For purposes of memorization, it is highly recommended that students commit the information about each vowel (symbol, vowel name, vowel class, pronunciation, and transliteration) to handwritten flash cards.
Changeable Long Vowels
|
Symbol |
Vowel |
Pronunciation |
Transliteration |
|
|
a-class |
בָּ |
Pathach | a as in father |
ā |
|
e-class |
בֵּ |
Tsere | e as in they |
ē |
|
o-class |
בֹּ |
Holem | o as in role |
ō |
Short Vowels
|
Symbol |
Vowel |
Pronunciation |
Transliteration |
|
|
a-class |
בַּ |
Pathach | a as in bat |
a |
|
e-class |
בֶּ |
Seghol | e as in better |
e |
|
i-class |
בִּ |
Hireq | i as in bitter |
i |
|
o-class |
בָּ |
Qamets Hatuf | o as in bottle |
o |
|
u-class |
בֻּ |
Qibbuts | u as in ruler |
u |
Reduced Vowels
|
Symbol |
Vowel |
Pronunciation |
Transliteration |
|
|
a-class |
בֲּ |
Hateph Pathach | a as in amuse |
ă |
|
e-class |
בֱּ |
Hatef Seghol | e as in metallic |
ĕ |
|
o-class |
בֳּ |
Hatef Qamets | o as in commit |
ŏ |
He Vowels
|
Symbol |
Vowel |
Pronunciation |
Transliteration |
|
|
a-class |
בָּה |
Qamets He | a as in father |
â |
|
e-class |
בֵּה |
Tsere He | e as in they |
ê |
|
|
בֶּה |
Seghol He | e as in better |
ê |
|
o-class |
בֹּה |
Holem | o as in role |
ô |
Unchangeable Long Waw Vowels
|
Symbol |
Vowel |
Pronunciation |
Transliteration |
|
|
o-class |
בּוֹ |
Holem Waw | o as in role |
ô |
|
u-class |
בּוּ |
Shureq | u as in ruler |
û |
Unchangeable Long Yod Vowels
|
Symbol |
Vowel |
Pronunciation |
Transliteration |
|
|
e-class |
בֵּי |
Tsere Yod | e as in they |
ê |
|
|
בֶּי |
Seghol Yod | e as in better |
ê |
|
o-class |
בִּי |
Hireq Yod | i as in machine |
î |
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