Block Letters

There are 22 letters in the Ivrit Alef Bet (Alphabet). 

Each letter has a name and, typically, the sound that the letter makes, is the sound of the first letter of its name.  All the letters are consonants.
Here we are going to learn the name, sound and the appearance of each letter, In Block format. 

The block letters are not capital letters! They are letters that are used for reading.
You will see block letters in the Bible, in books, in newspaper, on road signs etc.
It is important to learn the appearance and sound of Block letters, rather then knowing how to write them.  You will not use them for writing.  They are very square, have sharp lines and writing them is slow.  
Ivrit has cursive letters which are used for writing.
Although typically, the quick sound of the letter is the sound of the first letter of its name, some letters have additional qualities.  For example, a letter may have double sound (weak and strong), just like in English the letter C has a weak sound in Nice and strong sound in Cat

Here we are learning the letter's name and the quick sound they make. Letter make a quick sound when it appear without vowels or with two vertical dots underneath. We also learn what letter has special qualities.

Ivrit is written from right to left so this is why we are on the right side of the page

Alef - א

NOTE: Alef will only make a sound when it has a vowel, otherwise it is silent, no quick sound

Bet - ב

Bet has 2 quick sounds (Strong and Weak): B and V

If there is no dot in the Bet it sound like V  ב

If a there is dot in the Bet it sounds like B  בּ

Hint to remember: If letter has a  Belly Button its sounds is B

 
        Gimel- ג

Gimel quick sound is like the sound of the first letter of its name G





 Dalet- ד

Dalet quick sound is like the sound of the first letter of its name D

  
  Hey - ה


 NOTE: Hey will only make a sound when it has a vowel, otherwise it is silent, no quick sound



 
 Vav - ו
Vav quick sound is like the sound of the first letter of its name V

 NOTE: Letter can also be used as a vowel, with dot in the middle, sound oo וּ

 NOTE: Letter can also be used as a vowel, with dot on top,  sound o וֹ



 Zayin - ז


Zayin quick sound is like the sound of the first letter of its name Z


  


 H'et - ח
H'et quick sound is like the sound of the first letter of its name H'
NOTE: This sound is not like the the letter Hey above. It comes more from the back of the throat. See my video to hear the sound, link at the end of the lesson.



  Tet - ט


Tet quick sound is like the sound of the first letter of its name T



   

Yud - י

Yud quick sound is like the sound of the first letter of its name Y
 NOTE: Letter can also be used as a vowel, and sound ee/i


 


Kaf - כ

Kaf has 2 sounds (Strong and Weak) K and H' (like H'et)

If there is no dot in the Kaf it sound like H'  כ

If a dot appear in the Kaf it sounds like K  כּ

Lamed - ל


Lamed quick sound is like the sound of the first letter of its name L





  Mem - מ

Mem quick sound is like the sound of the first letter of its name M





  Noon - נ


Noon quick sound is like the sound of the first letter of its name N

 Sameh' - ס


Sameh' quick sound is like the sound of the first letter of its name S

   Aayin - ע


Ayin quick sound is like the sound of the first letter of its name A







   Peh - פ

Peh has 2 sounds (Strong and Weak) P and F

If there is no dot in the Peh it sound like f  פ

If a dot appear in the Peh it sounds like P  פּ



    Tsadi - צ


 Tsadi quick sound is like the sound of the first letter of its name TS





Kuf - ק


Kuf quick sound is like the sound of the first letter of its name K






    Resh - ר



Resh quick sound is like the sound of the first letter of its name R





Shin - ש

Shin has 2 quick sounds (Strong and Weak) SH and S

A dot on the right hand corner of the letter make it sound like SH  שׁ

A dot on the left hand corner of the letter make it sounds like S שׂ



   Tav - ת


Tav quick sound is like the sound of the first letter of its name T

Video coming soon