Hebrew language

Hebrew Language

The Hebrew language (Hebrew: עִבְרִית, Ivrit) is a Semitic language of the Afro-Asiatic language family. It is the language of the Hebrews and their scriptures.

Pronunciation

The pronunciation of Hebrew varies widely depending on the speaker's origin and the degree of modernization in the speech. In general, however, the pronunciation of Modern Hebrew is Ivrit.

Etymology

The term "Hebrew" comes from the biblical word "Ivri" (עברי), meaning "to cross over". This term is used to describe Abraham and his descendants in the Hebrew Bible, implying that they are from the other side of the River Euphrates or beyond.

Related Terms

• Semitic languages: A family of languages that includes Hebrew, Arabic, Aramaic, and many others.
• Afro-Asiatic languages: A large language family, of which Semitic is a branch, that includes languages spoken predominantly in the Middle East, North Africa, the Horn of Africa, and parts of the Sahel.
• Hebrews: An ancient people who are believed to have spoken Hebrew and whose religion and culture developed into Judaism.
• Modern Hebrew: The standard form of the Hebrew language spoken today.
• Biblical Hebrew: The form of Hebrew used in the Bible, also known as Classical Hebrew.

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