3: Syllables, Sheva, and Strong Dagesh Flashcards
1
Q
What are the two kinds of syllables in Hebrew?
A
- There are open syllables, made up of a consonant and a vowel, שָׁ
- There are closed syllables, made up of a consonant + a vowel + a consonant, לַח
2
Q
What are the two characteristics of Hebrew syllables?
A
- A syllable may not begin with a vowel
- The last syllable is usually the accented syllable.
3
Q
What is a sheva?
A
Vowel sign written as two vertical dots ( ְ ) under a letter.
4
Q
What are the two types of shevas?
A
- Vocal Sheva - very short “e”
- Silent Sheva - not pronounced, used to close a syllable
5
Q
How do you know how to divide the words into syllables?
A
- 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.
6
Q
How do you distinguish between the vocal and the silent sheva?
A
- If a short vowel comes before the consonant under which there is a sheva, the sheva is silent.
7
Q
What are the two applications for the shevas?
A
- If the sheva is under the first consonant of a word, it is vocal.
- If there are two shevas in a row, the first is silent and the second vocal.
8
Q
What is the strong dagesh and what is its purpose?
A
A dot similar to the weak dagesh, but it serves to double a consonant.
(like the english word, meanness)
9
Q
How can you differentiate between the weak and strong dagesh?
A
- If a dagesh is in a consonant other than the begadkefat, it is strong.
- 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
10
Q
Guttural characteristic #1
A
Gutturals and resh will not have either weak or strong dagesh.
11
Q
אֵל
A
God, god
12
Q
אֱלֹהִים
A
God, gods
13
Q
אֶרֶץ
A
land, earth
14
Q
דָּבָר
A
word, matter
15
Q
יָד
A
hand, power
