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niqqud

Niqqud (Vowel Pointing)

Introduced in Lesson 5

I use a memory device like: There's a single dot on an i, eggs in a carton, draw the line, over o, and oo under u.

Shortest (or No) Vowel

בְ

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.


בִ בִי

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 matre lectionis.


אֱ בֶ בֵ בֵי

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 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 matre lectionis.


אֲ בַ בַא בַה

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 |guttural letters. It makes the same ““a” sound.


בָ בָא בָה
אֳ בׇ

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.

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.

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.


בֹ בוֹ

O-Vowels

Short: The dot over 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 matre lectionis called a holam vav, and makes the same sound.


בֻ בוּ

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 matre lectionis called shuruq and makes the same “u” sound. Remember, a dot over the vav's head is oh, “over”, but a dot in its middle, like it has been punched in the gut makes the “oof” sound.

niqqud.txt · Last modified: 2024/10/27 08:12 by jeffd