Bet/Vet, Kaf/Khaf, and Pe/Fe retain this distinction.
Gematria: Letters as Numbers
In Biblical Hebrew, every letter is also a number — there were no separate numerals. This system is called gematria (גִּימַטְרִיָּה). The letters Aleph through Yod represent 1–10; Kaf through Tsadi represent 20–90 in tens; Qof through Tav represent 100–400.
The numerical value of the word chai (חַי), meaning "life," is 18 — which is why 18 is considered a significant number in Hebrew tradition, and why gifts in multiples of 18 are common in Jewish custom.
Aleph and Tav: First and Last
The alphabet begins with אָלֶף (Aleph) and ends with תָּו (Tav). These two letters together — Aleph-Tav (אֵת) — form the direct object marker used throughout the Torah (including Genesis 1:1). This has been interpreted as a statement that the Torah encompasses everything from beginning to end.
Practice the Alphabet
The best way to learn the Hebrew alphabet is through repetition and active testing. The Hebroni flashcard and quiz system covers all 22 letters plus the 5 sofit forms, nikud vowel points, and common prefixes — organized into the same curriculum used in this article.
Practice the Aleph-Bet on Hebroni
Flashcards, multiple choice, and matching games for all 22 letters — free.
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