Because the alphabet is an abjad, vowels are not letters themselves. Instead, a system of dots and dashes called is used above, below, or inside letters to indicate vowel sounds. In modern Israel, Nikkud is primarily used in children’s books, poetry, and prayer books; fluent speakers read without them based on context. Gematria: The Power of Numbers
A small dot called a can be placed inside certain letters to change their pronunciation. For example, the letter Bet (ב) sounds like a "B" with a dot ( בּ ) and like a "V" without it. Nikkud: The Vowel System hebrew alphabet
For example, the Hebrew word for "Life" ( Chai ) consists of the letters Het (8) and Yud (10), totaling . This is why the number 18 is considered lucky in Jewish culture. Historical Evolution Because the alphabet is an abjad, vowels are
Hebrew includes several unique mechanics that distinguish it from the Latin alphabet used in English. Final Letter Forms (Sofit) Gematria: The Power of Numbers A small dot
Five specific letters change their shape when they appear at the end of a word. These are known as Sofit (ending) forms: becomes ך Mem (מ) becomes ם Nun (נ) becomes ן Pe (פ) becomes ף Tsadi (צ) becomes ץ The Dagesh (The Dot)
: The ancient script used before the 5th century BCE, which was more pictographic and similar to Phoenician.
: Hebrew is written and read from right to left .