Hebrew alphabet · Lesson 18 of 22

Tsadi צ

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Meet Tsadi

The eighteenth letter of the Hebrew alphabet. Tsadi, also spelled Tzaddi, Tzadi or Tsade, makes a [ts] sound, as in “cats.” It is the last of the five letters with a final form: at the end of a word, Tsadi is written as Tsadi Sofit (ץ), with the same [ts] sound.

Tsadi Hebrew Letter (צ): Sound, Final Tsadi & Practice

What you’ll learn

Recognize Tsadi: צ, and its final form, ץ.
Hear its [ts] sound, as in “cats.”
Read Tsadi in real words like צֵל (shadow) and חֵפֶץ (object).

How Tsadi sounds

Tsadi (צ) is the eighteenth letter of the Hebrew alphabet. In modern Hebrew, it represents [ts], like the joined ts sound in English 'cats'. Tsadi has two written forms: the regular form צ and the final form ץ, called Tsadi Sofit. They are forms of the same letter, not two separate letters of the alphabet.

Tsadi’s final form

Tsadi Sofit

Tsadi Sofit (ץ) is the final form of Tsadi. It represents the same [ts] sound as צ, like ts in 'cats'.

ץ · Final Tsadi: Tsadi with its stem extended straight down below the line, written at the end of a word and pronounced [ts].

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Tsadi in real words

See where each form of Tsadi goes, then read three words with Tsadi and five reading-practice words aloud. Hyphens in the transcriptions separate syllables.

In ordinary Hebrew words, the regular form צ appears at the beginning or in the middle, and Tsadi Sofit (ץ) appears at the end. 'Sofit' means 'final'. Both forms represent [ts]. A dagesh in Tsadi does not require a doubled consonant in ordinary modern Hebrew.

Words to Practice:

צַיִד

tsayid

hunting

The Hebrew word 'צַיִד' [tsa-yid] means 'hunting'. It has three letters: Tsadi (צ), Yud (י), and Dalet (ד). The Patah (ַ) beneath Tsadi gives [a], making [tsa]. Yud with a Hiriq (ִ) gives [yi], and Dalet closes the second syllable with [d]. Say two syllables, tsa-yid, with the stress on tsa. Do not add a vowel after the final d.

צֵל

tsel

shadow

The Hebrew word 'צֵל' [tsel] means 'shadow'. It has two letters: Tsadi (צ) and Lamed (ל). The Tsere (ֵ) beneath Tsadi gives [e], and Lamed gives [l]. Say tsel as one syllable, with a steady e; no special vowel length is required.

חֵפֶץ

chefets

object

The Hebrew word 'חֵפֶץ' [che-fets] means 'object', a physical thing. It has three letters: Chet (ח), Pey (פ), and Tsadi Sofit (ץ). Chet with a Tsere gives [che], with the throaty ch of 'loch'. Pey without a dagesh gives [f], and its Segol (ֶ) gives [e]. Tsadi Sofit gives the final [ts]. Say two syllables, che-fets, with the stress on che. Both vowels are [e]; the different vowel signs do not require a difference in length in modern Hebrew.

Reading Practice

Read each word aloud. גַּן [gan], 'garden', has one syllable. בִּטָּחוֹן [bi-ta-chon], 'security', has three syllables, with the stress on chon; the dagesh in Tet does not require a doubled t in modern Hebrew. מְהֵרָה [me-he-ra], 'quickly', is a literary word: in this careful reading, the initial Sheva is read as e, giving three syllables with the stress on ra; a reduced two-syllable reading, [mhe-ra], is also used. אָבַד [a-vad] means 'he/it was lost', a past-tense verb form; it has two syllables, with the stress on vad. פּוֹעַל [po-al] means 'verb' in grammar; it has two syllables, with the stress on po. Keep o and a separate. Also review חֶבֶל [che-vel], 'rope': two syllables, with the stress on che. In חֶבֶל, Bet without a dagesh gives [v].

גַּן

gan

garden

בִּטָּחוֹן

bitachon

security

מְהֵרָה

mehera

quickly (literary)

אָבַד

avad

he/it was lost

פּוֹעַל

poal

verb (grammar)

Conclusions

You have practised Tsadi (צ), the eighteenth letter, and its final form, Tsadi Sofit (ץ). Both represent [ts], like ts in 'cats'. Tsadi is the last of the five letters with a final form in alphabetical order. Now test your reading and understanding of the words in this lesson.

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