Free reference · K–3 homeschool families
Hebrew glossary for the lesson packs.
Every Hebrew word your child meets across our nine lesson packs — calendar, prayers, customs, places, Torah figures, foods — each with full nikud, a transliteration, the literal meaning, and which pack it appears in. Made for homeschool parents who don't yet read Hebrew themselves.
Use the section links below to jump around, or just scroll. Every Hebrew word here appears with the same nikud (vowel marks) you'll see inside the lesson packs themselves.
Alef-Bet — the first four letters
From the Hebrew Alphabet Coloring Pack. Each letter is named in Hebrew and shown with a sample word a 6-year-old can decode.
| Hebrew | Name | Sound | Sample word |
|---|---|---|---|
| אָלֶף | Alef | Carries the vowel (not silent) | אַבָּא — Abba (father) |
| בֵּית | Bet | B (with dagesh) or V (without — called Vet) | בַּיִת — Bayit (house) |
| גִּימֶל | Gimel | Hard G as in "go" | גַּב — Gav (back) |
| דָּלֶת | Dalet | D as in "door" | דָּג — Dag (fish) |
Appears in: Hebrew Alphabet Coloring Pack
Calendar & time
| Hebrew | Translit. | Meaning | Where it appears |
|---|---|---|---|
| שַׁבָּת | Shabbat | The seventh day, day of rest. Begins Friday at sundown. | Blessing Our Children on Shabbat |
| חַג | Chag | Holiday, festival. | All holiday packs |
| חַג שָׂמֵחַ | Chag Sameach | "Happy holiday" — the all-purpose holiday greeting. | All holiday packs |
| שָׁנָה | Shanah | Year. | Tu B'Shvat |
| רֹאשׁ הַשָּׁנָה | Rosh HaShanah | "Head of the year" — the Jewish new year. Two-day yom tov beginning the month of Tishrei. | Free K–3 lesson |
| חֹדֶשׁ | Chodesh | Month. | All packs |
| אִיָּר | Iyar | The eighth month of the Hebrew calendar (April/May), the month of Yom HaAtzmaut and Yom Yerushalayim. | Yom HaAtzmaut |
| סְפִירַת הָעֹמֶר | Sefirat HaOmer | "Counting of the Omer" — the 49-day count from Pesach to Shavuot. | Counting the Omer with Kids |
Core Jewish vocabulary
| Hebrew | Translit. | Meaning | Where |
|---|---|---|---|
| תּוֹרָה | Torah | The Five Books of Moses — the central Jewish scripture. | Shavuot, Sukkot |
| בֵּית הַמִּקְדָּשׁ | Beit HaMikdash | "The Holy House" — the Holy Temple in Jerusalem. | Yom Yerushalayim, Chanukah |
| כֹּתֶל | Kotel | "Wall" — the Western Wall (remnant of the Beit HaMikdash) in Jerusalem. | Yom Yerushalayim |
| מָשִׁיחַ | Mashiach | Messiah — the future redeemer in Jewish tradition. | Yom Yerushalayim (Golden Gate slide) |
| מִצְוָה | Mitzvah | Commandment; also a good deed. Plural: mitzvot. | All holiday packs |
| בְּרָכָה | Bracha | Blessing. Plural: brachot. | Chanukah, Birkat HaBanim |
| סִדּוּר | Siddur | Prayer book. | Blessing on Shabbat |
| שֻׁלְחָן | Shulchan | Table — esp. the Shabbat / Yom Tov table. | Pesach |
| צְדָקָה | Tzedakah | Charity, righteousness — usually money given to those in need. | Purim (Matanot La'Evyonim) |
Prayers & blessings
| Hebrew | Translit. | Meaning | Where |
|---|---|---|---|
| שְׁמַע יִשְׂרָאֵל | Shema Yisrael | "Hear, O Israel" — the central declaration of Jewish faith. Said at bedtime and in daily prayer. | Blessing on Shabbat |
| בִּרְכַּת הַבָּנִים | Birkat HaBanim | "The blessing of the children" — the Friday-night blessing parents place on their children. | Wall art, guide |
| בִּרְכַּת כֹּהֲנִים | Birkat Kohanim | The Priestly Blessing (Numbers 6:24–26) — said by kohanim in shul and by parents over children. | Birkat HaBanim |
| הַתִּקְוָה | HaTikvah | "The Hope" — Israel's national anthem. | Yom HaAtzmaut |
| הַלֵּל | Hallel | A set of joyful psalms recited on holidays. | Yom Yerushalayim |
| לְשָׁנָה הַבָּאָה בִּירוּשָׁלָיִם | L'shanah Haba'ah Birushalayim | "Next year in Jerusalem" — said at the end of the Pesach Seder and Yom Kippur. | Pesach |
| נַעֲשֶׂה וְנִשְׁמָע | Na'aseh V'Nishma | "We will do and we will hear" — Israel's reply when offered the Torah at Sinai. | Shavuot |
Holiday names (Jewish-calendar order)
| Hebrew | Translit. | What it is | Pack |
|---|---|---|---|
| רֹאשׁ הַשָּׁנָה | Rosh Hashanah | The Jewish new year — the world's birthday, shofar, apples and honey. | Free K–3 lesson |
| יוֹם כִּפּוּר | Yom Kippur | Day of Atonement — Kol Nidre, fasting, Avinu Malkeinu, Neilah, the closing shofar. | Free K–3 lesson |
| חַג סֻכּוֹת | Chag Sukkot | The Festival of Booths — fall harvest, dwelling in temporary huts. | Sukkot |
| חַג חֲנֻכָּה | Chag Chanukah | The Festival of Lights — eight-day oil miracle. | Chanukah |
| ט״ו בִּשְׁבָט | Tu B'Shvat | "15th of Shvat" — the New Year of the Trees. | Tu B'Shvat |
| חַג פּוּרִים | Chag Purim | Purim — the story of Queen Esther. | Purim |
| חַג הַפֶּסַח | Chag HaPesach | Passover — the Exodus from Egypt. | Pesach |
| יוֹם הָעַצְמָאוּת | Yom HaAtzmaut | Israel Independence Day (5 Iyar, 1948). | Yom HaAtzmaut |
| יוֹם יְרוּשָׁלַיִם | Yom Yerushalayim | Jerusalem Day (28 Iyar, 1967) — reunification of Jerusalem. | Yom Yerushalayim |
| חַג הַשָּׁבוּעוֹת | Chag HaShavuot | Shavuot — receiving the Torah at Sinai. | Shavuot |
Sukkot terms
| Hebrew | Translit. | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| סֻכָּה | Sukkah | The temporary booth Jewish families build for Sukkot. |
| לוּלָב | Lulav | Palm branch — one of the four species. |
| אֶתְרוֹג | Etrog | Citron — the lemon-like fruit of the four species. |
| הֲדַס | Hadas | Myrtle branches — three of them, in the lulav bundle. |
| עֲרָבָה | Aravah | Willow branches — two of them, in the lulav bundle. |
| אַרְבַּעַת הַמִּינִים | Arba'at HaMinim | "The four species" — lulav + etrog + hadas + aravah, waved together. |
| הוֹשַׁעְנָא רַבָּא | Hoshana Rabbah | The seventh day of Sukkot — many willows, many prayers. |
| שְׁמִינִי עֲצֶרֶת | Shemini Atzeret | "Eighth-day assembly" — the holiday immediately after Sukkot. |
| שִׂמְחַת תּוֹרָה | Simchat Torah | "Joy of the Torah" — the day we finish and restart the annual Torah reading. |
Chanukah terms
| Hebrew | Translit. | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| חֲנֻכִּיָּה | Chanukiah | The nine-branched menorah lit during Chanukah. |
| שַׁמָּשׁ | Shamash | "Helper" — the ninth candle that lights the others. |
| סְבִיבוֹן | Sevivon (Dreidel) | Spinning top with four Hebrew letters: נ ג ה ש. |
| נֵס גָּדוֹל הָיָה שָׁם | Nes Gadol Hayah Sham | "A great miracle happened there" — the dreidel letters spell this acronym. |
| לְבִיבָה | Levivah (Latke) | Potato pancake fried in oil — a traditional Chanukah food. |
| סֻפְגָּנִיָּה | Sufganiyah | Jelly doughnut — Israel's iconic Chanukah food. |
Tu B'Shvat terms — the seven species
| Hebrew | Translit. | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| שִׁבְעַת הַמִּינִים | Shivat HaMinim | "The Seven Species" — the seven foods the Torah praises the Land of Israel for. |
| חִטָּה | Chittah | Wheat. |
| שְׂעוֹרָה | Se'orah | Barley. |
| גֶּפֶן | Gefen | Grapevine. |
| תְּאֵנָה | Te'enah | Fig. |
| רִמּוֹן | Rimon | Pomegranate. |
| זַיִת | Zayit | Olive. |
| דְּבַשׁ | Devash | Date honey (the "honey" of the seven species). |
Purim terms — the four mitzvot
| Hebrew | Translit. | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| מְגִלָּה | Megillah | "Scroll" — specifically Megillat Esther, read on Purim. |
| מִשְׁלוֹחַ מָנוֹת | Mishloach Manot | "Sending portions" — gifts of food friends send each other on Purim. |
| מַתָּנוֹת לָאֶבְיוֹנִים | Matanot La'Evyonim | "Gifts to the poor" — charity given on Purim day. |
| סְעוּדַת פּוּרִים | Seudat Purim | The festive Purim meal. |
| אֶסְתֵּר הַמַּלְכָּה | Esther HaMalkah | Queen Esther. |
| מָרְדֳּכַי | Mordechai | Esther's cousin and guardian. |
| אָזְנֵי הָמָן | Oznei Haman (Hamantaschen) | "Haman's ears" — triangular filled cookies eaten on Purim. |
Pesach terms — the Seder
| Hebrew | Translit. | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| סֵדֶר | Seder | "Order" — the Pesach-night meal that follows a fixed sequence. |
| הַגָּדָה | Haggadah | "Telling" — the book that guides the Seder. |
| מַצָּה | Matzah | Unleavened bread — what we eat instead of bread all Pesach. |
| מָרוֹר | Maror | Bitter herbs — reminding us of slavery. |
| חֲרֹסֶת | Charoset | Sweet apple-and-walnut paste — reminding us of mortar. |
| אֲפִיקוֹמָן | Afikoman | The piece of matzah hidden during the Seder and eaten last. |
| מַה נִּשְׁתַּנָּה | Mah Nishtana | "Why is this night different?" — the Four Questions asked by the youngest. |
| דַּיֵּנוּ | Dayenu | "It would have been enough" — the gratitude song of the Seder. |
| אֵלִיָּהוּ הַנָּבִיא | Eliyahu HaNavi | "Elijah the Prophet" — we open the door for him at the Seder. |
| מִצְרַיִם | Mitzrayim | Egypt — the place we left in the Exodus story. |
Yom HaAtzmaut terms
| Hebrew | Translit. | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| מְדִינַת יִשְׂרָאֵל | Medinat Yisrael | The State of Israel. |
| דֶּגֶל יִשְׂרָאֵל | Degel Yisrael | The Israeli flag — blue and white, with the Magen David. |
| מָגֵן דָּוִד | Magen David | "Shield of David" — the six-pointed star. |
| מְנוֹרָה | Menorah | The seven-branched candelabrum — Israel's state emblem. |
| עִבְרִית | Ivrit | The Hebrew language — revived as a spoken language in modern Israel. |
Yom Yerushalayim — the eight gates
| Hebrew | Translit. | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| שַׁעַר | Sha'ar | Gate. |
| שַׁעַר יָפוֹ | Sha'ar Yafo | Jaffa Gate — the western gate, the one most pilgrims see first. |
| שַׁעַר צִיּוֹן | Sha'ar Tzion | Zion Gate — leads to King David's tomb. |
| שַׁעַר שְׁכֶם | Sha'ar Shechem | Damascus Gate — the biggest and most beautiful. |
| שַׁעַר הָאֲרָיוֹת | Sha'ar HaArayot | Lions' Gate — guarded by carved lions. |
| שַׁעַר הָאַשְׁפּוֹת | Sha'ar HaAshpot | Dung Gate — closest to the Kotel. |
| שַׁעַר הָרַחֲמִים | Sha'ar HaRachamim | Golden Gate ("Gate of Mercy") — sealed; awaits the Mashiach. |
| שַׁעַר הַפְּרָחִים | Sha'ar HaPrachim | Herod's Gate ("Gate of Flowers"). |
| הַשַּׁעַר הֶחָדָשׁ | HaSha'ar HeChadash | New Gate — ~135 years old, the newest. |
Shavuot terms
| Hebrew | Translit. | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| מַתַּן תּוֹרָה | Matan Torah | "The Giving of the Torah" — what we celebrate on Shavuot. |
| הַר סִינַי | Har Sinai | Mount Sinai — where the Torah was given. |
| עֲשֶׂרֶת הַדִּבְּרוֹת | Aseret HaDibrot | The Ten Commandments. |
| תִּקּוּן לֵיל שָׁבוּעוֹת | Tikkun Leil Shavuot | All-night Torah learning on the first night of Shavuot. |
| מְגִלַּת רוּת | Megillat Rut | The Book of Ruth — read on Shavuot. |
| בִּכּוּרִים | Bikkurim | First fruits — brought to the Beit HaMikdash on Shavuot. |
Birkat HaBanim terms
| Hebrew | Translit. | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| יְשִׂמְךָ אֱלֹהִים כְּאֶפְרַיִם וְכִמְנַשֶּׁה | Yesimcha Elohim k'Ephraim v'chiMnasheh | "May God make you like Ephraim and Menasheh" — the opening line for sons (Genesis 48:20). |
| יְשִׂמֵךְ אֱלֹהִים כְּשָׂרָה רִבְקָה רָחֵל וְלֵאָה | Yesimech Elohim k'Sarah Rivkah Rachel v'Leah | "May God make you like Sarah, Rivkah, Rachel and Leah" — the opening line for daughters. |
| יְבָרֶכְךָ יְיָ וְיִשְׁמְרֶךָ | Y'varechecha Adonai v'yishmerecha | "May God bless you and keep you" — opening of Birkat Kohanim (Numbers 6:24). |
| אֶפְרַיִם | Ephraim | Yosef's son, ancestor of one of the tribes of Israel. |
| מְנַשֶּׁה | Menasheh | Yosef's older son. |
| שָׂרָה רִבְקָה רָחֵל לֵאָה | Sarah, Rivkah, Rachel, Leah | The four matriarchs of Israel. |
How to read this glossary
If you're brand-new to Hebrew, here's the orientation you need:
- Hebrew reads right to left. So the Hebrew column above starts on the right side of the cell, not the left.
- The little dots and lines under and above letters are nikud — vowel marks. Modern Israeli kids learn to read with nikud, and so should K–3 homeschoolers. Every lesson pack uses full nikud.
- The transliteration is a phonetic guide, not a strict transcription. There are several transliteration systems in use; we follow what's friendliest to an English-reading parent.
- "Ch" is the throaty Hebrew chet/khaf (as in "Bach," not as in "chair"). It's the only sound that takes a beat to learn.
- The ׳ (geresh) and ״ (gershayim) are Hebrew punctuation marks for letter-numerals and abbreviations — not English apostrophe and quote marks.
Each lesson pack also includes a parent guide with a pronunciation cheat sheet for the specific terms in that pack.
Want to teach these words?
The lesson packs do the work for you.
Every term above lives inside a lesson pack — with vowelized slides, parent-friendly speaker notes, worksheets, and pronunciation help. No prior Hebrew required.