Memorize these four letters:

heh, vav, yod, lamed

Learn the basic concept of syllables:

1. Every Hebrew syllable begins with a consonant (C)
2. Every syllable includes a vowel (V)
3. A syllable MAY end with an additional consonant:
   1. If it ends with a vowel, it is called an “open syllable” (CV)
   2. If it ends with a consonant, it is called a “closed syllable” (CVC)
4. If a word ends with a consonant, its last syllable is always closed (CVC)

Consider these words:

1. LeV - one syllable, closed
2. BaVeL - two syllables, the first is open, the second is closed

The word Lev, which means heart (heart, mind, or will). This word consists of a single closed syllable - also, notice how Lamed is the only letter that reaches up above the top line of the other letters.

An example of a two syllable word, Bavel. Notice how the first syllable is open and the last syllable is closed. (The line is just for illustrative purposes to show where the syllables are divided.)

But, at this point, we have a problem, an ambiguous situation… What if a word is supposed to end in a vowel sound???

So some of the letters began to serve double duty as indicators for the presence of certain vowels. Basically, sometimes they act as vowels. At first, this was only at the end of the words. Later on, they could also be used as vowels in the middle of words. These letters are called the “Matres Lectionis” which means “Mothers of Reading”.

Learn the basic concept of matres lectionis:

1. The letter heh can sometimes be used at the end of a word to show that the previous consonant has a vowel after it, usually a vowel with an “uh, “ah”, or “eh” sound.
2. The letter vav can be used for the same purpose, but to indicate “oo” or “oh” vowels more specifically.
3. The letter yod can also be used for the same purpose, but to represent “ey” or “ee” vowels more specifically.

Consider this word:

LeVah - two syllables, both open due to the use of heh as a matre lectionis.

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