Learn Hebrew online, free, in English
Shir-ly teaches Hebrew through real Israeli songs. Every line is shown in Hebrew with nikud vowels, a Latin transliteration you can read on day one, and an English translation — and the word being sung lights up as you hear it. Then the same words come back as short games, so listening turns into memory. Nothing to install: it runs in your browser on phone and desktop.
Where to begin as a total beginner
- 1. Two weeks on letters and vowels. 22 letters, 5 final forms, 5 vowel sounds. Ten minutes a day is enough to stop seeing Hebrew as pictures.
- 2. Your first 300 words. Greetings and survival phrases, plus the words that repeat inside songs you like — lev (heart), or (light), derekh (way), bayit (home).
- 3. One verb pattern. Hebrew verbs grow from three-letter roots. Learn pa'al with time cues — yesterday, today, tomorrow — and hundreds of verbs become predictable.
- 4. One song a week, forever. Listen, read, translate, then play the games built from that song. Consistency beats intensity.
What you practise every session
- Reading — Hebrew with optional nikud and transliteration
- Listening — the sung word highlights exactly when you hear it
- Vocabulary — word match and everyday sentences built from song words
- Grammar — verb conjugation and the מ׳ / ל׳ / ב׳ prepositions new immigrants trip on
- Writing — type what you hear, or trace the Hebrew letters by hand
- Culture — who the artist is and why the song matters in Israel
Start with these guides
- How to Learn Hebrew for English Speakers (Step-by-Step Plan)A practical plan for English speakers learning Hebrew: what to study first, what to skip, how long each stage takes, and how to practise daily with Israeli songs.
- Hebrew Alphabet for Beginners — Letters, Sounds & NikudLearn the 22 Hebrew letters with their sounds, final forms and nikud vowel marks, then read your first real Hebrew words straight from Israeli songs.
- 100 Essential Hebrew Words & Phrases for BeginnersThe Hebrew greetings, questions, numbers and everyday words beginners need first, each with Latin transliteration, meaning and the Israeli song where you will hear it.
- Hebrew Listening Practice for Beginners — How to Train Your EarWhy spoken Hebrew sounds too fast, and a step-by-step method to train your ear with songs, replay loops and listen-and-choose drills as a complete beginner.
- Learn Hebrew Online Free — What Actually Works in 2026An honest guide to learning Hebrew online for free: which free methods build real reading and listening, which stall after week two, and how to build a weekly routine.
- 60 Hebrew Phrases for Travel in Israel (With Pronunciation)The Hebrew phrases that matter on a trip to Israel — greetings, taxis, markets, cafes, kosher questions and emergencies — with transliteration and literal meanings.
Songs you can learn from today
- ירושלים של זהבYerushalayim Shel Zahav — Shuli Natan, 1967
- עם ישראל חיAm Yisrael Chai — Eyal Golan, 2023
- התקווהHatikvah — The National Anthem of Israel, 1878
- עוד יותר טובOd Yoter Tov — Sasson Shaulov, 2023
- רולקס וקסקטRolex ve-Casquette — Eden Ben Zaken, 2024
- כל עכבה לטובהKol Akava Letova — Ben Zion Chaim Tzur, 2024
- הרעותHare'ut — The Nahal Troupe, 1948
Common questions
Can I learn Hebrew online for free? Yes. On Shir-ly the first song is completely open and the rest of the library unlocks with your email address — there is no payment. You get synced Hebrew lyrics with nikud, Latin transliteration, English translation and vocabulary games.
Is Hebrew hard to learn for English speakers? The alphabet and right-to-left reading take two to four weeks. After that Hebrew is simpler than most European languages: no noun cases, three everyday tenses, and verbs built from predictable three-letter roots.
Do I need to read Hebrew before I start? No. Start with transliteration and nikud switched on, follow the word that lights up as it is sung, and switch the transliteration off once the letters feel familiar.
How much time per day do I need? Fifteen focused minutes, five days a week, is enough to make steady progress. One Israeli song per week is a realistic pace for a complete beginner.
Which Hebrew should I learn — modern or biblical? Modern Israeli Hebrew first, even if your long-term goal is text study. It gives you pronunciation and living vocabulary, and it makes biblical Hebrew much easier later.