Ivrit

Ivrit is the modern Hebrew language, primarily spoken in Israel and by Hebrew-speaking communities worldwide. The term Ivrit, from the Hebrew word עברית, designates the language and is used to distinguish modern Hebrew from Biblical or Rabbinic Hebrew.

Modern Hebrew developed in the late 19th and early 20th centuries as part of the Zionist revival. Eliezer Ben-Yehuda helped standardize pronunciation, vocabulary, and daily usage; the language expanded to cover modern concepts. It became the de facto national language of Israel and the main medium of education, media, and government.

It uses the Hebrew alphabet, 22 consonants, written right-to-left. Five letters have distinct final forms. Vowels are indicated by diacritics called niqqum, though most everyday writing omits them. Modern Ivrit includes many loanwords from languages such as English and Arabic, especially in science, technology, and culture.

Linguistically, modern Ivrit preserves a root-based system with patterns called binyanim, gendered nouns, and agreement. The voice and pronunciation show standard forms, with regional variation among speakers. Globally, Ivrit is taught in universities, used in Israeli media, literature, and online, and maintained by diaspora communities.