Part 3. The vowels (nikud) נקוד

We will cover the nikud/nikudot in a simple manor and in modern terms but also try to address Bible era pronunciation also.Especially for people interested in Tanakh or the old testament ,Biblical vowels can be different and different pronunciation also.For instance in modern Hebrew Lie or false is sheker but in the Bible it’s shaker but more accurate to that era the A is more like a short U like in sun ,so “shuker”. A short quick U so not “shooker” like Adam was originally like Udum.

In ancient times the vowels were understand in a oral tradition and there was not a formal way of writing them.In the ninth century CE I believe loosely based on the Syriac vowel system they put the vowels in writing in the nikud/nikudot (lit. dots) system.Many are archaic and no longer in use.

Kamatz/קָמַץ 

In ancient times pronounced U like fun or sun but today the same as Patach “A like father”

Chataf Kamatz/חֲטַף קָמָץ

Chataf literally means snatched/kidnapped (taken away) so it’s a short form sometimes known as Kamatz Katan also meaning small Kamatz.No one knows the ancient pronounciation but today it’s A like father.

Patach/פַּתַח This is also pronounced A like father as if Chataf Patach also.

This is Chataf Patach and sounds in modern times like A as in father it’s ancient pronunciation is unknown.

If any of the four A style vowels above are combined with the letter “Yod” it changes it to a “I” as in like sound or bike sound ,Island

אֲדֹנָי you notice the Kamatz under the Nun with the Yod beside it I know it’s small ,that would be Kamatz Malei or Kamatz Yod and mixing with the Yod changes all four A vowels above mentioned to I as in Island.

In modern Hebrew all four are A like father.

Shva/שְׁוָא

The Shva is silent unless it needs to be pronounced,when pronounced it’s a very very short E sound.

Segol/סְגוֹל segol sounds like a short E as in pet and so is Chataf Segol also(Chataf Segol is mainly Bible only not in modern use)

This is Chataf Segol and it sounds the same in modern times.

Tzeirei/צֵירֵי

It is pronounced E as in they or A as in bait or late.

Chirik/חִירִיק

This is pronounced as EE as in feet or a European I ,there is no I as in list or gift in Hebrew.

These vowels also have a Malei/מלא form which is combined with the letter Yod

Segol and Tzeirei Malei sounds as E as in they or A as in late.Chirik malei sounds like Chirik ,ee like feet or a European I.

Now on to the stronger O and U type vowels.

First is Kubutz/קֻבּוּץ which is archaic and mostly found in the Bible and has almost no modern usage.It is pronounced U like lune/moon or june.

The final three I won’t show pictures because they are so simple.

Cholam Chaseir (short)חֹלֶם חסר You see I wrote the word Cholam Chaseir ,the O vowel in Cholam is that dot above the letter Cheit.That is Cholam Chaseir ,a dot above any letter.It’s dying out in favor of Cholam Malei/חוֹלָם מָלֵא which is a dot on top of specifically the letter Vav ו a dot on a Vav is Cholam Malei and they are both sound as O like boat.

Shuruk/שׁוּרוּק Those are two Shuruk’s in that word ,a Vav with a dot to the left side as you see twice in the word.It’s pronounced U like lune,june or moon.

As in English if you mix either Cholam with the letter Yod you get an “oy” like boy and Shuruk or Kubutz with a Yod and you have a “euy” like buoy

Those are the Hebrew vowels.