"Aravrit": A Unique Fusion of Arabic and Hebrew That Bridges Cultures
- Caroline Haïat
- Mar 27
- 5 min read
A language that merges "two enemy languages"—this is the main challenge that young Israeli Liron Lavi Turkenich set for herself. Fascinated by languages and the power of words, she created in 2012 a unique writing system called "Aravrit" (a fusion of Arabic and Hebrew), which blends the Hebrew and Arabic alphabets. This project, now recognized worldwide, was born while Liron was walking in the streets of her hometown, Haifa, where Jews and Arabs coexist. Liron quickly realized that street signs were written in Hebrew and Arabic but in a distinct manner, preventing the two communities from truly engaging with each other. "Everyone lives in their own world without interacting with the Other," she laments. To encourage the meeting of these populations, she developed Aravrit—an experimental hybrid script presenting a set of letters that fuse Hebrew and Arabic. Each letter is composed of Arabic on the upper half and Hebrew on the lower half, allowing readers to decipher the words simultaneously. This new approach to language encourage coexistence, especially in a time of war, where the events of October 7 have deepened mutual distrust.
"I started by revisiting the work of the French ophthalmologist Louis Émile Javal, who, in the late 19th century, discovered that people can read quite well using only the upper half of Latin letters. After conducting several experiments, I realized that the same was true for Arabic—and, by a fortunate coincidence, for Hebrew as well," Liron told Itonnews.
Building on this idea, Liron matched 22 Hebrew letters with 29 Arabic letters to create an Aravritic alphabet consisting of 638 characters. Vowels are used as needed for readability—placed beneath the Hebrew letters and above the Arabic letters, in accordance with the respective linguistic rules. Aravrit letters can be combined to form words and phrases.
Liron was graduated of Shenkar College of Engineering, Design and Art in 2012, and she got a master’s degree in typeface design from the University of Reading in England in 2015. Today, she works as a type designer with international companies. Additionally, she researches Hebrew typography, particularly fonts used during the Holocaust, by recreating ancient typefaces that are no longer accessible today.
A Linguistic System That Encourages Understanding of the Other
"In Israel, languages are often poorly integrated into public spaces. Arabic is sometimes absent, misspelled, or simply placed without much thought. With Aravrit, Hebrew and Arabic are intertwined—you can't ignore one language," says Liron, emphasizing that she wanted to address these differences and restore each language to its rightful place.
Passionate about the tension between everyday elements and the history of Hebrew, Liron enjoys mixing cultural heritage with contemporary elements. "I choose simple and accessible words, like hummus, watermelon, life, or dream. I avoid big concepts like peace or coexistence and prefer to let the shape of the letters subtly convey these ideas. I always choose words that are familiar to both cultures so that people can relate to them more easily," she explains.
Liron also creates accessories, such as coffee mugs, T-shirts, and jewelry featuring Aravrit words, which she customizes upon request. "The accessories project started with an order from Broadway for ‘The Band’s Visit,’ where I designed a special necklace. This marked the first collaboration between an independent artist and an official Broadway store. Today, the collection has expanded to clothing, mugs, and jewelry, often in collaboration with other designers," she shares.
A Shared Destiny Through Language
Liron believes that her project fosters awareness and mutual recognition between speakers of both languages. The structure of the design forces people to acknowledge and take into account the other language, reflecting an ideal of coexistence.
"It pushes us to reflect on ourselves, but also to recognize the presence of the other person living in the same environment. You can’t ignore the other or their differences because the words are intertwined and connected. We are two peoples on one land, and everyone understands that no one is going anywhere. This new form of language visually demonstrates that we are linked by history," says Liron.
With the tragedy of October 7, Liron’s project has taken on a deeper meaning, serving as a sort of compass in uncertain times, offering hope for a future where Jews and Arabs might one day live together in harmony.
An International Success
Liron quickly realized that her project could interest audiences abroad and provide a new perspective on Israel. Content creator Nas Daily made a video about it, and Liron was invited to exhibit at the Designs of the Year exhibition at the Design Museum in London. She also gave a TEDx talk in Vienna. Over time, her project has been featured in numerous museums and international media, including BBC, the London Design Museum, the Jerusalem Light Festival, and Expo 2020 in Dubai. In total, Aravrit has traveled to over 63 countries worldwide.
"I have always received incredibly positive reactions. People from all over the world—from Indonesia, Tokyo, Brazil, and even Lebanon—have reached me out. The project has touched communities I would never have had access to otherwise. Many have seen it as a source of hope for their own conflicts, reinforcing the idea that language can be a unifying force, not just between Hebrew and Arabic but also in other contexts of coexistence," Liron shares.
One of her most significant projects was her participation in Expo 2020 in Dubai, which took place in 2021. For this occasion, she designed a 13-meter-long installation for the Israeli pavilion, featuring the words "Towards Tomorrow" in Aravrit. This monumental sculpture symbolized openness and dialogue. "Normally, each word takes me between ten and fifteen hours, but for this project, it took me over thirty hours. It was very moving to see my work in a giant version for such a major event," she says.
Liron has also exhibited her work in Tel Aviv, where her designs, originally created for street signs, were transformed into an exhibition and later reintegrated into public spaces. She reminds us that in Arabic culture, writing is highly significant. "Mosque decorations are made up of letters, and calligraphy holds a special place in this culture," she explains.
The young woman tirelessly gives lectures worldwide—in Brazil, the United States, Canada, Belgium, France, New Zealand, and Israel, where she shares the story of her project, its evolution, and its impact. She also organizes workshops where she brings together children and adults to create their own words in Aravrit, even if they don’t speak Hebrew or Arabic. Liron offers a fun and creative approach to learning.
"This allows people to literally create writing, to shape words. I have, for example, many American clients who don’t know how to write in either language, or children who can’t write at all. More and more people are embracing this idea—taking two elements and creating something new. Incredible words emerge, and it really opens people’s minds—it’s truly fun," Liron concludes.
In parallel, she has developed a typeface called Makeda, named after the title Ethiopians use for the Queen of Sheba. This font works for Amharic, Hebrew, and Latin letters, and she hopes it will be used for Israeli government and legal documents concerning the 135,000 Ethiopian Jews in the country. Ultimately, Liron aims to develop a functional typeface and integrate Aravrit into urban spaces.
Aravrit : https://www.aravrit.com/
Caroline Haïat
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