NonHebrew

Non-Hebrew is a relative term used to describe languages, texts, or scripts that are not Hebrew. It functions as a practical label in linguistic, educational, and cultural contexts rather than a formal linguistic category.

Hebrew is a Semitic language in the Afroasiatic family, but non-Hebrew encompasses all other languages and scripts. This includes languages closely related to Hebrew, such as Aramaic and Arabic, as well as distant tongues like English, Spanish, or Russian. Texts that are not written in Hebrew script may also be described as non-Hebrew, depending on the context.

In religious and historical contexts, non-Hebrew often appears in discussions of the Hebrew Bible and Jewish practice. Certain portions of biblical books are in Aramaic rather than Hebrew, notably in some sections of Daniel. In liturgy, non-Hebrew languages and phrases—such as Aramaic prayers or phrases—also appear in some rituals and scholarly commentaries. Jewish linguistic traditions include Yiddish, Ladino, and other languages that are sometimes described as non-Hebrew, even though some of these languages use the Hebrew alphabet, illustrating how the term is based on language rather than script.

In contemporary usage, non-Hebrew is common in cataloging, research, and digital localization to denote content outside the Hebrew language. Because the term is relative and broad, it is usually clearer to name the specific language or script when precision is needed.