Stage I · Foundations
Everything before Saadia.
A short, ordered path from zero to reading. Learn the Hebrew letters as Arabic sounds, the conventions of a real manuscript page, the words and grammar you already half-know — and finish by decoding your first sentence of the Tafsir. No prior Arabic required.
Your path
Start here
- 1The Alphabet — Read Hebrew letters as Arabic sounds.
- 2Ambiguities & Saadianic Conventions — Dropped dots, rival spellings, Saadia's habits.
- 3First 50 Words — The words you'll meet most in the Tafsir.
- 4You Already Know This — Modern Hebrew you already speak is Arabic.
- 5If You Know Onkelos… — Aramaic bridges straight into Arabic.
- 6The Definite Article — אל = ال, and what happens to the sun-letters.
- 7Pronominal Suffixes — Why a word you know hides behind an ending.
- 8The Verb Spine — קאל, כאן, and the prefix conjugation.
- 9Read Your First Sentence — Decode Saadia's Genesis 1:1, letter by letter.
- 10Read Your First Verses — Scaffolded real clauses, into the Tafsir.
- 11Open the Tafsir — Start reading Genesis in Saadia's Arabic.
BeginThe Alphabet
- 01The Alphabet
Read Hebrew letters as Arabic sounds.
- 02Ambiguities & Saadianic Conventions
Dropped dots, rival spellings, Saadia's habits.
- 03First 50 Words
The words you'll meet most in the Tafsir.
- 04You Already Know This
Modern Hebrew you already speak is Arabic.
- 05If You Know Onkelos…
Aramaic bridges straight into Arabic.
- 06The Definite Article
אל = ال, and what happens to the sun-letters.
- 07Pronominal Suffixes
Why a word you know hides behind an ending.
- 08The Verb Spine
קאל, כאן, and the prefix conjugation.
- 09Read Your First Sentence
Decode Saadia's Genesis 1:1, letter by letter.
- 10Read Your First Verses
Scaffolded real clauses, into the Tafsir.
Done with the foundations?Open Saadia's Tafsir — Stage II →