Vowels are usually left out
Everyday Hebrew is written without vowels, so ספר can be sefer (book), sapar (barber) or safar (he counted). Talvo shows the vowel marks (niqqud) on new words so you know how each one sounds.
Hebrew course · 27 languages in one app
Learn Hebrew by speaking it
Modern Hebrew is short and direct: shalom works for hello and goodbye, and most everyday sentences are only a few words long. Talvo teaches it with romanization alongside and the vowel marks shown on new words, plus a tutor to practice with out loud.
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Hebrew · First phrasesשלום
shalom
Hello / Goodbye
Baristaהיי, מה תרצה?Hi, what would you like?
Your first Hebrew phrases
Twelve phrases in everyday Israeli Hebrew. Where two forms are given, the first is for (or said by) a man and the second for a woman.
| Hebrew | Say it like | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| שלום | shalom | Hello / Goodbye |
| מה שלומך? | ma shlomkha? / ma shlomekh? | How are you?To a man / to a woman |
| בסדר, תודה | beseder, toda | Fine, thanks |
| קוראים לי סאם | kor'im li Sam | My name is SamLiterally “they call me Sam” |
| נעים מאוד | na'im me'od | Nice to meet you |
| תודה רבה | toda raba | Thank you very much |
| בבקשה | bevakasha | Please / You're welcome |
| סליחה | slikha | Excuse me / Sorry |
| כמה זה עולה? | kama ze ole? | How much is it? |
| איפה השירותים? | eifo ha-sherutim? | Where's the restroom? |
| אני לא מבין / אני לא מבינה | ani lo mevin / ani lo mevina | I don't understandSaid by a man / by a woman |
| אפשר לדבר לאט? | efshar ledaber le'at? | Can you speak slowly? |
kh is a rough sound from the back of the throat, like the ch in Scottish loch. An apostrophe marks a short break between two vowels.
A conversation you'll practice
Ordering a hafukh, Israel's favorite milky coffee, at a café in Tel Aviv. The tutor plays the barista.
Baristaהיי, מה תרצה?hai, ma tirtse?Hi, what would you like?
Youהפוך אחד, בבקשה.hafukh ekhad, bevakasha.One hafukh, please.
Baristaגדול או קטן?gadol o katan?Large or small?
Youגדול, תודה.gadol, toda.Large, thanks.
Baristaשמונה עשר שקל.shmona-asar shekel.Eighteen shekels.
Things that surprise new learners
You has a gender
Hebrew talks to men and women differently: מה שלומך? is ma shlomkha to a man and ma shlomekh to a woman, and verbs change too: ma tirtse? to a man, ma tirtsi? to a woman.
The kh sound
ח and often כ sound like the ch in Scottish loch: סליחה is slikha and לחם (bread) is lekhem.
Right to left, numbers left to right
Hebrew runs right to left, but numbers inside it are written left to right, like the 18 on a price tag. Romanized answers are accepted while you learn the letters.
How Talvo teaches Hebrew
- New words show the vowel marks (niqqud) with romanization alongside, and romanized answers are accepted while you learn the letters
- Modern Israeli Hebrew, as it's spoken today
- Every unit, from beginner (A1) to advanced (C1), is written around your interests and the words you already know
- Role-play a café, a market, a taxi or meeting someone new. The tutor speaks first, waits for your answer and corrects you with the reason
- Use the live interpreter when you're talking with a native speaker for real
- Every new word goes into your review deck and comes back right before you'd forget it
Questions about learning Hebrew
Is it Modern or Biblical Hebrew?
Modern Israeli Hebrew, the language spoken in Israel today. It shares its alphabet and much of its vocabulary with Biblical Hebrew, but grammar and everyday words differ.
Do I need to learn the Hebrew alphabet first?
No. Every phrase shows romanization alongside the Hebrew, so you can start speaking right away and learn the 22 letters as you go.
Can I learn Hebrew with Talvo for free?
Yes, to start. Your first lesson, three live-interpreter exchanges, your reviews and your deck are free. Talvo Pro unlocks unlimited lessons and conversations, and the yearly plan starts with a 7-day free trial.
Can I use Talvo on my Mac?
Yes. Talvo is a native app for iPhone and Mac, and one subscription covers both.
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Say your first Hebrew sentence today.
The first lesson is free. It takes about five minutes.