How to pronounce Hebrew
Say it like HEE-broo. Hebrew has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (HEE).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce Hebrew. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- HEE
- broo
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Hebrew pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- HEESay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "ee" in see.
- brooKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the "oo" in food.
American vs British pronunciation of Hebrew
American and British speakers say Hebrew in essentially the same way: /ˈhibru/ in the US and /ˈhiːbruː/ in the UK.
British respelling: HEE-broo.
What does Hebrew mean?
- the ancient Canaanitic language of the Hebrews that has been revived as the official language of Israel
- a person belonging to the worldwide group claiming descent from Jacob (or converted to it) and connected by cultural or religious ties
- of or relating to or characteristic of the Hebrews“the old Hebrew prophets”
- of or relating to the language of the Hebrews“Hebrew vowels”
Questions about saying Hebrew
How do you pronounce Hebrew?
Say HEE-broo. The American pronunciation is /ˈhibru/. In British English it is /ˈhiːbruː/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in Hebrew?
Hebrew has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (HEE). Broken into parts: HEE · broo.
Do Americans and Brits say Hebrew the same way?
Almost exactly. The American form is /ˈhibru/ and the British form is /ˈhiːbruː/, so you can use either pronunciation with any listener.