StoryHebrew
Final Forms (Sofit)
Click any letter above to see details
The Hebrew alphabet (alef-bet) has 22 letters plus 5 final forms used at the end of words. Every letter below is interactive: click to hear it, see an example word, and quiz yourself when you're ready.
Hebrew is written right-to-left. The alphabet is a consonantal script; most vowels are indicated by optional dots and dashes called nikud (vowel marks). Beginners typically learn with full nikud, then gradually read without them as fluency improves.
Several Hebrew letters change their sound depending on context. Bet (ב) can be "b" or "v", Kaf (כ) can be "k" or "kh", Pe (פ) can be "p" or "f", and Shin (ש) can be "sh" or "s". A dot called dagesh inside the letter indicates the harder sound.
Five letters (Kaf, Mem, Nun, Pe, and Tsadi) have a different shape when they appear at the end of a word. These are called final forms (sofit). They represent the same sound as their regular counterpart.
Once you recognize the letters, the next step is reading real Hebrew text. StoryHebrew stories show every word with nikud, transliteration, and translation, so you can practice reading from day one, even while you are still learning the alphabet.
Try a free graded story with word-by-word translation and audio.
Get started