Hebrew Vowels. Vowels 2 quamats a as in father a-class X.

Hebrew VowelsHebrew Vowels

VowelsVowels

22quamatsquamats

a a as in fas in faatherther

a-class a-class

XX

y y 33hireq-yodhireq-yod

ii as in mach as in machiine ne i-classi-class

XX

44TsereTsere

ee as in th as in theey y i-class i-class

XX

WWholamholam

oo as in r as in roow w u-class u-class

XX33XXoror

OOshurukshuruk

oooo as in c as in cooool l u-class u-class

XX

Notice that two of the long vowels, Notice that two of the long vowels,

yy andand wware consonants used as vowels. are consonants used as vowels.

These are known asThese are known as

matres lectionismatres lectionis(mothers of reading) (mothers of reading)

VowelsVowels

11patahpatah

aa as in f as in faather ther a-class a-class

XX

33hireqhireq

ii as in b as in biit t i-class i-class

XX

X X segolsegol

ee as in b as in beed d i-class i-class

qubbutsqubbuts

uu as in p as in puut t u-class u-class

XX%

qamats hatuf*qamats hatuf*

oo as in h as in hoold ld u-class u-class

X X 22

* unaccented, closed syllable

The qamats…

have the same symbol: have the same symbol:

XX22XX22and the qamats hatuf…

2but two different sounds.but two different sounds.

ShevaSheva

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ShevaSheva may be silent or vocal may be silent or vocal

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The silent sheva occurs after a closed syllable

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The vocal sheva is pronounced as a very short e (as in severe)

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A vocal sheva is used after a consonant, except gutterals, in which case a composite sheva is used.

X X 55\\NWSRV74\74VOL1\DEPT\GTHE\MM\Dr. L. Breckenridge\FrontPage Web Pages\Hebrewhmpg_files\Power Pts\Gutteral Letters.ppt

Words that end in a consonant do not have a sheva, except

{ \ and t5

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Composite shevas

X X **Composite shevas

Hataf patahHataf patah

aa as in as in aalonglong

X X Composite shevas

Hataf segolHataf segol

ee as in as in eeffectffect

9 0

X X Composite shevas

Hataf qamatsHataf qamats

oo as in as in oonlynly

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