IPA: Hebrew Consonants |
|||
---|---|---|---|
IPA | Letter(s) | English approximate |
Romani- zation |
b | בּ (Bet) | but, web | b |
d | ד (Dalet) | dark, odd | d |
dʒ | ג׳ (Gimel with geresh) | gin, joy, edge | ǧ or j |
f | פ ף (Fei) | fool, enough, leaf | f or p̄ |
ɡ | ג (Gimel) | go, get, beg | g |
h | ה (Hei) | hen | h |
ħ | ח (Chet) | as in Arabic Hussein, pronounced by Oriental Hebrew speakers |
ḥ or ch |
j | י (Yud) | yes | y |
k | כּ (Kaph) ק (Qoph) |
skin, skip | k |
l | ל (Lamed) | left | l |
m | מ ם (Mem) | man, tam | m |
n | נ ן (Nun) | no, tin | n |
p | פּ (Pei) | speak, spin | p |
q | ק (Qoph) | as qāḍī in Literary Arabic, |
q or k |
ʁ | ר (Resh) | (guttural R) (Rhotic consonant) ex. run |
r |
s | ס (Samech) שׂ (Sin) |
see, city, pass | s |
ʃ | שׁ (Shin) | she, sure, emotion, leash | š or sh |
t | ט (Tet) ת (Tav) |
sting, stick, start | t |
ts | צ ץ (Tsadi) | tsunami, pizza, cats | ts (or tz) |
tʃ | צ׳ ץ׳ (Tsadi with geresh) | chair, nature, teach | č or ch |
v | ב (Vet) ו (Vav) וו (double Vav) |
voice, have | v or ḇ/w |
w | וו (double Vav) ו (Vav) |
we | w |
χ | ח (Chet) כ ך (Chaph) |
Similar to Scottish loch | ḥ/ḵ or ch/kh |
z | ז (Zayin) | zoo, rose | z |
ʒ | ז׳ (Zayin with geresh) | pleasure, beige | ž |
ʔ | א (Aleph) ע (Ayin) |
uh-(ʔ)oh | ʼ or ' |
ʕ | ע (Ayin) | as in Arabic ʿAbdallah, pronounced by Oriental Hebrew speakers |
ʻ or ' |
IPA: Hebrew Vowels |
|||
---|---|---|---|
IPA | Letter(s) | English approximate |
Romani- zation |
a | ָ (Kamatz), ![]() |
father | a |
e | ![]() ![]() ![]() |
bed, head, said | e |
i | י![]() ![]() |
city, see, ski, leaf | i |
o | ֹ (Holam alone), וֹ (with any mater lectionis) | story | o |
u | וּ (Vav with shuruk), ![]() |
soon, through | u |
IPA: Hebrew Diphthongs |
|||
---|---|---|---|
IPA | Letter(s) | English approximate |
Romani- zation |
ei | י![]() ![]() |
day, pain, table |
ei |
ai | י![]() ָי (Kamatz-Yud) |
fine, why | ai |
oi | וֹי (Vav with holam male-Yud) | loin, boy | oi |
ui | וּי (Vav with shuruq-Yud) | (boot+yes) | ui |
ao (rare) | או (Alef-Vav) | town, mouse | ao |
ju (rare) | יוּ (Yud-Vav with shuruk) | cute, beauty, circular |
yu |
ij (rare) | יְ![]() Shva Nach) i.e. "נִיְלֵן" [nijˈlen] |
(bee+yes) | iy |
IPA: Marginal Sounds |
|||
---|---|---|---|
IPA | Letter(s) | English approximate | Romani- zation |
ð | ד׳ (Dalet with geresh) | this, breathe, father | th |
ŋ | נג (Nun-Gimel), | ringer, sing, drink | ng |
θ | ת׳ (Tav with geresh) | thing, teeth | th |
IPA: Other symbols used in transcription of Hebrew pronunciation |
||
---|---|---|
IPA | Explanation | |
ˈ | Primary stress (placed before the stressed syllable), e.g. אֹכֶל food /ˈʔoχel/, אוֹכֵל eating (participle) /ʔoˈχel/ | |
ˌ | Secondary stress, e.g. הֲאֻמְנָם? oh really? /ˌhaʔumˈnam/ | |
ː | Long vowels (in Tiberian Hebrew) can be transcribed using the IPA gemination sign ː, e.g. the word hand would be יָד /jaːd/ in absolute state and יַד־ /jad/ in construct state.Indicating normative consonant gemination is done with a double consonant, e.g. גַּנָּב a thief /ɡanˈnav/ not /ɡaˈnːav/ |