These small dots and dashes help us pronounce Hebrew words. Each vowel symbol fits under or near a letter and adds a sound.
| Symbol | Name | Sound | Example |
|---|---|---|---|
| ָ | Kamatz | “ah” like father | בָ |
| ַ | Patach | short “a” like hat | בַ |
| ֵ | Tzeirei | “ey” like they | בֵ |
| ֶ | Segol | “eh” like bed | בֶ |
| ִ | Chirik | “ee” like bee | בִ |
| ֹ | Holam | “oh” like go | בֹ |
| ֻ | Kubutz | “oo” like zoo | בֻ |
| ְ | Shva | silent or “uh” | בְ |
Try writing Hebrew letters with different vowels below:
Which vowels feel soothing, bright, or silly?