🧵 THREAD: Think English spelling is chaos? Hebrew says "hold my beer" with 22 letters, zero vowels, and pure linguistic anarchy.
Let me introduce you to the most unhinged writing system ever created... 1/12
Let me introduce you to the most unhinged writing system ever created... 1/12
2/ Meet Alef (א): the ultimate shapeshifter. In ani (אני), it's "a." In eretz (ארץ), "e." In eem (אם), "ee." In rosh, somehow "o." And in or (אור)? Dead silent. One letter, five personalities, zero consistency.
3/ Then comes Ayin (ע): usually silent, but somehow makes four different sounds. Silent in or (עור), "ee" in eem (עם), "e" in etz (עץ), "a" in al (על). It's literally a mime having an identity crisis.
4/ Vav (ו) is pure madness. "Oo" in shulchan (שולחן), "o" in shalom (שלום), "v" in vav (וו) itself, "w" in wawoo (וואו). Four sounds, one letter. Make it make sense.
5/ Bet (ב) plays double agent: "b" in bayit (בית), "v" in aviv (אביב). No markings to help you, just guess and go. Hebrew said "context clues are your best friend" and left.
6/ Kaf (כ) does the same routine. It might be a "k" as in kol (כל), or a throat-clearing "kh" like in lakh (לך). But Hebrew's not done: Khet (ח) also makes that "kh" sound, and Koof (ק) gives you "k" too.
7/ Three letters sharing two sounds like roommates fighting over the bathroom. Why? Because Hebrew believes in maximum confusion.
8/ The "s" situation is beautiful chaos. Samekh (ס) says "s" in sabon (סבון). Shin (ש) sometimes says "s" like in smol (שמאל), but usually it's "sh" like in shalom (שלום). The only clue? Context and a bit of luck.
9/ Tet (ט) makes "t" as in terem (טרם). So does Taf (ת) as in tapuakh (תפוח). Why two letters for one sound? Because Hebrew believes in options, apparently.
10/ Pey (פ) is another master of disguise. "P" in panim (פנים), "f" in sefer (ספר). One letter, two completely different vibes. It's giving multiple personality disorder.
11/ And now, the crown jewel of chaos: ספר
These three innocent letters could be sefer (book), sapar (hairdresser), safar (he counted), or sfar (border region). Four completely different words. Same exact spelling.
These three innocent letters could be sefer (book), sapar (hairdresser), safar (he counted), or sfar (border region). Four completely different words. Same exact spelling.
12/ How do you tell them apart? Context clues, educated guessing, and divine intervention.
The Hebrew alphabet: 3,000 years old, elegant as ancient poetry, and completely unhinged. Master it, and you're not just literate: you're a linguistic detective with supernatural powers. 🔮
The Hebrew alphabet: 3,000 years old, elegant as ancient poetry, and completely unhinged. Master it, and you're not just literate: you're a linguistic detective with supernatural powers. 🔮
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