Hebrew Vowels

The dots, dashes, and other symbols that clarify how to pronounce Hebrew words.

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  • Unlike English and most other languages, Hebrew vowels are not themselves letters. Rather, they are denoted as symbols written below or between a word's letters. Hebrew is often written without vowels at all, the experienced reader left to know from experience and context how to pronounce the words. But of course, vowels--known in Hebrew as nikudot--make reading much easier, especially for the novice. The chart of Hebrew vowels below is reprinted with permission from Aleph Isn't Tough (UAHC Press).