Guide
How to learn Hebrew online, the ulpan way
The ulpan is the classic way to learn Hebrew in Israel. Here's how it works, and how to follow the same path online, on your phone, a few minutes a day.
Updated November 11, 2026
What is an ulpan?
An ulpan (אולפן) is an intensive Hebrew school for adults. The first ones opened in Israel in the late 1940s to welcome new immigrants, and the model hasn't changed much: small groups, several mornings a week, taught entirely in Hebrew.
For new immigrants (olim), the basic ulpan is free. You'll also find ulpanim at kibbutzim, universities and community centers, in Israel and abroad.
Ulpan levels: Aleph, Bet, Gimel, Dalet
The levels follow the letters of the alphabet:
- Aleph: reading and writing, introducing yourself, numbers, shopping, present tense.
- Bet: past and future, talking about your day, work and paperwork.
- Gimel: simple news and media, giving opinions, richer sentence structures.
- Dalet: reading the press, speaking with nuance, everyday native-like Hebrew.
Higher levels (Hey, Vav) exist for academic Hebrew.
Can you learn Hebrew on your own?
Yes. An ulpan gives you structure and a teacher, but what really makes you progress is consistency: seeing words often, hearing them, and reviewing them at the right time. Many people can't attend an ulpan (work, schedule, distance), or want a head start before they join one.
Learning Hebrew online works well when you follow a clear order and practice a little every day rather than a lot once a week.
Learn Hebrew in 5 steps
- The alphabet. 22 letters, 5 of which have a final form. Give yourself a few days to recognize them. See our Hebrew alphabet chart.
- Your first 500 words. The most frequent ones, with audio: they show up everywhere.
- Roots and verbs. Most Hebrew words come from a three-letter root. Learn one root and you understand a whole word family.
- Listen to and read real texts. Short dialogues with audio take you from words to sentences.
- Review every day. 10 to 15 minutes with spaced repetition: you see each word again right before you'd forget it.
Getting ready for aliyah
Arriving in Israel with the basics changes everything: you understand the paperwork, you manage at the supermarket, and you start the ulpan at a higher level. Even three months of Hebrew before you move makes a real difference.
Daber, an ulpan in your pocket
Daber follows the ulpan path from Aleph to Dalet: a placement test to start at the right level, 5,000+ words with audio, 99 grammar lessons, verbs in every tense, audio texts and smart reviews. Everything is explained in English.
Daber is free to download on iPhone and iPad, and part of the lessons are free.
Good to know
How long does it take to learn Hebrew?
With 15 minutes a day, most people read the alphabet within one or two weeks and hold a simple conversation within a few months. Reaching Dalet usually takes one to two years of steady practice.
Is the ulpan free?
For new immigrants in Israel, the basic ulpan is free. Other ulpanim (private, university or abroad) charge fees.
Can I learn Hebrew for free?
Yes, to get started: the alphabet and your first words can be learned with free resources, including part of Daber's lessons.
Should I learn Hebrew with or without vowels?
With vowel points (nikud) at first, so you pronounce correctly. Everyday Hebrew is written without them, and you'll drop them gradually.
