A dreidel has four sides, each marked with one Hebrew letter: Nun, Gimel, Hey and Shin (or Peh on Israeli dreidels). It also has a handle on top for spinning and a point on the bottom that it spins on, but only the four lettered sides count in the game.
The parts of a dreidel
- The handle (also called the stem) sticks out of the top. You pinch it to spin.
- The body is the boxy middle part with four flat sides. Each side has one Hebrew letter.
- The point (or tip) is on the bottom. The dreidel spins on it, and it's usually shaped like a short pyramid or cone.
Why four sides?
Because the dreidel comes from a family of four-sided spinning tops played all over Europe, like the English teetotum. Four sides gave four outcomes: nothing, all, half, and put in. The Hebrew letters were matched to those four results, and later to the four words of Nes Gadol Haya Sham. Read more in our history of the dreidel.
Four sides also means each letter has an even 25% chance on every spin, assuming a fairly made dreidel. See is dreidel a game of luck.
Which side counts?
When the dreidel stops, it falls over onto one of its four sides. The letter on the side facing up is your result. You may need to lean in and look, especially with small dreidels.
What if it lands on the handle or point?
Every so often a dreidel ends up balanced on its handle, wedged against something, or standing on its point. None of those count. Spin again.
What order are the letters in?
On most dreidels, the letters go around the body in order, so turning it in your hand spells out the phrase: Nun, Gimel, Hey, Shin. Not every maker follows that, and it doesn't matter for the game.
Are there dreidels with more sides?
As novelties, yes. Some five-sided dreidels carry both Shin and Peh. You'll also find many-sided dice sold as "dreidel dice," but those aren't really dreidels. A real dreidel is a four-sided top.
Updated October 2026