alefato; alfabeto hebraico
1. The Hebrew alphabet; the basic elements or fundamentals of a subject, derived from the names of the first two letters of the Hebrew alphabet (aleph and beth)
Learning the aleph-beth is the first step in studying biblical Hebrew.
Aprender o alefato é o primeiro passo para estudar hebraico bíblico.
2. The rudiments or basic principles of any subject or skill (used metaphorically)
Before mastering calculus, you must understand the aleph-beth of algebra.
Antes de dominar cálculo, você deve compreender o alefato da álgebra.
The term 'aleph-beth' carries significant cultural weight in Jewish communities, particularly in religious education contexts. It references the Hebrew alphabet and is often used both literally when teaching Hebrew and figuratively when discussing foundational knowledge. The expression is more common in English-speaking Jewish communities than in Brazilian Portuguese, where 'alfabeto' or 'fundamentos' might be more typical.
Related Idioms & Phrases
learn one's aleph-beth - to learn the basics or fundamentals
know the aleph-beth - to understand the fundamentals of a subject
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