Connecting your words is a major step in sounding natural when you speak Hebrew.

Conjunctions are the linking words that hold your sentences together.

Without them, your speech will sound choppy and robotic.

Using words like “and,” “but,” and “because” allows you to build longer, flowing thoughts.

This guide will show you exactly how to use the most important Hebrew conjunctions.

What is a conjunction in Hebrew?

A conjunction is simply a word used to connect clauses or sentences.

In English, these are common words like “and,” “but,” and “or.”

Hebrew conjunctions work very much the same way as they do in English.

The main difference is that some Hebrew conjunctions are actually prefixes attached directly to the beginning of a word.

Let’s look at the most common ones you need to know.

And (vav - ו)

The most frequently used conjunction in Hebrew is the word “and.”

Unlike English, “and” isn’t a separate word in Hebrew.

It’s represented by the letter Vav (ו) and is attached directly to the front of the next word.

It’s usually pronounced with a “ve” sound, though sometimes it sounds like “oo” depending on the word that follows it.

Here’s how you use it in a sentence.

But (aval - אבל)

The word for “but” in Hebrew is aval (אבל).

You use this exactly how you would in English to show contrast between two ideas.

It’s a separate word and doesn’t attach to the words around it.

Because (ki - כי)

To explain the reason for something, you use the word ki (כי).

This translates directly to “because.”

Or (o - או)

When you need to present a choice, use the word o (או).

This simply means “or” in English.

So and therefore (az - אז / lakhen - לכן)

There are two main ways to say “so” or “therefore” in Hebrew.

In everyday spoken Hebrew, native speakers almost always use az (אז) to mean “so.”

If you want to sound a bit more formal or proper, you can use lakhen (לכן), which means “therefore.”

If (im - אם)

To create a conditional sentence, use the word im (אם).

This means “if.”

Summary of common Hebrew conjunctions

To help you remember these easily, here’s a quick reference table.

Keep this chart handy as you practice connecting your sentences.