Questions tagged [vowels-nekudot]

Questions pertaining to the Hebraic vowel points systems with regards to their relationship and application within Judaism.

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Should I only pronounce alef as glottal stop only when there is a vowel attached to it?

(In correct pronunciation of Hebrew Bible) According to matres lectionis alef acts as a vowel at times and not as a consonant (that is, it doesn’t produce a glottal stop) - for example: לַאדֹנִי Is ...
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Is the Ashkenazi pronunciation of the kamatz "aw" or "uh"?

I have seen sources, for example the Artscroll transliterated siddur, that say that the Ashkenazi pronunciation of the kamatz vowel is "aw," as in the first syllable of "often," ...
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5 votes
1 answer
769 views

Are these vowels?

I know the hebrew vowels. However, I recently came across this word: כְּשֶׁעָמְ֒דָה. What are the three dots above the מ? Another example: עַמְּ֒ךָ In the same paragraph, I had וְהִדְלִֽיקוּ. What ...
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How to automatically add nikud to a text? [closed]

I have seen such a site, but cannot find it. And would it correctly add nikud to this phrase: שהטוב הוא במאמר שיפעל והרע במאמר שיתפעל כי כל התפעלות רע ?
1 vote
2 answers
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Pausal form with a non-pausal cantillation mark

Someone pointed me to the following unusual verse (Malakhi 1:6): בֵּ֛ן יְכַבֵּ֥ד אָ֖ב וְעֶ֣בֶד אֲדֹנָ֑יו וְאִם־אָ֣ב אָ֣נִי אַיֵּ֣ה כְבוֹדִ֡י וְאִם־אֲדוֹנִ֣ים אָנִי֩ אַיֵּ֨ה מֽוֹרָאִ֜י אָמַ֣ר ׀ ...
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Kamatz Katan Question

Can someone kindly confirm if שׁלוֹמָךְ and אַמָךְ have a kamatz katan in them? I do not believe they do, but I’m still working on my ability to spot the kamatz katan in some words. I would pronounce ...
1 vote
1 answer
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Could someone help me find a Tanakh vowelised according to the Yemenite Tradition?

I would like to study the Yemenite traditions of pronounciation in reading. However, I'm unsure where to find a copy of the Tanakh with such notation. If anyone could assist me in this it would be ...
5 votes
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What is the proper voweling (Nikud) for Metatron?

I have seen many variations of this and wonder if anyone could tell me which is the most correct? These variations include: מֶטָטְרוֹן‎‎ (Meṭāṭ'rōn) מְטַטְרוֹן‎ (Măṭaṭ'rōn) מֵיטַטְרוֹן‎ (Mēyṭaṭ'rōn) ...
1 vote
1 answer
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Ashkenazi Pronunciation

There is a different thread that said the Ashkenazi pronunciation does not have an “oh” sound for the kamatz katan. Is that correct? I suppose it would make sense given the difference in how they ...
1 vote
1 answer
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Another pronunciation question

On rosh chodesh we read from the Torah (Numbers 28:14): וְנִסְכֵּיהֶ֗ם חֲצִ֣י הַהִין֩ יִֽהְיֶ֨ה לַפָּ֜ר וּשְׁלִישִׁ֧ת הַהִ֣ין לָאַ֗יִל וּרְבִיעִ֥ת הַהִ֛ין לַכֶּ֖בֶשׂ יָ֑יִן זֹ֣את עֹלַ֥ת חֹ֨דֶשׁ֙ ...
2 votes
1 answer
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Why is there no דגש in the ת in the word "וּכְתַבְתָּ֛ם"?

I am told that a בגדכפת letter takes a דגש following a closed syllable (examples of this: נִשְׁבַּ֧ע, בְּקִרְבֶּ֑ךָ and לְנֶגְדְּכֶם֙) (i.e. ends with the letter and not the vowel), so why do words ...
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Is וּכְתַבְתָּ֛ם in Shema with Shva Na or Shva Nach

My daughter goes to a chabad school (nusach ari?) and has been taught in class that וּכְתַבְתָּ֛ם in the shema (end of first paragraph) is with a shvah na on the כְ. She also says it has the asterisk ...
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Why does the shva in Bereishit 1:2 express "vav" as an adverb (Now) in JPS 1917 translation?

Why does the shva cause the "vav" to be expressed in English as an adverb Now : "Ve" (וְ) instead of the conjunction And : "Va" (וַ), "Ve" (וְ), "U" (...
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3 votes
1 answer
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Penultimate stress of אתה

By default, the world אַתָּה (you) has a final stress. If I am correct (and the concordance as well), out of 172 occurrences 159 satisfies this rule in the Torah (92%).* However, if this word is in a ...
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3 votes
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What is the rationale for only marking certain letters with sheva, when they are the last letter in a word?

In printed and manuscript editions of Tanach, I've noticed that a sheva on the final letter of a word is almost never marked, and is meant to be inferred. The two exceptions I've come across are: A ...
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2 votes
1 answer
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Original Nikud for Raphael?

רָפָאֵל or רְפָאֵל What is the original nikud? I have seen some variation before and wonder if the name should begin with Kamatz or Sheva? Thank you for any help you can give.
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Distinguishing kamatz and patach in tefillin blessing

About the blessing when donning the tefillin Orach Chayim 25:7 says: יברך להניח בקמץ תחת הה"א ולא בפתח ובדגש:‏ He should bless lehaniach with kamatz under the hei and not with patach and dagesh. ...
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1 vote
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Are the vowel points part of the inspired word?

From what I can tell, when writing Hebrew, the vowel points are optional so that if you leave them out, you might confuse עלה (âleh, foliage) with ('ălâh, a burnt offering). That's a simple example, ...
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Why is the word כטוב spelled sometimes with a Sheva and other times with a Patach?

Why is the word כטוב spelled sometimes with a Sheva (as in Ester 1:10), and sometimes with a Patach (as in Ester 3:11)? Ester 1:10: בַּיּוֹם, הַשְּׁבִיעִי, כְּטוֹב לֵב-הַמֶּלֶךְ, בַּיָּיִן--אָמַר ...
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2 votes
0 answers
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Silent sheva after long vowels

I assume most have heard about the 5 famous rules of Elia Levita regarding the vocal sheva. His rules tend to work well in practice, even the third, much debated rule about the concept of long vowels (...
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What is the explanation of spelling the same word with a Patach instead of a Sh'va in Megillat Esther?

In Megillat Esther, why is the word "maidens" spelled with a sh'va under the first letter (נְעָרוֹת) in verses 2:2, 2:8, 2:9, but with a patach (נַעֲרוֹת) in verse 4:4?
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2 votes
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What is the correct vowelization for the word יעמד in ויקרא ט”ז verse 10?

(In the fourth aliyah of shacharit Yom Kippur.) All the sources I have put a chataf qamatz under the 'ayin. The question is what is under the yod: qamatz or qamatz qatan. I have sources that show ...
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Why no vowels for the sounds of the shofar?

In three different machzorim (a Rinat Yisrael, an Artscroll and a Koren -- the ones I had access to over the holiday) the listings of the sounds of the shofar are printed without any vowels. Sefaria ...
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1 vote
1 answer
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In the Al Cheit prayer, do we say bagalui or b'galui?

In the Al Cheit prayer, is it Al cheit shechatanu l'fanecha bagalui uvasater or is it Al cheit shechatanu l'fanecha b'galui uvasater I get about the same number of hits whichever of the two ...
6 votes
3 answers
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Why does Artscroll indicate that the מ of למנצח should have a שוע נע?

The Artscroll siddur indicates that the שוע on מ of למנצח (e.g. תהלים כ א) is a שוע נע, but I am not sure why this is the case. The vowel beforehand is a פתח (a תנועה קטנה) and none of the other rules ...
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3 votes
1 answer
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In Parshas Chukas, why is first mention of Parah Adumah "פָרָה" instead of "פָּרָה"?

The first mention of the Parah Adumah in Parshas Chukas (Numbers 19:2) is: דַּבֵּ֣ר אֶל־בְּנֵ֣י יִשְׂרָאֵ֗ל וְיִקְח֣וּ אֵלֶיךָ֩ פָרָ֨ה אֲדֻמָּ֜ה Instruct the people of Israel to bring you a red cow ...
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How reliable is the Nikkud in our books?

As we all know, in Hebrew, the Nikkud can change a lot. When studying for this question, I notice slight deviations between different books and I'd like to know how reliable the Nikkud in our books is?...
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2 votes
1 answer
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Are there "don't read X but Y" that differentiate between Tzere and Segol or Patach and Kamatz?

To continue the Nikkud saga (thanks Kazi and Double), many (Kabbalic something) books speak of the huge spiritual differences between similar vowels, like Kamatz is [Kabbalically from] Chochmah and ...
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Origin of Nikkud signs names in Rabbinical literature

The WIKI page for Nikkud says it appeared long after the Gemmorah. Is Nikkud mentioned in Rabbinical literature before Rishonim - the names of the signs and the ways of using them? If not, what are ...
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1 vote
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Is the dot of Shin and Sin explained as a part of Nikkud?

Following the question about שכר ושכר, Shin and Sin letters have a little dot that does not have a name and is used exclusively to differentiate between them (diacritic). I read books about the ...
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2 votes
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Is the passage repeated during the reading of Zachor the only place such a question arises?

When we read Parshas Zachor shortly before Purim, we repeat a passage. According to the Mishneh Berurah 685, there is a dispute concerning the vowels that belong here. One possibility would seem to ...
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Why does the Tetragrammaton sometimes include the cholam vowel?

Why does the Tetragrammaton sometimes include the cholam vowel ? The question isn't a duplicate of What are the reasons or rules for the different variations in vowels on the Tetragrammaton? Because ...
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1 answer
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What rule governs the varying nikkud in words מִשְׁתֶּה and מִשְׁתֵּה?

What rule governs the varying nikkud in words מִשְׁתֶּה and מִשְׁתֵּה in Megillas Ester? In Ashkenazi pronunciation this makes a difference because the first is read as "Mishte" and the second is read ...
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3 votes
0 answers
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"Eis" instead of "es" in the crop b'racha in the Amida

The ninth b'racha of the amida begins with the words בָּרֵךְ עָלֵינוּ ה' אֱ-לֹהֵינוּ אֶת הַשָּׁנָה הַזֹּאת וְאֶת כָּל מִינֵי תְּבוּאָתָהּ לְטוֹבָה where both את are vocalized with segol (three ...
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1 vote
1 answer
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Online mishna with vowels (according to sephardic tradition)

I would appreciate if anybody could help me in finding an online mishna vowelised in accordance with the sephardic tradition (i.e. following the Livorno prints opposed to the Vilna ones). Thanks in ...
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1 answer
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Why is Hebrew written without vowels? [duplicate]

Is there a religious explanation for writing Biblical Hebrew without vowels? "Was Hebrew originally written without vowels" does not address the reasons for not using vowels.
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1 answer
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Vowels in tefilat Hashachar

In tefilat "leoylom yehe Odom... " there is a statement ָקַדֵּש אֶת שִמְךָ בְּעוֹלָמֶך Instinctively my tendency is to read beoylomecho with a shevo below the letter beys. But in siddur Tehilas ...
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1 answer
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What rule governs the nekuda under the words אֶת and אֵת? [duplicate]

What rule governs the nekuda under the words אֶת and אֵת in Megillas Ester? In Ashkenazi pronunciation this makes a difference because the first is read as "Es" and the second is read as "Eys."
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10 votes
2 answers
2k views

What are the rules for sh'va na?

What is the full list of rules for when to pronounce a sh'va (i.e. na) during tefillah and keriat hatorah? When I was in school, I remember being taught that a sh'va was na in the following 5 cases (...
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3 votes
1 answer
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Hebrew/Aramaic names with Nekudot for Mishna Tractates

What are the names of the Mishna Tractates and Seders in Hebrew/Aramaic with Nekudot? When I come across Tractate and Seder names (eg. מועד, גיטין, אבות, etc) they never have Nikkud. Are the names ...
2 votes
2 answers
155 views

Why are there varying vowels on proper nouns in Megillas Ester?

In Megillas Ester, several proper nouns (such as Mordechai, and Shushan) use komatz and patach interchangeably. In sefardi pronunciation this does not make much of a difference, but in ashkenazi ...
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5 votes
0 answers
106 views

Vowels around G-ds Name

What do these vowels around G-ds name mean?
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3 votes
2 answers
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Gemara text with Nekudos

Does anyone know where to find a Gemara text with nekudot online? I'm having trouble finding one.
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1 answer
878 views

Explanation of Kamatz vs. Patach ה הידעה

I've noticed that possukim will switch back and forth between the vowelizing of the definite article heh, sometimes multiple times within the same possuk. Is there a rule for this or an explanation in ...
4 votes
0 answers
152 views

No Dagesh for Yud, Lamed, Mem with Shva after Hei HaYdiah [closed]

In general, when a word is prefixed by Hei HaYdiah (the definite article), the following consonant receives a Dagesh Hazak (gemination). Clear exceptions are when that consonant is a guttural and ...
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6 votes
1 answer
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When did siddurim first start showing sheva na - nach differently?

Some (most?) widely used siddurim today give the reader some pronunciation information that is not obvious in standard Hebrew lettering: when a sheva is pronounced (e.g., by making the sheva na bold, ...
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1 vote
0 answers
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Practical suggestions for choosing between different nuschaot in the Torah

Unfortunately, it's not hard to find places in the Torah, and even more so in Nach, where we have a doubt about either the trop or the nekudot. (Or, more rarely, letters, but those are generally the ...
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1 vote
0 answers
135 views

Tzerei vs. Sh'va vs. Segol

Are there examples of words where pronouncing a sh'va as a tzeirei or a segol (or pronouncing a tzeirei as a sh'va or a segol or a segol as a sh'va or a tzeire) creates a different meaning? I'm ...
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nekudos make the sound of 2 other nekudos?

I am learning how to sing the torah (lain) (which is a Jewish thing to do). It seems that all the music (notes) is in the vowels and not in the consonants/letters (consonants by themselves can not be ...
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5 votes
0 answers
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Why does Rashi call tzeirei and segol "kamatz katan" and "patach katan"

Rashi often refers to tzeirei as "kamatz katan" and segol as "patach katan". Why? In what sense are they smaller versions of kamatz and patach? I understand that kamatz and tzeirei are תנועות ...
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