Guide Note
This page contains resources for learning and studying the Hebrew language. Hebrew is spoken by more than seven million people in Israel and approximately thirteen million people in Jewish communities around the world.
Hebrew is the liturgical language of Judaism.
Fast Facts
- Language Family: Afro-Asiatic, Semitic
- Number of Speakers: Approximately 13 million
- Official Language: Israel
- Regulated by: Academy of Hebrew Language
- Liturgical language of Judaism
- Unique Characteristics: 22 letters, no vowels, read from right to left
Common Words and Phrases
- Hello, good-bye or peace: Shalom
- Good morning: Boker tov
- Good evening: Erev tov
- What’s up?: Ma nishma
- Yes: Ken
- No: Lo
- Thank you: Toda
- Excuse me/I’m sorry: Slicha
- Please/You’re welcome: Bevakasha
- My name is…: Shmi…
History
Hebrew has been referred to by Jews as "The Holy Language" since ancient times. The core of the Torah is written in Classical Hebrew, specifically a dialect of Biblical Hebrew that historians believed flourished in the 6th century BCE. Hebrew flourished as a spoken language in Israel from the 10th century BCE until just before the Byzantine Period in the 3rd or 4th century CE. Hebrew then became a primarily literary language until it was revived in the 19th century as a spoken language.
