How Do People in Israel Pronounce the Letter H?

The letter ? (he) in the Hebrew alphabet is often misunderstood due to the variations in pronunciation, particularly in Modern Israeli Hebrew. Understanding how people from Israel pronounce this letter can help improve your comprehension and communication in the Hebrew language.

Variations in Pronunciation

Depends on what Hebrew letter you are referring to, whether it's the letter ? (he) or the letter ? (chet).

He (?)

The letter ? is traditionally pronounced as an English "h" with a soft sound. However, in modern Israeli Hebrew, it is mostly voiceless, meaning it is almost silent. This pronunciation is influenced by the Ashkenazi tradition but has evolved in modern usage. People in Israel typically do not produce a voiceless "h" sound; rather, it is usually omitted or very faint.

Chet (?)

Conversely, the letter ? (chet) is pronounced with a strong guttural sound produced at the back of the throat. This sound is similar to the French "R," but without releasing any air between the movements of the tongue. It is akin to the sound of clearing your throat, and it is a noisy, raspy sound. Israelis who are native speakers of Modern Hebrew often find this sound difficult for non-native speakers to produce accurately. Here's an example: challah (???) has a prominent ? sound at the beginning of the word.

Transliteration into Latin Alphabet

The Hebrew alphabet is transliterated into the Latin alphabet by choosing the corresponding letters that most clearly represent the original sound. In the case of the letter ?, it is transliterated as "h" because that is how it is pronounced. It sounds much like the English "h," though the soft and voiceless nature of the sound may differ from the English equivalent.

For example, the word nichnas (?????, meaning "the entrance") is transliterated as "nicnass" in Latin characters. The "h" in English would be omitted in Israeli pronunciation, so the accurate representation in Latin script would actually be "niknass" or "niknass," with the "h" being silent.

No Letter H in Hebrew Alphabet

It's important to note that the Hebrew alphabet does not contain a letter "H" as found in the Latin alphabet. For example, the English word "hill" would not have an "h" in Hebrew; it would be transliterated as "гу??" (gulah) using the Hebrew alphabet. Conversely, the Hebrew letter ? does not directly correspond to the English "h" sound, but rather the voiceless "h" sound in modern Israeli pronunciation.

In summary, the pronunciation of the letter ? (he) in Modern Israeli Hebrew is largely silent or voiceless, while the letter ? (chet) has a distinct, guttural sound. Understanding these nuances can greatly enhance your ability to communicate and comprehend Hebrew.