Vowel Marks
Niqqud adds small marks to Hebrew letters to guide pronunciation. Most ordinary modern text leaves these marks out.
How It Works
Read a Letter With Its Marks
In בַּ, the dot inside ב makes it sound like b, and the short line below adds a, so together they sound like ba. In בִּ, the single dot below adds i. In שׁ and שׂ, a dot over the right side makes the sh sound and a dot over the left side makes the s sound. Dots do different jobs, so not every dot is a vowel.
Five Modern Vowel Sounds
- a: מַ and מָ
- e: מֵ and מֶ
- i: מִ
- o: מֹ and מוֹ
- u: מֻ and מוּ
A few marks have a special reading in certain words. The mark under מָ can sound like o in some words, where it is called qamats qatan. A sheva, as in מְ, is often silent and sometimes sounds like a short e. Learn each word with its spoken form rather than guessing from one mark.
Where You Will See Pointing
Children's books, poetry, prayer books and many beginner materials use pointing. Most newspapers, signs and messages leave it out. Pointing can show that ספר means סֵפֶר (a book) rather than סַפָּר (a barber). Unpointed full spelling may also add letters: pointed אִשָּׁה is usually written אישה without marks.
Examples (4)
- בַּ / בִּ
ba / bi.
The same consonant letter has different vowel marks.
- שׁ / שׂ
sh / s.
A dot over the right side gives the first sound; a dot over the left side gives the second.
- סֵפֶר / סַפָּר
Book / barber.
The same unpointed letters can stand for different words.
- שָׁלוֹם
Hello; peace.
Pointing supplies both vowels and shows which sound ש has.
How It Connects
Learn This First
Separate the letters from the combining signs that guide a word's reading.
Related Patterns
Practice Vowel Marks in Bubblegum
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