The Hebrew alphabet, letter by letter

Alef

“AH-lef” · value 1

silent — carries the vowel

First letter; a placeholder for whatever vowel sits under it.

Bet / Vet

“BET / VET” · value 2

b (with dot) · v (without)

Opens the Torah: Bereshit.

Gimel

“GIH-mel” · value 3

g as in go

The dreidel's gimel means gantz — take the whole pot.

Dalet

“DAH-let” · value 4

d

Large dalet ends the Shema's word echad.

Hei

“HAY” · value 5

h

Used as an abbreviation for God's name.

Vav

“VAHV” · value 6

v; also holds the o / u vowels

As a prefix it means 'and'.

Zayin

“ZAH-yin” · value 7

z

Chet

“KHET” · value 8

ch, a throaty h

Starts chai (life) and Chanukah.

Tet

“TET” · value 9

t

Yod

“YOHD” · value 10

y; also holds the ee vowel

Smallest letter.

Kaf / Chaf

“KAHF / KHAHF” · value 20

k (with dot) · ch (without)

Final form ך appears at the end of a word.

Lamed

“LAH-med” · value 30

l

Tallest letter.

Mem

“MEM” · value 40

m

Final form ם is the closed 'box' mem.

Nun

“NOON” · value 50

n

Dreidel's nun means nisht — nothing.

Samech

“SAH-mekh” · value 60

s

Ayin

“AH-yin” · value 70

silent — carries the vowel

Means 'eye'.

Pei / Fei

“PAY / FAY” · value 80

p (with dot) · f (without)

Tsadi

“TSAH-dee” · value 90

ts as in cats

Tzedakah and tzitzit begin with it.

Kuf

“KOOF” · value 100

k

Kiddush and kaddish begin with it.

Resh

“RESH” · value 200

r

Shin / Sin

“SHEEN / SEEN” · value 300

sh (right dot) · s (left dot)

Shin appears on the mezuzah and the dreidel (shtel — put in).

Tav

“TAHV” · value 400

t

Last letter of the alef-bet; ends Torah.