Hebrew for beginners: A guide to basic expressions

For Jewish tradition and religion, Hebrew is considered the language of God. It is believed to be the divine language through which God communicates with His people. Because of this, Hebrew is regarded as a sacred language, or in Hebrew, Lashon Ha-Kodesh (לשון הקודש), meaning “the language of holiness.”

Today, more than eight million people speak Hebrew worldwide. Although it is the official language of Israel, Hebrew is recognized and understood in many parts of the world.

The Jewish diaspora has spread across every continent, bringing Hebrew and its traditions with it. Today, we will explore how this “language of God” has influenced global culture and linguistics. Additionally, we’ll look at how languages like Spanish, English, and Slavic languages have incorporated elements of Hebrew. Finally, we’ll provide you with some essential tips for understanding Hebrew and getting familiar with this ancient language.

בואו להכיר עברית – Bo’o lehakir Ivrit! 

(Let’s discover Hebrew!)

Hebrew: An ancient language

Hebrew is one of the oldest languages in the world, with an estimated history spanning over 3,300 years. And that’s only based on written records—many scholars believe the language is even older. The Torah’s writings trace Hebrew’s origins back to the time of Moses and the birth of Judaism.

Another key element in analyzing its origins is its inseparable connection to Judaism. In fact, one of the earliest written records of the language is the Gezer Calendar, a 10th-century BCE inscription that lists agricultural seasons.

Because of this, this language holds an unmatched historical, cultural, and religious significance. Over the centuries, the language has undergone a remarkable transformation—going from a language in decline to a fully revived, living language. This brings us to a fundamental distinction: ancient Hebrew vs. modern Hebrew. The latter is spoken by over eight million people in Israel, Palestine, and around the world.

The “People of God” and the historic persecution of jews

According to Jewish tradition, the “People of God” (אנשי אלוהים / Anshi Elohim) were the chosen people through whom God communicated. And He did so in Hebrew. The Torah and the Old Testament describe how Yahweh spoke to Moses and gave him the commandments of the faith.

But beyond religion, Hebrew is one of the oldest surviving languages. Unlike other sacred languages like Sanskrit, Hebrew has endured throughout history. Many believe its survival is due to factors beyond religion, including the centuries-long persecution of the Jewish people.

From ancient Egypt’s pharaohs to the 20th century, Jewish communities have faced exile, oppression, and genocide. They suffered under Nazi Germany, were expelled from Spain, and were persecuted by Soviet authorities and Islamic fundamentalists.

The expansion of the language

Despite these tragic events, Hebrew has continued to flourish. The Jewish diaspora played a major role in spreading the language worldwide. Today, the language is still spoken in Jewish communities across the globe.

This expansion is directly tied to historical persecution. Wherever Jews migrated, they preserved their language, customs, and traditions. Their tonge, Jewish cuisine, and religious practices have remained strong symbols of identity.

Experts believe this deep-rooted connection to language and tradition is what has allowed the language to survive for millennia. But what are its linguistic roots? Let’s take a closer look.

Where did Hebrew originate, and why is it considered a sacred language?

From a linguistic perspective, Hebrew belongs to the Semitic language family, sharing roots with Aramaic, Phoenician, and Akkadian. As previously mentioned, it is believed to have emerged over 3,500 years ago in the region of Canaan—a land whose geographic definition has long been debated. In fact, its location has been the subject of wars and territorial conflicts. However, what we do know is that Canaan was located in what is now Israel and Palestine.

The evolution of Hebrew is well-documented in ancient texts, which show its transformation over time. Initially, the language was spoken exclusively by the Israelites, but it gradually became the dominant language of Judaism. It’s important to note that the Jewish people were composed of multiple tribes, and Hebrew as a distinct Jewish language only became widespread after the 2nd century BCE.

Before this period, Hebrew coexisted with Phoenician-Punic, Aramaic, Moabite, and Ammonite. However, in 70 CE, following the destruction of the Second Temple of Jerusalem, Hebrew underwent a major shift. As the Jewish diaspora spread, it was no longer used as a daily spoken language. Instead, it became reserved for religious and liturgical purposes.

Zionism and the revival of Hebrew

For more than 1,800 years, Hebrew was limited to synagogues and Jewish religious practices. In everyday life, Jews adopted the languages of the regions where they settled. It wasn’t until the 19th century that Hebrew was revived as a spoken language.

During the Zionist movement of the late 19th century, Hebrew became a symbol of Jewish nationalism. The revival of the language was largely led by Eliezer Ben Yehuda. They modernized ancient language and brought it back into daily use. Essentially, he gave Jews around the world a language they could use in everyday life, rather than only in religious ceremonies.

This linguistic revival played a crucial role in the establishment of the State of Israel in 1948. Hebrew became the official language of the new nation, reinforcing its identity and securing its place as a fully revitalized language.

While this has been a brief overview, the story of Hebrew and Jewish history is truly fascinating. Now, let’s explore some unique aspects of the Hebrew language.

Hebrew: A fascinating language

We’ve already explored how Hebrew is an ancient language, far older than many people realize. Its evolution over time and its revival as a spoken language make it truly exceptional. Among the world’s languages, Hebrew stands out as one of the few that can be considered a hybrid language—combining natural linguistic evolution with artificial reconstruction.

Yet, these are just a few of the unique characteristics of this remarkable language:

Right-to-left writing system

Unlike most Western languages, Hebrew is written and read from right to left. This characteristic is shared with other Semitic languages, such as Arabic. For those accustomed to left-to-right writing systems, this can be a challenging adjustment, but with practice, it becomes second nature.

A consonant-based writing system

Hebrew is an abjad language, meaning its original script consists almost entirely of consonants. While modern language form includes vowel markers called niqqud (נִקּוּד), these are mainly used in religious texts, children’s literature, or learning materials. In everyday writing, vowels are inferred from context, making it a challenge for newcomers to grasp the language at first.

The triconsonantal root system

One of Hebrew’s most distinctive features is its triconsonantal root system. Most words derive from a three-consonant root that conveys a core meaning. By adding prefixes, suffixes, and vowel changes, multiple words can be formed from a single root.

For example, the root K-T-V (כ-ת-ב) is related to the action of writing and produces words such as:

• Katav (כתב) – “He wrote”
• Ketav (כתב) – “Writing”
• Miktav (מכתב) – “Letter”
• Kotev (כותב) – “He writes”

This structured system gives the language a high degree of internal consistency, making word formation more predictable once you understand the patterns.

No fixed verb tenses

Unlike Spanish and other Indo-European languages, Biblical Hebrew does not use fixed verb tenses to indicate past, present, or future. Instead, verbs are structured based on aspect—whether an action is completed or ongoing.

While modern Hebrew has developed a more defined tense system, it still retains a degree of flexibility, allowing verb meanings to shift based on context.

Influence and adaptation in modern Hebrew

As we discussed earlier, modern Hebrew is the result of an extensive linguistic revival, allowing it to adapt to the modern world. Many new words were created following traditional Hebrew patterns, while others were borrowed from foreign languages such as English and Russian.

For example:

• The Hebrew word for “telephone” is “telefon” (טלפון)—a direct borrowing from English.
• The word “machshev” (מחשב) means “computer”, derived from an ancient Hebrew root related to thinking and calculation.

Want to learn some basic Hebrew phrases?

Now that we’ve explored some key features of Hebrew, let’s look at some of the most commonly used expressions!

Greetings, farewells and polite phrases

Months, days and numbers

Technology as the key to learning Hebrew

Yes, we know—learning Hebrew can be quite challenging. This is especially true for speakers of Western languages such as English, French, or Spanish. The difficulty primarily comes from adapting to a different writing system and learning a completely new alphabet.

Additionally, the consonant-based structure of the language can be particularly tricky for speakers of Romance languages. However, thanks to technology, learning Hebrew has never been easier!

Take, for example, Talkao’s translation technology. With the Talkao Camera Translator, you can instantly read any text just by using your phone—no need to change your keyboard or adjust your device settings.

Furthermore, Talkao Translate allows you to communicate effortlessly in Hebrew, while the Talkao Dictionary provides the meaning of thousands of words in over 125 languages.

לימוד עברית קל מאוד עם Talkao

(Learning Hebrew is easy with Talkao!)

Published Sat, 19 October 2024