Learning Hebrew as an adult can feel like a lot at the start: a new alphabet, a right-to-left script, vowels that are often left out, and verbs built on three-letter roots. The right book makes a big difference. This guide sorts the Hebrew learning books we carry by where you are and how you plan to study, so you can pick one and get started.
All of the books below teach modern (Israeli) Hebrew, the language spoken in Israel today.
Quick picks
- Brand-new and want to learn to read first: Hebrew For Beginners with CD MP3
- Teaching yourself, with no teacher: Hebrew With Pleasure
- Taking a class, ulpan or university course: Hebrew from Scratch, Parts I and II
- Want English instructions all the way through: To Succeed in Basic Hebrew:Aleph
- Stuck on verbs: Hebrew Verb Tables
- Need a dictionary: Multi Dictionary (for English Speakers)
1. If you're starting from zero: learn to read first
Hebrew For Beginners with CD MP3 by Michael Rose is built for exactly this stage. You start with easy syllables and join them into words and sentences, and many of the first words are ones Hebrew borrowed from English, so you can sound them out right away. The audio CD helps you get the pronunciation right, there's an answer key, and the back of the book lists the most useful everyday words. It works for self-study or in a classroom.
To Succeed in Basic Hebrew:Aleph (with English Instructions) by Meira Maadia also starts with the letters and vowels, then moves into eleven lessons with short reading passages, conversations and songs. The explanations and instructions are translated into English, and it's heavily illustrated. It continues into Bet and Gimel when you're ready.
Want to build vocabulary on the side? Hilarious Hebrew teaches each word through a funny English sentence that hints at how it sounds. For example, the Hebrew for "cold" is kar, so the sentence is "It's COLD in my CAR." It's a light, quick way to remember words between lessons.
2. If you're teaching yourself without a class
Hebrew With Pleasure by Edna Kadman was written for English speakers learning Hebrew on their own, with no teacher. It's a study guide with lessons and exercises, it has answers so you can check your work, and it includes a Hebrew-English glossary of every word in the book. It's also available with a 2-CD MP3 audio program. If you're studying alone, we recommend the audio version so you can hear the words spoken.
A Step by Step Guide to Modern Hebrew, also by Michael Rose, is a textbook and workbook in one. Beginners get an approachable way into the alphabet, and as you progress there are diagrams and tables for self-study and a list of more than 1,200 verbs.
3. If you want a full course: Hebrew from Scratch
Hebrew from Scratch (Ivrit min Ha-hathala) by Shlomit Chayat and Hilla Kobliner is a comprehensive textbook, grammar and exercise book for adult beginners, used by high school and university students. It comes in two parts:
Good to know before you buy: apart from the exercise instructions and the vocabulary translations, which are in English, the course is taught in Hebrew. That immersion is a big part of why it works so well in a classroom. If you're studying completely on your own and want more English explanation, start with Hebrew With Pleasure or To Succeed in Basic Hebrew instead.
Looking for the Hebrew from Scratch audio? The audio comes on MP3 CD. You can buy each part as a book-and-CD set (Part I with MP3 CD, Part II with MP3 CD), and the Part II MP3 CD is also sold on its own. Since it's an MP3 CD, you'll need a computer with a CD drive to copy the files to your phone.
Also in the series:
- Teacher's manuals for Part I and Part II, with lesson-by-lesson notes for teachers.
- From Here To There Book 2 Enrichment Workbook, extra practice that follows the chapters of Part II, with answers at the end. It's in Hebrew.
Another full beginner course is To Succeed in Hebrew:Aleph (with English translations + 2 CDs), written for ulpans, universities and schools. Its texts and dialogues cover Jewish tradition, the Land of Israel, Zionism and Hebrew literature, along with everyday situations like asking for information or making a complaint. The two CDs include the reading passages, dialogues and songs. A version without the CDs is also available.
4. If you're past the basics
- To Succeed in Hebrew:Bet and Gimmel: reading passages on literature, history, Zionism and Judaism, with comprehension, syntax and verb exercises. Gimmel suits third- and fourth-level students and includes slang and idioms.
- Hebrew: Take 2: a second-level textbook in ten chapters, each ending with a story and exercises, with English glossaries at the back.
- Ivrit Esre Part 1: the first book of a three-part series for intermediate students.
- To Succeed in Hebrew: Expression, Grammar and Composition: speaking, grammar and writing practice, from notes and invitations to formal letters.
- To Succeed in Spelling Hebrew: rules and practice for ulpan graduates and students who want to write without spelling mistakes.
5. If verbs are holding you back
Most learners hit the same wall: Hebrew verbs. These books are made for it.
- Hebrew Verb Tables by Asher Tarmon and Ezri Uval: 235 conjugation tables of verbs in current use, with Hebrew-English and English-Hebrew verb indexes. Slim enough to keep next to you while you study.
- Handbook of Hebrew Verbs: conjugation tables, an index of verb roots and a glossary of English verbs.
- Living Hebrew by J. Elihay: for the moment after ulpan when you can speak but keep tripping over verbs. You hear 4,000 everyday phrases covering every verb form, ordered from easiest to hardest. The plan is one page a day for about four months.
- To Succeed in Hebrew: Verbs and Syntax: every conjugation with charts and drills, plus sentence-structure practice. It's suitable for self-study at the intermediate and advanced levels.
6. Choosing a Hebrew-English dictionary
- Multi Dictionary (for English Speakers): made for English speakers studying Hebrew. Each Hebrew entry has a usage example, and there are verb tables, word lists by subject and sections on holidays and customs.
- Oxford English-Hebrew Hebrew-English Dictionary: 80,000 entries with up-to-date idioms and expressions, in clear, bold type.
- The New Comprehensive Hebrew-English English-Hebrew Dictionary: 89,000 entries, including slang, idioms and pronunciation rules.
- The Compact Up-to-Date Dictionary: 55,000 entries in a small, affordable format for students and travelers.
Advanced learners may also enjoy the Dictionary of Hebrew Idioms and Phrases, a Hebrew-only reference with 18,000 modern expressions.
Frequently asked questions
Can I learn Hebrew on my own?
Yes. Pick a book written for self-study, with answers you can check and audio you can listen to. Hebrew With Pleasure (with the MP3 CDs) and Hebrew For Beginners with CD MP3 were both written for learners studying on their own.
Is Hebrew from Scratch good for beginners?
Yes, it's written for adult beginners. Just know that apart from the instructions and vocabulary lists, it's taught in Hebrew, so it works best with a teacher or in a structured course.
Which books come with audio?
Hebrew For Beginners with CD MP3, Hebrew With Pleasure with 2 MP3 CDs, Hebrew from Scratch Parts I and II with MP3 CD, To Succeed in Hebrew:Aleph with 2 CDs, and Living Hebrew.
Do these books teach biblical Hebrew?
No. Everything in this guide teaches modern Hebrew as it's spoken in Israel today.
See every title in one place in our Learn Hebrew collection. B'hatzlacha, good luck!