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Writer's pictureThe UAB Team

When to Use Tet ('ט) and Tav ('ת) in Translating Foreign Words to Hebrew

Many Hebrew speakers struggle with knowing when to use Tet ('ט) and when to use Tav ('ת) in foreign words.



Typically, the t sound in foreign words is written using Tet ('ט), such as in "history" (היסטוריה) and "telephone" (טלפון). However, foreign words of Greek origin, where the Greek letter θ (Theta) is used, are an exception to this rule. The letter θ represents a sound similar to the English "th" in words like "think" and "thank." The English spelling of θ is "th," as seen in words like θεωρία (theory) and θεραπεία (therapy).


The idea of systematically writing Tet for t and Tav for th was proposed several times in the writings of Yosef Klausner. This suggestion is based on common spellings in rabbinic literature and other traditional texts, such as "theater" (תיאטרון), "cathedral" (קתדרא), "athlete" (אתליטיס), and even "kithara" (קתרוס) from the Book of Daniel (though other spellings exist in sources). This systematic distinction has been adopted in modern Hebrew, and dictionaries from the Academy of the Hebrew Language and other Hebrew lexicons follow this pattern.


Below is the recommended spelling for some common foreign words:


Tav ('ת) for th

- Orthodox (אורתודוקסי)

- Orthopedic (אורתופדי), Orthopedics (אורתופדיה)

- Empathy (אמפתיה)

- Anthropology (אנתרופולוגיה)

- Asthma (אסתמה)

- Apathy (אפתיה, also known as אידשון in Hebrew)

- Ether (אֵתֶר)

- Hyacinth (יקינתון, scientific name: Hyacinthus)

- Mammoth (ממותה)

- Marathon (מרתון)

- Method (מתודה), Methodology (מתודולוגיה)

- Sympathy (סימפתיה)

- Synthesis (סינתזה)

- Philanthropy (פילנתרופיה)

- Theory (תאוריה), Theoretical (תאורטי)

- Thesis (תזה)

- Theme (תמה)

- Thermal (תרמי), e.g., Hypothermia (היפותרמי)

- Thermos (תרמוס)

- Therapy (תרפיה)

- Physiotherapy (פיזיותרפיה)


Tet ('ט) for t (Words with spelling variations)

- Artist (ארטיסט)

- Liturgical (ליטורגי)

- Static (סטטי)

- Statistics (סטטיסטיקה)

- Semantics (סמנטיקה)


Words with Both Letters

- Authentic (אותנטי)

- Antipathetic (אנטיפת)

- Aesthetic (אסתטי)

- Arithmetic (אריתמטיקה)

- Hypothetical (היפותטי)

- Telepathy (טלפתיה)

- Triathlon (טריאתלון)

- Mathematics (מתמטיקה)

- Naturopathy (נטורופתיה)

- Synthetic (סינתטי)

- Pathetic (פתטי)

- Catheter (קתטר, in Hebrew צַנְתָּר)

- Theater (תיאטרון)

- Thermometer (תרמומטר)


This guide serves as a useful reference for anyone navigating the complexities of spelling foreign words in Hebrew, ensuring a more accurate and standardized approach. Enjoy!

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