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Take the Hebrew Alphabet Sounds Quiz

Discover precise Hebrew letter sounds and pronunciation

Difficulty: Moderate
Questions: 20
Learning OutcomesStudy Material
Colorful paper art depicting elements related to Hebrew Alphabet Sounds Quiz

Ready to refine your Hebrew alphabet sounds? This interactive letter pronunciation quiz is perfect for beginners and language enthusiasts eager to master Hebrew phonetics. Dive in to challenge yourself and reinforce your understanding, then customize the questions any way you like in our editor. When you're done, explore more language tests like Hebrew Language Basics Assessment or stretch your skills with the Hebrew Vocabulary and Usage Quiz. Discover all of our quizzes to keep the learning momentum going!

What is the basic sound of the Hebrew letter Aleph (ם)?
/b/ (as in 'boy')
/a/ (as in 'father')
silent with no phonetic value
/ʔ/ (glottal stop)
Aleph represents a glottal stop in phonetic transcription, functioning as a consonantal boundary. It is not a vowel itself, although it can separate vowels. Aleph is not pronounced /a/, /b/, or completely silent in phonetic terms.
How is the letter Bet (ב) pronounced when it has a dagesh (...) in it?
/b/
/v/
/p/
/f/
With a dagesh, Bet is pronounced as the voiced bilabial stop /b/. Without the dagesh, it shifts to the fricative /v/. It is never /p/ or /f/ with the dagesh.
What is the sound of Bet (ב) when it does not have a dagesh?
/v/
/b/
/f/
/p/
Without a dagesh, Bet is pronounced as the voiced labiodental fricative /v/. The presence of a dagesh would change it to /b/, and it is not /p/ or /f/ in this form.
Which sound does the letter Gimel (ג) represent in modern Hebrew?
/dʒ/
/g/
/ʒ/
/k/
Gimel represents the voiced velar stop /g/ in modern Hebrew. It is not a palatal affricate /dʒ/ or a voiceless stop /k/, nor is it the voiced fricative /ʒ/.
What is the typical pronunciation of Dalet (ד) in modern Israeli Hebrew?
/z/
/t/
/ð/
/d/
Dalet is pronounced as the voiced alveolar stop /d/ in modern Hebrew. It is not the interdental fricative /ð/ or a voiceless stop /t/, and it does not represent /z/.
What sound does Kaf (כ) make when it contains a dagesh?
/t͡s/
/g/
/k/
/x/
With a dagesh, Kaf is pronounced as the voiceless velar stop /k/. Without it, Kaf becomes /x/. It never produces /t͡s/ or /g/.
What is the pronunciation of Kaf (כ) when it does not have a dagesh?
/k/
/h/
/x/ (voiceless velar fricative)
/χk/
Without a dagesh, Kaf is pronounced as the voiceless velar fricative /x/. The dagesh adds closure to become /k/, and it is not /h/ or a combination /χk/.
Which of these pairs correctly differentiates Shin (שם) from Sin (שׂ)?
Shin = /ʃ/, Sin = /s/
Shin = /t͡ʃ/, Sin = /s/
Shin = /ʒ/, Sin = /z/
Shin = /s/, Sin = /ʃ/
Shin with the dot on the right is /ʃ/, while Sin with the dot on the left is /s/. They are not reversed or other affricates/fricatives.
What is the phonetic value of Tsadi (צ) in Hebrew?
/d͡z/
/s/
/t/
/t͡s/
Tsadi represents the voiceless alveolar affricate /t͡s/. It is not the fricative /s/, the voiced affricate /d͡z/, or the stop /t/.
Which sound corresponds to the letter Qof (ק)?
/g/
/x/
/q/ (voiceless uvular stop)
/k/
Qof is pronounced as the voiceless uvular stop /q/ in precise phonetic notation. It differs from the velar /k/ and is not /g/ or /x/.
How is Ayin (ע) typically realized in modern Israeli Hebrew?
/a/
/f/
/ɡ/
/ʔ/ or silent glottal stop
In modern Israeli Hebrew, Ayin often behaves like a glottal stop /ʔ/ or is phonetically silent. It is not a vowel /a/ or consonants /ɡ/ or /f/.
What is the modern Israeli Hebrew realization of Resh (ר)?
/z/
/ʝ/ (voiced uvular fricative)
/r/ (alveolar trill)
/l/
Contemporary Israeli Hebrew often pronounces Resh as the voiced uvular fricative /ʝ/. It is not typically an alveolar trill, nor is it /l/ or /z/.
When Vav (ו) is used as a consonant in words like "vav" itself, what is its sound?
/u/
/o/
/v/
/w/
As a consonant, Vav represents the voiced labiodental fricative /v/. It does not represent the semivowel /w/ or the vowels /u/ or /o/ in this use.
Aleph (ם) often indicates a glottal stop between vowels. Which IPA symbol represents this?
/ʕ/
/ʔ/
/h/
/ʃ/
The glottal stop is transcribed as /ʔ/ in IPA. The symbol /h/ denotes a glottal fricative, /ʕ/ a pharyngeal, and /ʃ/ a postalveolar fricative.
Which letter is pronounced as the voiceless glottal fricative /h/?
Het (ח)
He (ה)
Ayin (ע)
He with mapiq
He represents the voiceless glottal fricative /h/. Het is a uvular fricative, Ayin a glottal stop or silent, and mapiq is a diacritic, not a separate letter.
Which Hebrew letter can never receive a dagesh?
Bet (ב)
Resh (ר)
Pe (פ)
Kaf (כ)
Resh never takes a dagesh, unlike the Bekadkeph letters (Bet, Kaf, Pe) which can have either a dagesh lene or forte. This absence is consistent across Hebrew orthography.
What is the sound of final (sofit) Chaf (ך) in words like "מֶלַךְ" (melech)?
/x/
/k/
/χx/
/h/
Final Chaf retains the voiceless velar fricative /x/. It does not become the stop /k/, nor does it change to /h/ or a double-fricative sequence.
How is Het (ח) articulated in modern Israeli Hebrew?
/x/
/k/
/χ/ (voiceless uvular fricative)
/h/
In Israeli Hebrew, Het is typically realized as the voiceless uvular fricative /χ/. The velar /x/ is the sound of Chaf without dagesh, and Het is neither /h/ nor /k/.
When Vav carries a dot in its center (shuruq), what vowel sound does it represent?
/o/
/e/
/u/
/i/
A shuruq (dot in Vav) marks the vowel sound /u/. A holam on Vav would mark /o/, while /i/ and /e/ use different letters or diacritics.
In historic Tiberian pronunciation, which Hebrew letter was pronounced as an emphatic /tˤ/?
Tav with dagesh
Tav without dagesh
Tet (ט)
Tzadi (צ)
In Tiberian Hebrew, Tet is the emphatic alveolar stop /tˤ/. Tav with or without dagesh did not carry emphatic articulation, and Tsadi is an affricate /ts/ without emphatic quality.
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Learning Outcomes

  1. Identify each Hebrew letter by its correct sound.
  2. Match Hebrew letters to their phonetic equivalents.
  3. Differentiate subtle pronunciation differences in Hebrew letters.
  4. Apply phonetic rules to pronounce advanced Hebrew characters.
  5. Evaluate your accuracy in Hebrew sound recognition.
  6. Master fundamental Hebrew alphabet pronunciation skills.

Cheat Sheet

  1. Master the 22 Hebrew Letters - Kick off your adventure by meeting all 22 letters of the Hebrew alphabet, each with its own personality and sound! From the silent 'Aleph' (ם) that feels like a secret handshake to 'Bet' (ב) that starts words like "boy", these letters lay the foundation for reading and writing. The 22 Hebrew Letters | Yale University Library
  2. Dagesh Dynamics - Some letters get a dot called a dagesh to switch their vibe. For example, 'Bet' (בּ) jumps into a 'b' sound, while without it (ב) it slides into a 'v' sound - like a costume change that keeps the game interesting! Regular practice with these little dots will make your pronunciation sparkle. Hebrew Alphabet Pronunciation | Wikipedia
  3. Five Final Forms (Sofit) - Certain Hebrew letters transform at the end of a word, donning a "final form" cape. Kaf (ך), Mem (ם), Nun (ן), Pe (ף), and Tsade (ץ) look different but keep the same sound, giving your reading skills a fun twist. Spotting these at the end of words is like catching secret agents in disguise! Linking the Shapes of Alphabet Letters to Their Sounds: The Case of Hebrew
  4. Nail the Guttural 'Chet' Sound - 'Chet' (ח) isn't your everyday 'h'; it's a bold, throaty sound that feels like clearing your throat (but in a cool way!). Think of the German "Bach" - channel that vibe and you'll impress everyone around. Once you master this guttural sound, you'll feel like a Hebrew pro. Heth Pronunciation | Wikipedia
  5. Get to Know the Guttural Quartet - Hebrew's gutturals (ם, ה, ח, ע) are the drama queens of the alphabet, affecting nearby vowels and adding flair to pronunciation. They might feel tricky at first, but with a little practice, you'll tame their theatrical flair. These letters give Hebrew its unique, expressive sound! Pronunciations of Hebrew | Jewish Virtual Library
  6. Tell Tet from Tav - Two letters, Tet (ט) and Tav (ת), might both sound like 't' but come from different families and histories. Practicing them side by side helps your ear pick up the subtle differences and adds depth to your Hebrew skills. Soon you'll spot them in a snap! Hebrew Alphabet | International Phonetic Alphabet
  7. Learn Letter Names as Clues - Every Hebrew letter's name gives you a hint to its sound: 'Gimel' (ג) kicks off with a 'g', making it easier to remember. By linking shape, name, and sound, you create mental shortcuts that speed up your learning. It's like unlocking cheat codes for the alphabet! Linking the Shapes of Alphabet Letters to Their Sounds: The Case of Hebrew
  8. Shin vs Sin Showdown - 'Shin' (שם) and 'Sin' (שׂ) might look identical but host a tiny dot shift that changes 'sh' to 's'. Spotting the dot is like a magic trick that transforms the sound - abracadabra! Practice reading words with both to become a dot-detecting champion. Hebrew Alphabet Chart: Learn Each of the Hebrew Letters | B'nai Mitzvah Academy
  9. Vav's Dual Personality - 'Vav' (ו) moonlights as both a consonant (giving a 'v' sound) and a vowel (offering an 'o' or 'u' sound). It's the alphabet's ultimate multitasker, so pay attention to its role in each word. Mastering Vav unlocks smoother reading and a stronger connection to Hebrew words. Hebrew Alphabet | International Phonetic Alphabet
  10. Practice Makes Perfect - The real magic happens when you read and speak Hebrew regularly. Set aside a few minutes daily to pronounce letters, read simple words, and celebrate small wins. Consistent practice turns challenges into triumphs and keeps you motivated on your learning journey! Hebrew Alphabet Pronunciation | International Phonetic Alphabet
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