Hebrew is a language with ancient roots, but like all living languages, it evolves. One fascinating example of this evolution is the adoption of foreign sounds – sounds that didn’t originally exist in Biblical or classical Hebrew but entered the language through contact with other cultures and languages.
What Are Foreign Sounds?
Modern Hebrew includes several sounds borrowed from other languages, especially European ones. These sounds are not part of the original Hebrew alphabet, so speakers had to find creative ways to represent them using existing letters and punctuation.
The Three Key Foreign Sounds
| Sound | Symbol | Common Usage | Example Word |
|---|---|---|---|
| J (as in “jungle”) | ג׳ (Gimel + geresh) | Used for foreign names and words | ג׳ינס (jeans) |
| Zh (as in “measure”) | ז׳ (Zayin + geresh) | Found in borrowed words | ז׳אנר (genre) |
| Ch (as in “cheese”) | צ׳ (Tsadi + geresh) | Common in English loanwords | צ׳יפס (chips) |
The geresh (׳) is a small apostrophe-like mark placed above and to the right of the letter. It signals that the letter should be pronounced differently – usually in a way that mimics a foreign sound.
Why Does This Matter?
Understanding these sounds helps learners:
- Read and pronounce loanwords correctly.
- Recognize foreign names and places.
- Improve fluency in modern spoken Hebrew, especially in casual or global contexts.
Practice Tip
Try reading Hebrew menus, ads, or product labels. You’ll often spot words like ג׳ינס, צ׳יפס, or ז׳אנר. Practice saying them aloud and notice how the geresh changes the sound.
