Introduction to Hebrew Grammar & Translation (For Individuals)

This is an introduction to the process of translating Hebrew into English. It begins with a brief overview, then goes on to cover three core concepts: Grammatical gender (i.e. masculine/feminine), word roots (what I like to call the "building blocks" of Hebrew words), and prefixes.

Learning to translate Hebrew can seem like a daunting task, but understanding and practicing these three concepts will give you a solid start. Each section includes an in-depth discussion of the concept, an information sheet with all of the key points summarized, a short "challenge" requiring you to implement what you have learned, and an answer key with all the solutions to the challenge.

The vocabulary in each section is taken from the Mishnah. Mishnaic (literary) Hebrew is the foundation of modern spoken Hebrew. The grammar and vocabulary in this packet can be applied toward translating the Mishnah AND toward reading, writing, and speaking modern Hebrew.

Please note: This series of lessons assumes basic competence with Hebrew reading. You must know all the letters of the Hebrew alphabet, including vowels, in order to fully take advantage of this introduction.