Hebrew Consonants and vowels

LESSON 10

The "I" class vowels

All the "I" class vowels are pronounced with an "ee" sound. In modern Hebrew there is no significant differentiation in vowel length for hirik and hirik yud.

The yud of hirik yud is a matres lectionis—it acts as a vowel—this is an ancient tradition known from exilic times before the Masorites added nikkud to the Hebrew text.

"I" class vowels are usually transliterated with the letter "i".

 

Practice. ...Putting things together.
Listen to and practice saying these consonant-vowel combinations. Each combination, whether open or closed, represents a syllable.

 

OPEN syllables

 

CLOSED syllables

 

Now for some real Hebrew words

 

WORKSHEET DOWNLOAD: Print your Hebrew
vowels WORKSHEET to accompany
Lessons 8-13. HERE.

continue to Lesson 11: Hebrew "O" class Vowels. HERE.