3: Syllables, Sheva, and Strong Dagesh

Question 1

What are the two kinds of syllables in Hebrew?

Answer 1

1. There are open syllables, made up of a consonant and a vowel, שָׁ
2. There are closed syllables, made up of a consonant + a vowel + a consonant, לַח

Question 2

What are the two characteristics of Hebrew syllables?

Answer 2

1. A syllable may not begin with a vowel
2. The last syllable is usually the accented syllable.

Question 3

What is a sheva?

Answer 3

Vowel sign written as two vertical dots ( ְ ) under a letter.

Question 4

What are the two types of shevas?

Answer 4

1. Vocal Sheva - very short “e”
2. Silent Sheva - not pronounced, used to close a syllable

Question 5

How do you know how to divide the words into syllables?

Answer 5

• If the next consonant has its own vowel, it cannot end a syllable
• If it has a vocal sheva, it will be its own syllable
• If it has a silent sheva, it is the end of the syllable.

Question 6

How do you distinguish between the vocal and the silent sheva?

Answer 6

• If a short vowel comes before the consonant under which there is a sheva, the sheva is silent.

Question 7

What are the two applications for the shevas?

Answer 7

1. If the sheva is under the first consonant of a word, it is vocal.
2. If there are two shevas in a row, the first is silent and the second vocal.

Question 8

What is the strong dagesh and what is its purpose?

Answer 8

A dot similar to the weak dagesh, but it serves to double a consonant.

(like the english word, meanness)

Question 9

How can you differentiate between the weak and strong dagesh?

Answer 9

1. If a dagesh is in a consonant other than the begadkefat, it is strong.
2. If a dagesh is in a begadkefat, it may be weak or strong.
   
   • If it is the first sound of the word, it is weak.
   • If the sound before the begadkefat is a consonant, the dagesh is weak
   • But if it is a vowel, it will be strong

Question 10

Guttural characteristic #1

Answer 10

Gutturals and resh will not have either weak or strong dagesh.

Question 11

אֵל

Answer 11

God, god

Question 12

אֱלֹהִים

Answer 12

God, gods

Question 13

אֶרֶץ

Answer 13

land, earth

Question 14

דָּבָר

Answer 14

word, matter

Question 15

יָד

Answer 15

hand, power

Question 16

יוֹם

Answer 16

day, time, lifetime

Question 17

מִלְחָמָה

Answer 17

battle, war

Question 18

מֶלֶךְ

Answer 18

king

Question 19

מַלְכוּת

Answer 19

kingdom, reign

Question 20

עִיר

Answer 20

city, town

Question 21

What happens when a word ends in ה?

Answer 21

The ה is a vowel letter and it is silent.