The letter פ, called pe, is pronounced in two ways. It is either pronounced like the “p” sound in “pepper” (IPA: /p/) or like the “f” sound in “far” (IPA /f/). The pattern is that if פ is written at the beginning of a word, or the beginning of a syllable, it is usually pronounced “p” and if פ is written in the middle or the end of a word it is usually pronounced “f”. פ also has a sofit form, used at the end of words, which looks like ף.
The letter צ, called tsadi, is pronounced like the “ts” sound in “lots” (IPA /ts/). Unlike English, in Hebrew this sound can begin a word as well as occur in the middle or the end of a word. צ also has a sofit form, used at the end of words, which looks like ץ.
PRACTICE
Try to read these Hebrew words. The English translation is given next to each word. The correct pronunciations are given in the answers below.
1. ציפור (bird)
2. פרה (cow)
3. בית ספר (school)
4. ספר (book)
5. פה (mouth)
6. פנים (mouth)
7. צהוב (yellow)
8. דצמבר (December)
ANSWERS
1. tsipor
2. para
3. beit sefer
4. sefer
5. pe
6. panim
7. tsahov
8. detsember