Aleph–Tav: Basic Vocab
This Hebrew word means “morning” and is part of the greeting we say at the beginning of Sunday morning Worship!
What is Boker?
This concept literally means “commandment,” though many people use it to mean a good deed.
What is Mitzvah?
This word means justice, righteousness, or fairness, and is the root of the word tzedakah. It starts with the letter Tzadik and is also spelled very similar.
What is Tzedek?
This final Hebrew letter form looks like a Dalet but with a long vertical line and is used at the end of words with a K sound.
What is Final Kaf?
This Hebrew word means “head” and appears in the name of (one of the) the Jewish New Years.
What is Rosh?
This yellow citron fruit is held with the lulav, hadass, and aravah during Sukkot. Shake it up!
What is Etrog?
This Hebrew word means “hand” and is also the pointer used to follow along when reading Torah.
What is Yad?
These three words—Falafel, Football, and Flamingo—were examples of words starting with this Hebrew letter without a dot.
What is Fey (Fe)?
This final Hebrew letter looks like a closed box and appears only at the end of words.
What is Final Mem?
This Hebrew name means “princess” and belongs to one of the biblical matriarchs.
What is Sarah?
This Hebrew word means “rain” and is also the name of a prayer said on Shemini Atzeret.
What is Geshem?
This food term means “bread,” but can also refer more broadly to food or sustenance.
What is Lechem?
The word for monkey shares its name with a Hebrew letter.
What is Kof?
This final Hebrew letter is long and straight, representing the end form of the letter that makes the "n" sound.
What is Final Nun?
This Hebrew word meaning “excuse me” or “sorry” shares its root with the Yom Kippur prayer asking for forgiveness.
What is Slicha?
This sweet substance often eaten with apples on Rosh Hashanah is called this in Hebrew.
What is Dvash?
This Hebrew word means “book” and is often used when referring to Jewish texts.
What is a Sefer?
This word is the name of the Hebrew language itself, in Hebrew!
What is Ivrit?
This Hebrew letter’s final form has a tail that drops below the line and makes the “f” sound.
What is Final Pey?
These special Hebrew letters change shape when they appear at the end of a word.
What are Otiyot Sofiyot? (Final Letters also accepted)
This prayer phrase from the Shema begins with the words meaning “And you shall love.”
What is V’ahavta?
This Hebrew word refers to a melody or tune, often a wordless spiritual melody sung in Jewish tradition.
What is Niggun?
This beautiful word means “flower,” and its plural form is prachim.
What is Perach?
This final Hebrew letter form represents the “ts” sound and extends down below the line.
What is Final Tsadi?
This Hebrew word means joy, gladness, or rejoicing. It is also the name of a nonprofit organization in Kansas City that specializes in neurodivergence.
What is Sasone?