Last updated:
By Hila, Hebrew educator since 2003
The Hebrew Letter Resh (רֵישׁ)
The 20th letter of the Hebrew alphabet — makes an "r" sound, and its smooth curved top is its key identifier.
About the Letter Resh
Resh is the 20th letter of the Hebrew alphabet (Aleph Bet), with a gematria value of 200. Its name רֵישׁ is related to the Hebrew word רֹאשׁ (rosh), meaning "head" — and the letter's smooth curved top is said to represent a bowed head or the profile of a head. This name connection also gives us one of the most important Hebrew holidays: רֹאשׁ הַשָּׁנָה (Rosh Hashanah, the Jewish New Year, literally "head of the year").
Resh makes an "r" sound. In native Israeli Hebrew, this is a uvular "r" produced at the back of the throat — similar to the French or German "r." For diaspora children, a standard English "r" is perfectly acceptable. The key skill at this stage is letter recognition and the sound-symbol mapping.
How to Recognize Resh
Resh (ר) has a simple shape: a smooth continuous curve from the top-left, arching over the top-right, and flowing down into a vertical right stroke. There are no sharp angles — the top is always a smooth arc. Think of it as a backwards J, or a hook hanging from a line.
Common Confusion: Resh (ר) is most often confused with Dalet (ד) — both have a horizontal top and a vertical right side. The critical difference is the top-right corner: Dalet has a sharp right angle; Resh has a smooth curve. Run your eye to the top-right corner: if it bends sharply at 90 degrees, it is Dalet. If it flows in a smooth arc, it is Resh. Also watch for Kuf (ק): unlike Resh, Kuf has a leg that drops below the baseline.
Example Words with Resh
| Hebrew | Transliteration | English Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| רֹאשׁ | (rosh) | head |
| רֶגֶל | (regel) | foot / leg |
| רְחוֹב | (rechov) | street |
| רָחֵל | (Rachel) | Rachel (name) |
How to Teach Resh to Children
Teaching Tip: The Resh–Dalet confusion is the most common mistake beginners make. Teach them together: "Both have a top and a right side. But Dalet has a sharp corner — like a door frame. Resh is smooth — like a rainbow." Have the child trace both letters and physically feel the difference at the corner: sharp stop for Dalet, smooth glide for Resh. The physical memory is more reliable than a visual memory alone.
Resh in Jewish Holidays
Resh opens רֹאשׁ הַשָּׁנָה (Rosh Hashanah) — the Jewish New Year. Children who celebrate this holiday already know the word "Rosh" from an early age, giving them a culturally powerful anchor word for this letter.
Body Words with Resh
Resh begins several key body-part words: רֹאשׁ (rosh, head), רֶגֶל (regel, foot/leg). Body vocabulary is among the first Hebrew children learn, giving Resh strong reinforcement in everyday speech.
Practice Through Play
Kriakala's games present Resh and Dalet side by side in recognition exercises, training children to make the sharp-vs-smooth corner distinction reliably before they encounter it in running text.
Frequently Asked Questions about Resh
Resh makes an "r" sound. In native Israeli Hebrew this is a uvular "r" (produced at the back of the throat, like French or German "r"). For diaspora children, a standard English "r" is perfectly acceptable at the early reading stage.
Both have a top stroke and a right vertical stroke, but the top-right corner is different. Dalet has a sharp right angle. Resh has a smooth continuous curve. Check the top-right corner: sharp = Dalet, smooth = Resh.
No. Resh looks identical wherever it appears in a word. Only five letters have sofit forms: Kaf, Mem, Nun, Pe, and Tsadi.
Resh (רֵישׁ) is related to רֹאשׁ (rosh), meaning "head." The curved top represents a bowed head. Rosh also appears in Rosh Hashanah (Jewish New Year, "head of the year") — one of the most culturally significant connections in the Aleph Bet.
Practice Resh Free for 3 Days
Download Kriakala and help your child learn Resh and all 22 Hebrew letters through fun, interactive games designed for young readers ages 4–7.