Similarities Between Hebrew and Arabic

Hebrew and Arabic are two major Semitic languages that share a deep linguistic and historical connection. As members of the same language family, they exhibit striking similarities in phonetics, grammar, vocabulary, and syntax. Both languages developed from a common Semitic ancestor and have influenced each other over centuries of interaction. Despite their distinct evolution, Hebrew and Arabic retain many structural and lexical parallels, making them closely related in linguistic terms. This article explores the key similarities between Hebrew and Arabic, highlighting their shared phonological, grammatical, lexical, and writing system characteristics.

1. Common Semitic Origins

• Both Hebrew and Arabic belong to the **Northwest Semitic** and **Central Semitic** branches, respectively, of the Afro-Asiatic language family.
• They trace their roots to a common Proto-Semitic language, which gives them a similar grammatical framework and word structure.
• Both languages have influenced and borrowed from each other throughout history due to trade, cultural exchange, and linguistic contact.

2. Similarities in Script and Writing System

• Both languages descend from the ancient Phoenician script, which later evolved into the Hebrew and Arabic alphabets.
• They are written from **right to left**, unlike most Indo-European languages.
• Both Hebrew and Arabic are **consonantal alphabets (abjads)**, meaning they primarily write consonants, with vowel marks added later for pronunciation.
• Diacritical marks are used in both scripts to indicate vowels and pronunciation:
  • Hebrew uses **Niqqud**, a system of vowel points added to the script.
  • Arabic uses **Tashkeel**, a similar system of diacritics.
• Both languages have letters that change form depending on their position in a word (e.g., Arabic letters change shape based on their position, and Hebrew has special final forms for certain letters).

3. Phonetic and Phonological Similarities

Shared Consonantal System

Hebrew and Arabic have many consonants in common, making their pronunciation patterns highly similar.

• Both languages have **guttural sounds**, including:
  • ע (*ʿayin*) in Hebrew = ع (*ʿayn*) in Arabic
  • ח (*ḥet*) in Hebrew = ح (*ḥā’*) in Arabic
  • ק (*qof*) in Hebrew = ق (*qāf*) in Arabic
• Both languages distinguish between **emphatic and non-emphatic** consonants.

Vowel Systems

• Both Hebrew and Arabic use **three primary vowels**: /a/, /i/, and /u/, which can be short or long.
• Both languages distinguish between **long and short vowels**, although Hebrew has largely reduced vowel length distinctions in modern speech.

4. Grammatical Similarities

Triliteral Root System

Both Hebrew and Arabic rely on a triliteral root system, meaning words are formed from three core consonants.

• Example of the root *K-T-B* (meaning “write”) in both languages:
  • Hebrew: כָּתַב (*katav*, “he wrote”)
  • Arabic: كَتَبَ (*kataba*, “he wrote”)
• From the same root, words related to writing are formed:
  • Hebrew: כְּתוּבָה (*ketubah*, “written document”)
  • Arabic: كِتَاب (*kitāb*, “book”)

Verb Conjugation

Hebrew and Arabic verbs follow similar conjugation patterns.

• Both languages conjugate verbs by adding **prefixes and suffixes** to the root.
• The **past tense** in both languages is formed with suffixes:
  • Hebrew: כָּתַבְתִּי (*katavti*, “I wrote”)
  • Arabic: كَتَبْتُ (*katabtu*, “I wrote”)
• The **future tense** uses prefixes:
  • Hebrew: אֶכְתֹּב (*ektov*, “I will write”)
  • Arabic: سَأَكْتُب (*sa-aktub*, “I will write”)

Definite Articles

• Both languages use a definite article prefix:
  • Hebrew: **הַ** (*ha-*, “the”), e.g., הַמֶּלֶךְ (*ha-melekh*, “the king”)
  • Arabic: **ال** (*al-*, “the”), e.g., الْمَلِك (*al-malik*, “the king”)

5. Lexical Similarities

Many Hebrew and Arabic words are cognates, retaining similar meanings and sounds.

Final Thoughts on Hebrew and Arabic Similarities

Hebrew and Arabic share a strong linguistic bond due to their common Semitic heritage. Their similarities in phonetics, grammar, and vocabulary reflect their mutual origins and parallel development over centuries. The shared triliteral root system, verb conjugation patterns, and writing systems demonstrate their deep structural connection. While each language has evolved uniquely, their linguistic parallels make them mutually recognizable for speakers familiar with either language. Studying their similarities enhances our understanding of the broader Semitic language family and the historical evolution of both Hebrew and Arabic.