====== Niqqud (Vowel Pointing) ======

Introduced in [[Lesson 5]]

I use a memory device like:  There's a s**i**ngle dot on an i, **e**ggs in a carton, dr**a**w the line, **o**ver o, and **oo** under u.

===== Shortest (or No) Vowel =====

<WRAP center box centeralign round 50%>
<wrap big :he>בְ</wrap>
</WRAP>

This is called the **shewa** and //when it makes a sound//, it is a **shewa na** and sounds like the "u" in upon.

When it is at the end of a closed syllable, however, it is called a **shewa nakh**, isn't considered a vowel, and doesn't make any sound.

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<WRAP right box centeralign round 50%>
<wrap big :he>בִ בִי</wrap>
</WRAP>

===== I-Vowels =====

**Short:**  This is called the **[[ħiriq]]** and it makes a sound like the "ee" in seed.

It can also be followed by a [[yod]] which is present as a [[matres lectionis|matre lectionis]].

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<WRAP right box centeralign round 50%>
<wrap big :he>אֱ בֶ בֵ בֵי</wrap>
</WRAP>

===== E-Vowels =====

**Short:**  The three dots arranged like a grape bunch are called **[[segol]]** and sound like the "e" in red.

**Reduced:**  The five dots, a segol with a shewa next to it, are called **hataf segol** and sound like the "e" in metallic, and only normally occurs on [[gutturals|guttural letters]] or [[yod]].

**Long:**  The two dots side-by-side are called **[[tsere]]** and sounds like the "ey" in grey.
It can also be followed by a [[yod]] which is present as a [[matres lectionis|matre lectionis]].

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<WRAP right box centeralign round 50%>
<wrap big :he>אֲ בַ בַא בַה</wrap>
</WRAP>

===== A-Vowels =====

**Short:**  The horizontal line is called **[[pataħ]]**, and sounds like the "a" in lather.

It may be followed by either an [[alef]] (anywhere) or a [[heh]] (end of the word only) where it is acting as [[matres lectionis]].

**Reduced:**  The pataħ with a shewa next to it is called a **ħataf pataħ** and is usually found on [[gutturals||guttural letters]].  It makes the same ""a" sound.

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<WRAP right box centeralign round 50%>
<wrap big :he>בָ בָא בָה
\\
אֳ בׇ</wrap>
</WRAP>

===== Qamatz (A-Type/O-Type) =====

**Long A-Type:**  The line with a teardrop under it or "T" shape is called a **[[qamatz]]** and usually sounds like the "a" in father.

The [[qamatz]] may be followed by either an [[alef]] (anywhere) or a [[heh]] (end of the word only) where it is acting as [[matres lectionis]].

**Short O-Type:**  The [[qamatz ħatuf]], which usually looks identical to the A-Type qamatz, but can be differentiated based upon context, make an "o" sound as in token.

<WRAP center round info 60%>
If you're just beginning to learn, don't worry about telling the different **qamatz** apart from each other.  Most of the time it's an "a" as in father, and you can simply learn the exceptions as you go.
</WRAP>


**Reduced O-Type:**  The line with a teardrop or "T" shape with a shewa next to it is called **hataf qamatz**, and makes an "au" sound as in bauble.  It usually appears under gutturals, but can occasionally appear under other letters.

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<WRAP right box centeralign round 50%>
<wrap big :he>בֹ בוֹ</wrap>
</WRAP>

===== O-Vowels =====

**Short:**  The dot **o**ver the left side of the letter is called **[[holam haser]]**, and makes the sound of an "o" as in "code."

**Long:**  The dot over the vav is a [[matres lectionis|matre lectionis]] called a **[[holam vav]]**, and makes the same sound.

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<WRAP right box centeralign round 50%>
<wrap big :he>בֻ בוּ</wrap>
</WRAP>

===== U-Vowels =====

**Short:**  The three diagonal dots are called **[[qubbutz]]** and sound like the "u" in rude.

**Long:**  The vav with a dot in the middle is another [[matres lectionis|matre lectionis]] called **[[shuruq]]** and makes the same "u" sound.  Remember, a dot over the vav's head is oh,  "**o**ver", but a dot in its middle, like it has been punched in the gut makes the "**oo**f" sound.