Is hebrew hard to learn

Answer 1

Although some people find Hebrew is relatively easy to learn, they are in the minority. As Hebrew has a completely different alphabet system and grammar system from English, never mind having sounds that don't exist in the English language, most English speakers find it a rather difficult language to learn.

However, it must be mentioned that there are thousands of kids, many of them relative newcomers in Israel, who chatter away in Hebrew.

It's also interesting to learn that the founding fathers of the US were all schooled in the classics, which included Hebrew, and that Dr. Benjamin Franklin argued for Hebrew to be declared the official language of the new country after independence.

Answer 2

It's all relative. Hebrew uses non-Roman characters so the first step would be to learn all the letters and vowels and their sounds. Nearly every single Hebrew word originates from a simple three- or four-letter root, so you can easily see the interconnection of related words.

The language is neatly divided into "binyanim" (conjugations) according to the different tenses. There are, essentially, only 5 such binyanim in Hebrew (not counting 2 sort of automatic passive tenses).

Once you learn the different binyanim, you can neatly place different roots into each one and conjugate them. It's quite a task at first but once you embrace the concept of roots and binyanim, Hebrew is a much more simple language than English.

Words that you wouldn't even think to be related (in English) make perfect sense in their relationship in Hebrew. For example, the root אמנ basically means "believe" or "trust." From that one root, you can conjugate the verb into different tenses of believing plus derive other words such as אמן (amen) - which is the common word said after prayers and blessings. When placed into a different binyan, the root means "train" or "instruct" - think about it like you trust or believe in your trainers and instructors to teach you the correct way to do things. And so on.

In many ways, Hebrew seems quite complicated. But once you get the hang of it, it makes so much sense and is organized in a fashion that enables someone to pick up meanings of sentences without knowing the exact meaning of every word...by simply pulling out shoreshim and deriving meanings from things they may already know.

Answer 3

Hebrew is considered a medium difficulty language for English speakers to learn. The Foreign Service Institute ranks Hebrew as a Category II language, placing it as more difficult than French, Spanish, and Swedish, for example, but less difficult than East Asian languages like Chinese or Japanese.

Answer 2

There is no way to accuarately answer this question for any language.

It depends on your point of view, and what your native language is. Hebrew is generally easy to learn for Arabic speakers, and difficult for Vietnamese or Korean speakers.

English speakers usually regard Hebrew as moderately difficult. English speakers who are Jewish and are familar with Jewish culture tend to have a slightly easier time than non-Jews, however this varies by person.

Answer 3

Hebrew is ranked category IV (moderate) by the FOREIGN SERVICE INSTITUTE. Most English speakers find it quite challenging, but not overly difficult to learn.

Hebrew uses an alphabet of consonants only, and has a rather complex verb system. It also has masculine and feminine nouns. Sentences are usually in Subject-Verb-Object order, just as they are in English.

There are only four Hebrew sounds that give English speakers a challenge:

• צ (ts, like the second consonant in Pizza)
  
• כ/ח (kh like the german ch)
  
• modern Hebrew R (pronounced very gutturally, not unlike the French).
  
• Sephardic "ayin" (an epiglottal movement)

For more information, see http://www.atlasandboots.com/foreign-service-institute-language-difficulty/

Answer 4

It ultimately depends on the person and their motivation, but there are some ways to categorize it.

The Foreign Service Institute ranks languages based on difficulty for English speakers. There are 5 categories, with Category I being the easiest (Spanish, French, Italian, etc.) and Category V being the hardest (Chinese, Japanese, Arabic, etc.)

Hebrew is in Category IV, making it a difficult language to learn. It tends to be easier for Jewish people than non-Jewish people, do to the cultural proximity of Jews to the Hebrew language.

Answer 5

Although some people find Hebrew is relatively easy to learn, theyare in the minority. As Hebrew has a completely different alphabetsystem and grammar system from English, never mind having soundsthat don't exist in the English language, most English speakersfind it a rather difficult language to learn.However, it must be mentioned that there are thousands of kids,many of them relative newcomers in Israel, who chatter away inHebrew.It's also interesting to learn that the founding fathers of the USwere all schooled in the classics, which included Hebrew, and thatDr. Benjamin Franklin argued for Hebrew to be declared the officiallanguage of the new country after independence.Answer 2It's all relative. Hebrew uses non-Roman characters so the firststep would be to learn all the letters and vowels and their sounds.Nearly every single Hebrew word originates from a simple three- orfour-letter root, so you can easily see the interconnection ofrelated words.The language is neatly divided into "binyanim" (conjugations)according to the different tenses. There are, essentially, only 5such binyanim in Hebrew (not counting 2 sort of automatic passivetenses).Once you learn the different binyanim, you can neatly placedifferent roots into each one and conjugate them. It's quite a taskat first but once you embrace the concept of roots and binyanim,Hebrew is a much more simple language than English.Words that you wouldn't even think to be related (in English) makeperfect sense in their relationship in Hebrew. For example, theroot אמנ basically means "believe" or "trust." From that one root,you can conjugate the verb into different tenses of believing plusderive other words such as אמן (amen) - which is the common wordsaid after prayers and blessings. When placed into a differentbinyan, the root means "train" or "instruct" - think about it likeyou trust or believe in your trainers and instructors to teach youthe correct way to do things. And so on.In many ways, Hebrew seems quite complicated. But once you get thehang of it, it makes so much sense and is organized in a fashionthat enables someone to pick up meanings of sentences withoutknowing the exact meaning of every word...by simply pulling outshoreshim and deriving meanings from things they may already know.Answer 3Hebrew is considered a medium difficulty language for Englishspeakers to learn. The Foreign Service Institute ranks Hebrew as aCategory II language, placing it as more difficult than French,Spanish, and Swedish, for example, but less difficult than EastAsian languages like Chinese or Japanese.