Lesson Transcript

Shalom, ani Yana! Welcome to Hebrewpod101.com’s Alef-Beit be-kalei kalut.
The fastest, easiest, and most fun way to learn the Hebrew alphabet: the alef-beit!
In the last lesson we have completed the full series of Hebrew alef-beit! and 10 main niqqud!
This lesson we will finish the last 3 additional niqqud symbols that are used mostly for reading the Hebrew Bible-
the 'Tora'.
So let’s start! Bou nathil!
Do you remember the niqqud 'Shva'? The one that has no sound and is called the 'silent vowel'?
That’s the idea behind the next 3 niqqud as well. These are called -'reduced niqqud'. In two out of three cases, they make the sound of the niqqud that they’re based on shorter.
So there is-
1.'Reduced Segol'-
Just add 'Shva' to the 'segol'
The word 'Elohim' which is God in Hebrew, is written with this 'reduced segol'.
אֱלֹהִים (handwriting)
and in print
אֱלֹהִים (print)
The next one is-
2.'Reduced Patah'-ֲ
Add 'shva' to the 'patah', and it reduces the sound 'a'.
'aharei'- after (something).
אַחֲרֵי (handwriting)
and in print
אַחֲרֵי (print)
and -
3.'Reduced Kamats'-ֳ
Reduced Kamats is very rare, so you will hardly ever see it.
Sometimes it is read as the sound “O” and not “A” like the regular “Kamats”.
for example-
“Ha-tsiporim”- The birds.
הַצִפֳרים (handwriting)
and in print
הַצִפֳרים (print)
Now its time for Yanas insights;
These three additional Niqqud are mostly seen in the old writings , like the bible, or in texts related to linguistic changes in Hebrew, or in traditional literature.
Since modern Hebrew came about initially as a revival of ancient Hebrew, you will find, in studying the two writing systems, many more similarities than differences. In fact, the differences are more or less limited to the three niqqud we learned in this lesson!!!!
That’s it!
You have finished the full niqqud system and are now ready to read any Hebrew text -- including the ancient Hebrew Bible written thousands of years ago!!
The last three lessons are dedicated to reading some famous selections from the Hebrew Bible--ones that are commonly used as proverbs today.
Do you know how the Hebrew Bible begins? Find out in the next lesson of Alef-Beit be-kalei kalut
See you then! Lehitraot!!!

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