Transliterating English Words into Hebrew
Hebrew, unlike English, is spelled exactly as it sounds (or conversely, it sounds exactly as it is spelled). Therefore, to represent an English word, you first must spell the word in simplified English phonetics and then convert this into Hebrew. 1. Hebrew consonants with the same sounds: Some Hebrew consonants sound alike in Modern Hebrew. In those cases where you are unsure which letter to use, follow these guidelines: >> For a “v” sound, always use Vav (ו) and never Vet (ב). Note that if the Vav would likely be mistaken for a vowel, use Yod Yod (װ). >> For a “t” sound, always use Tet (ט) and never Tav (ת). >> For an “s” sound, always use Samech (ס) and never Sin (שׂ). >> For a “k” sound, always use Qof (ק) and never Kaf (כּ). 2. English sounds with no Hebrew equivalent: There are some English sounds that have no Hebrew equivalent. In those cases where you are unsure which letter to use, follow these guidelines: >> For a “th”...