View source for Dagesh

{{Short description|Diacritic used in the Hebrew alphabet}}
{{More citations needed|date=March 2024}}
{{Infobox grapheme
|name=Dagesh
|letter={{Script/Hebrew|&#x5BC;}}
|script=[[Hebrew alphabet]]
|type=[[Abjad]]
|language=[[Hebrew]]
|phonemes={{ubl|'''[[Biblical Hebrew|Biblical]]'''|{{lang|he-Latn|ḥazaq}}: {{IPA|[ː]}} ([[gemination]]), {{lang|he-Latn|qal}}: {{IPA|[β]→[b], [ɣ]→[ɡ], [ð]→[d], [x]→[k], [ɸ]→[p], [θ]→[t]}}|'''[[Modern Hebrew|Modern]]'''|{{IPA|[v]→[b], [x]~[χ]→[k], [f]→[p]}}}}
|equivalents={{ubl|'''Biblical'''|{{lang|he-Latn|ḥazaq}}: doubled consonant, {{lang|he-Latn|qal}}: none{{efn|group=lower-alpha|[[Society of Biblical Literature|SBL]] transliteration system<ref name="SBL">{{Cite web |title=Transliteration Standards of the SBL |url=http://www.viceregency.com/Translit.htm |access-date=2024-03-29 |website=www.viceregency.com}}</ref>}}|'''Modern'''|v{{arrow}}b, kh{{arrow}}k, f{{arrow}}p}}
|unicode=U+05BC
|sisters=[[Mappiq]], [[shuruq]] dot
|associates= {{Script/Hebrew|ב}} [[Bet (letter)|bet]], {{Script/Hebrew|ג}} [[gimel]], {{Script/Hebrew|ד}} [[dalet]], {{Script/Hebrew|כ}} [[Kaph|kaf]], {{Script/Hebrew|פ}} [[Pe (Semitic letter)|pe]], {{Script/Hebrew|ת}} [[taw|tav]]
}}
[[File:Dagesh_header.png|class=skin-invert-image|alt=Dagesh in Hebrew. The red dot on the rightmost character (the letter dalet) is a dagesh.|thumb|200x200px|The word {{lang|he-Latn|dagesh}} in [[Hebrew]]. The red dot on the rightmost character (the letter [[dalet]]) is a dagesh.]]

The '''dagesh''' ({{langx|he|דָּגֵשׁ|translit=dagésh}}) is a [[diacritic]] that is used in the [[Hebrew alphabet]]. It takes the form of a dot placed inside a consonant. A dagesh can either indicate a "hard" [[plosive]] version of the consonant (known as {{lang|he-Latn|dagesh qal}}, literally 'light dot') or that the consonant is [[geminated]] (known as {{lang|he-Latn|dagesh ḥazaq}}, literally 'hard dot'), although the latter is rarely used in [[Modern Hebrew]].

The dagesh was added to [[Hebrew orthography]] at the same time as the [[Masoretic vocalization|Masoretic]] system of [[niqqud]] (vowel points).

Two other diacritics with different functions, the [[mappiq]] and the [[shuruq]] dot, are visually identical to the dagesh but are only used with [[Mater lectionis|vowel letters]].

The dagesh and mappiq symbols are often omitted when writing niqqud (e.g. {{Script/Hebrew|בּ}} is written as {{Script/Hebrew|ב}}). In these cases, dagesh may be added to help readers resolve the ambiguity.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://hebrew-academy.org.il/topic/hahlatot/missingvocalizationspelling/#target-21611 |title=הכתיב המלא |trans-title=The Complete Spelling |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.today/20231210135900/https://hebrew-academy.org.il/topic/hahlatot/missingvocalizationspelling/%23target-21611 |archive-date=10 December 2023 |language=he |access-date=10 December 2023}}</ref> The use or omission of such marks is usually consistent throughout any given context.

==Dagesh qal<span class="anchor" id="Dagesh Kal"></span>==
A '''{{lang|he-Latn|dagesh kal}}''' or '''{{lang|he-Latn|dagesh qal}}''' ({{lang|he|דגש קל}}, or {{lang|he|דגש קשיין}}, also ''{{lang|he-Latn|dagesh}} [[lenis consonant|lene]]'', ''weak/light dagesh'') may be placed inside the consonants {{Script/Hebrew|ב}} {{lang|he-Latn|bet}}, {{Script/Hebrew|ג}} {{lang|he-Latn|gimel}}, {{Script/Hebrew|ד}} {{lang|he-Latn|dalet}}, {{Script/Hebrew|כ}} {{lang|he-Latn|kaf}}, {{Script/Hebrew|פ}} {{lang|he-Latn|pe}} and {{Script/Hebrew|ת}} {{lang|he-Latn|tav}}. They each have two sounds, the original hard [[plosive consonant|plosive]] sound (which originally contained no {{lang|he-Latn|dagesh}} as it was the only pronunciation), and a soft [[fricative consonant|fricative]] version produced as such for speech efficiency because of the position in which the mouth is left immediately after a vowel has been produced.

Prior to the [[Babylonian captivity]], the soft sounds of these letters did not exist in Hebrew, but they were later differentiated in Hebrew writing as a result of the [[Aramaic]]-influenced pronunciation of Hebrew.{{Citation needed|date=October 2020}} The Aramaic languages, including [[Jewish]] versions of Aramaic, have these same [[allophonic]] pronunciations of the letters.

The letters take on their hard sounds when they have no vowel sound before them, and take their soft sounds when a vowel immediately precedes them. In [[Biblical Hebrew]] this was the case within a word and also across word boundaries, though in [[Modern Hebrew]] there are no longer across word boundaries, since the soft and hard sounds are no longer allophones of each other, but regarded as distinct phonemes.

When vowel diacritics are used, the hard sounds are indicated by a central dot called {{lang|he-Latn|dagesh}}, while the soft sounds lack the mark. In Modern Hebrew, however, the {{lang|he-Latn|dagesh}} only changes the pronunciation of {{Script/Hebrew|ב}} {{lang|he-Latn|bet}}, {{Script/Hebrew|כ}} {{lang|he-Latn|kaf}}, and {{Script/Hebrew|פ}} {{lang|he-Latn|pe}}. Traditional [[Ashkenazic pronunciation]] also varies the pronunciation of {{Script/Hebrew|ת}} {{lang|he-Latn|tav}}, as does [[Yemenite Hebrew|Yemenite pronunciation]].  Some traditional Middle Eastern pronunciations{{which|date=March 2024}} carry alternate forms for {{Script/Hebrew|ד}} {{lang|he-Latn|dalet}}.

{| class="wikitable"
! colspan=5 | With dagesh
! colspan=5 | Without dagesh
|-
! Symbol
! Name
! Transliteration
! [[Help:IPA chart for Hebrew|IPA]]
! Example in English
! Symbol
! Name
! Transliteration
! IPA
! Example in English
|-
| align=center | {{Script/Hebrew|1=<span style="font-size:200%;">בּ</span>}}
| {{lang|he-Latn|bet}}
| b
| {{IPAslink|b}}
| '''b'''un
| align=center | {{Script/Hebrew|1=<span style="font-size:200%;">ב</span>}}
| {{lang|he-Latn|vet}}
| v
| {{IPAslink|v}}
| '''v'''an
|-
| align=center | {{Script/Hebrew|1=<span style="font-size:200%;line-height:1.5em;">כּ ךּ</span>}}{{efn|group=lower-alpha|"{{Script/Hebrew|ךּ}}" is rare but exists, e.g. the last word in [[Deuteronomy]] 7:1 ({{lang|he|דברים פרק ז׳ פסוק א׳}}) in the word "{{lang|he|מִמֶּךָּ}}", see [[s:he:דברים ז א|here]].}}
| {{lang|he-Latn|kaph}}
| k
| {{IPAslink|k}}
| '''k'''angaroo
| align=center | {{Script/Hebrew|1=<span style="font-size:200%;">כ ך</span>}}
| {{lang|he-Latn|khaph}}
| kh/ch/ḵ
| {{IPAslink|χ}}
| [[:wiktionary:loch#English|lo'''ch''']]
|-
| align=center | {{Script/Hebrew|1=<span style="font-size:200%;line-height:1.5em;">פּ ףּ</span>}}{{efn|group=lower-alpha|"{{Script/Hebrew|ףּ}}" is rare but exists, e.g. the second word in [[Proverbs 30]]:6 ({{lang|he|משלי פרק ל׳ פסוק ו׳}}) in the word "{{lang|he|תּוֹסְףְּ}}" – see [[s:he:משלי ל ו|here]].}}
| {{lang|he-Latn|pe}}
| p
| {{IPAslink|p}}
| '''p'''ass
| align=center | {{Script/Hebrew|1=<span style="font-size:200%;">פ ף</span>}}
| {{lang|he-Latn|phe}}
| f/ph
| {{IPAslink|f}}
| '''f'''ind
|}

In Ashkenazi pronunciation, {{lang|he-Latn|tav}} without a {{lang|he-Latn|dagesh}} is pronounced {{IPAblink|s}}, while in other traditions{{which|date=March 2024}} it is assumed to have been pronounced {{IPAblink|θ}} at the time {{lang|he-Latn|[[niqqud]]}} was introduced. In Modern Hebrew, it is always pronounced {{IPAblink|t}}.

The letters {{lang|he-Latn|[[gimel]]}} ({{Script/Hebrew|ג}}) and {{lang|he-Latn|[[dalet]]}} ({{Script/Hebrew|ד}}) may also contain a {{lang|he-Latn|dagesh kal}}. This indicates an allophonic variation of the phonemes {{IPAslink|ɡ}} and {{IPAslink|d}}, a variation which no longer exists in modern Hebrew pronunciation. The variations are believed to have been: {{Script/Hebrew|גּ}} pronounced as {{IPAblink|ɡ}}, {{Script/Hebrew|ג}} as {{IPAblink|ɣ}}, {{Script/Hebrew|דּ}} as {{IPAblink|d}}, and {{Script/Hebrew|ד}} as {{IPAblink|ð}}. The Hebrew spoken by the Jews of Yemen ([[Yemenite Hebrew]]) still preserves unique [[phonemes]] for these letters with and without a dagesh.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://sagavyah.tripod.com:80/ALEFBET.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150428054913/http://sagavyah.tripod.com/ALEFBET.html |url-status=dead |archive-date=2015-04-28 |title=Vocalization of Hebrew Alphabet |access-date=2018-09-20 }}</ref>
===Pronunciation===
Among Modern Hebrew speakers, the pronunciation of some of the above letters has become the same as others:
{| class="wikitable"
! Letter
! Pronounced like
! Letter
|-
| align=center | {{Script/Hebrew|1=<span style="font-size:200%;">ב</span>}}<br>{{lang|he-Latn|vet}}
| align=center | (without {{lang|he-Latn|dagesh}}) like
| align=center | {{Script/Hebrew|1=<span style="font-size:200%;">ו</span>}}<br>{{lang|he-Latn|vav}}
|-
| align=center | {{Script/Hebrew|1=<span style="font-size:200%;">כ</span>}}<br>{{lang|he-Latn|khaf}}
| align=center | (without {{lang|he-Latn|dagesh}}) like
| align=center | {{Script/Hebrew|1=<span style="font-size:200%;">ח</span>}}<br>{{lang|he-Latn|chet}}
|-
| align=center | {{Script/Hebrew|1=<span style="font-size:200%;">כּ</span>}}<br>{{lang|he-Latn|kaf}}
| align=center | (with {{lang|he-Latn|dagesh}}) like
| align=center | {{Script/Hebrew|1=<span style="font-size:200%;">ק</span>}}<br>{{lang|he-Latn|qof}}
|-
| align=center | {{Script/Hebrew|1=<span style="font-size:200%;">תּ, ת</span>}}<br>{{lang|he-Latn|tav}}
| align=center | (with and without {{lang|he-Latn|dagesh}}) like
| align=center | {{Script/Hebrew|1=<span style="font-size:200%;">ט</span>}}<br>{{lang|he-Latn|tet}}
|}

== Dagesh hazaq ==
{{lang|he-Latn|Dagesh ḥazak}} or {{lang|he-Latn|dagesh ḥazaq}} ({{lang|he|דגש חזק}}, {{lit|strong dot}}, i.e. 'gemination {{lang|he-Latn|dagesh}}', or {{lang|he|דגש כפלן}}, also '{{lang|he-Latn|dagesh}} [[fortis consonant|forte]]') may be placed in almost any letter, indicating a [[gemination]] (doubling) of that consonant in the pronunciation of pre-modern Hebrew. This gemination is not adhered to in modern Hebrew and is only used in careful pronunciation, such as the reading of scripture in a synagogue service, recitation of biblical or traditional texts or on ceremonial occasions, and only by very precise readers.

The following letters, the [[guttural]]s, almost never have a {{lang|he-Latn|dagesh}}: {{lang|he-Latn|[[aleph]]}} {{Script/Hebrew|א}}, {{lang|he-Latn|[[he (letter)|he]]}} {{Script/Hebrew|ה}}, {{lang|he-Latn|[[heth (letter)|chet]]}} {{Script/Hebrew|ח}}, {{lang|he-Latn|[[ayin]]}} {{Script/Hebrew|ע}}, and {{lang|he-Latn|[[resh]]}} {{Script/Hebrew|ר}}. A few instances of {{lang|he-Latn|resh}} with {{lang|he-Latn|dagesh}} are recorded in the [[Masoretic Text]], as well as a few cases of {{lang|he-Latn|aleph}} with {{lang|he-Latn|dagesh}}, such as in [[Leviticus]] 23:17.

The presence of a {{lang|he-Latn|dagesh ḥazak}} or consonant-doubling in a word may be entirely morphological, or, as is often the case, is a lengthening to compensate for a deleted consonant. A {{lang|he-Latn|dagesh ḥazak}} may be placed in letters for one of the following reasons:

* The letter follows the [[Article (grammar)|definite article]], the word "the". For example, {{lang|he|שָׁמָיִם}} ({{lang|he-Latn|shamayim}}, 'heaven(s)') in [[Book of Genesis|Genesis]] 1:8<ref>{{Cite web |title=Genesis 1 / Hebrew - English Bible / Mechon-Mamre |url=https://mechon-mamre.org/p/pt/pt0101.htm#8 |access-date=2024-03-29 |website=mechon-mamre.org}}</ref> is {{lang|he|הַשָּׁמַיִם}} ({{lang|he-Latn|ha'''shsh'''amayim}}, 'the heaven(s)') in [[Genesis 1:1]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=Genesis 1 / Hebrew - English Bible / Mechon-Mamre |url=https://mechon-mamre.org/p/pt/pt0101.htm#1 |access-date=2024-03-29 |website=mechon-mamre.org}}</ref> This is because the definite article was originally a stand-alone particle {{lang|he|הַל}} ({{lang|he-Latn|hal}}), but at an early stage in ancient Hebrew it contracted into a prefix {{lang|he|הַ}} ({{lang|he-Latn|ha-}}), and the loss of the {{Script/Hebrew|ל}} 'l' was compensated for by doubling the following letter.<ref>{{Cite book|last=Weingreen|first=J.|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=DUGczQEACAAJ|title=A Practical Grammar for Classical Hebrew|date=1963-03-26|publisher=OUP Oxford|isbn=978-0-19-815422-8|location=|pages=23 (§16)|language=en}}</ref> In this situation where the following letter is a guttural, the vowel in 'ha-' becomes long to compensate for the inability to double the next letter - otherwise, this vowel is almost always short. This also happens in words taking the prefix {{lang|he|לַ}} {{lang|he-Latn|la-}}, since it is a prefix created by the contraction of {{lang|he|לְ}} {{lang|he-Latn|le-}} and {{lang|he|הַ}} {{lang|he-Latn|ha-}}. Occasionally, the letter following a {{lang|he-Latn|he}} which is used to indicate a question may also receive a {{lang|he-Latn|dagesh}}, e.g. [[Book of Numbers|Numbers]] 13:20 {{lang|he|הַשְּׁמֵנָה הִוא}} ({{lang|he-Latn|Ha'''shshe'''mena hi?}}, 'whether it is fat').<ref>{{Cite web |title=Numbers 13 / Hebrew - English Bible / Mechon-Mamre |url=https://mechon-mamre.org/p/pt/pt0413.htm#20 |access-date=2024-03-30 |website=mechon-mamre.org}}</ref>
* The letter follows the prefix {{Script/Hebrew|מִ}} {{lang|he-Latn|mi-}} where this prefix is an abbreviation for the word {{lang|he-Latn|min}}, meaning 'from'. For example, the phrase "from your hand", if spelled as two words, would be {{lang|he|מִן יָדֶךָ}} ({{lang|he-Latn|min yadekha}}). In Genesis 4:11 however, it occurs as one word: {{lang|he|מִיָּדֶךָ}} {{lang|he-Latn|mi'''yy'''adekha}}. This prefix mostly replaces the usage of the particle {{lang|he|מִן}} ({{lang|he-Latn|min}}) in modern Hebrew.
* The letter follows the prefix {{lang|he|שֶׁ}} 'she-' in modern Hebrew, which is a prefixed contraction of the relative pronoun {{lang|he|אֲשֶׁר}} ({{lang|he-Latn|asher}}), where the first letter is dropped and the last letter disappears and doubles the next letter. This prefix is rare in Biblical texts, and mostly replaces the use of {{lang|he-Latn|asher}} in Modern Hebrew.
* It marks the doubling of a letter that is caused by a weak letter losing its vowel. In these situations, the weak letter disappears, and the following letter is doubled to compensate for it. For example, compare [[Book of Exodus|Exodus]] 6:7 {{lang|he|לָקַחְתִּי}} ({{lang|he-Latn|lakachti}}) with Numbers 23:28, where the first letter of the root {{Script/Hebrew|ל}} has been [[elided]]: {{lang|he|וַיִּקַּח}} ({{lang|he-Latn|vayyi'''kk'''ach}}).<ref>{{Cite web |title=Numbers 23 / Hebrew - English Bible / Mechon-Mamre |url=https://mechon-mamre.org/p/pt/pt0423.htm#28 |access-date=2024-03-30 |website=mechon-mamre.org}}</ref> [[Lamed]] only behaves as a weak letter in this particular root word.
* If the letter follows a [[vav-consecutive]] imperfect (sometimes referred to as {{lang|he-Latn|vav}} conversive, or {{lang|he-Latn|[[Waw (letter)#Words written as vav|vav ha'hipuch]]}}), which, in Biblical Hebrew, switches a verb between [[Perfect (grammar)|perfect]] and [[imperfect]]. For example, compare [[Judges 7]]:4 {{lang|he|יֵלֵךְ}} ({{lang|he-Latn|yelekh}}, 'let him go') with [[Deuteronomy]] 31:1 {{lang|he|וַיֵּלֶך}} ({{lang|he-Latn|va'''yy'''elekh}}, 'he went'). A possible reason for this doubling is that the {{lang|he|וַ}} ({{lang|he-Latn|va-}}) prefix could be the remains of an [[auxiliary verb]] {{lang|he|הָוַיַ}} ({{lang|he-Latn|hawaya}}, the ancient form of the verb {{lang|he|הָיָה}} {{lang|he-Latn|hayah}}, 'to be') being contracted into a prefix, losing the initial {{lang|he-Latn|ha}}, and the final {{lang|he-Latn|ya}} syllable disappearing and doubling the next letter.
* In some of the {{lang|he-Latn|[[binyan]]}} verbal stems, where the {{lang|he-Latn|pi'el}}, {{lang|he-Latn|pu'al}} and {{lang|he-Latn|hitpa'el}} stems themselves cause doubling in the second root letter of a verb. For example:
** Exodus 15:9 {{lang|he|אֲחַלֵּק}} ({{lang|he-Latn|acha'''ll'''ek}}, 'I shall divide'), {{lang|he-Latn|pi'el}}-stem, first person future tense 
** in the phrase {{lang|he|הָלֵּלוּ יַהּ}} ({{lang|he-Latn|ha'''ll'''elu yah}}, 'praise the {{LORD}}'), where {{lang|he-Latn|hallelu}} is in the {{lang|he-Latn|pi'el}}-stem, masculine plural imperative form
** Genesis 47:31 {{lang|he|וַיִּתְחַזֵּק}} ({{lang|he-Latn|vayyitcha'''zz'''ek}}, 'he strengthened himself'), {{lang|he-Latn|hitpa'el}}-stem

== Rafe ==
In Masoretic manuscripts the opposite of a {{lang|he-Latn|dagesh}} would be indicated by a {{lang|he-Latn|[[rafe]]}}, a small line on top of the letter. This is no longer found in Hebrew, but may still sometimes be seen in [[Yiddish]] and [[Ladino language|Ladino]].
<!--
==Pronunciation of modern Israeli Hebrew==
{{Further|[[Hebrew language]]}}

Below is a complete list of Hebrew letters which may take a dagesh, and their pronunciation as consonants in modern Israeli Hebrew:

:{| class="wikitable"
|-
! Character !! Name !! Pronunciation
|-
| align=center | א ||  ''alef'' || silent (traditionally, {{IPA|[ʔ]}} when before a vowel)
|-
| align=center | בּ  ||  ''bet'' || [b]
|-
| align=center | ב ||  ''vet'' || [v] ([b] among Egyptian Jews)
|-
| align=center | גּ  ||  ''gimel'' || {{IPA|[ɡ]}} ({{IPA|[dʒ]}} among some Teimanim)
|-
| align=center | ג ||  ''ghimel'' || {{IPA|[ɡ]}} ({{IPA|[ɣ]}} among [[Yemenite Jew|Teimanim]], [[Mizrahi Jew|Mizrachim]] and some [[Sephardi]]m)
|-
| align=center | ’ג ||  ''jimel'' || {{IPA|[dʒ]}} (used only in [[loanword]]s)
|-
| align=center | דּ  || ''dalet'' || [d]
|-
| align=center | ד || ''dhalet'' || [d] ([ð] among Teimanim, Mizrahim and some Sephardim)
|-
| align=center | ה ||  ''he'' || [h], silent in word-final position
|-
| align=center | ו || ''vav'' || [v] ([w] among Teimanim and some Mizrahim)
|-
| align=center | ז || ''zayin'' || [z]
|-
| align=center | ’ז || ''zhayin'' || {{IPA|[ʒ]}} (used only in loanwords)
|-
| align=center | ח || ''khet'' || {{IPA|[χ]}} ({{IPA|ħ}} among Oriental Hebrew speakers)
|-
| align=center | ט || ''tet'' || [t] ({{IPA|[t̴]}} among Teimanim)
|-
| align=center | י || ''yod'' || [j]
|-
| align=center | כּ || ''kaf'' || [k]
|-
| align=center | ךּ  || ''final kaf'' || [k]
|-
| align=center | כ || ''khaf'' || [χ]
|-
| align=center | ך || ''final khaf'' || [χ]
|-
| align=center | ל || ''lamed'' || [l]
|-
| align=center | מ || ''mem'' || [m]
|-
| align=center | ם || ''final mem'' || [m]
|-
| align=center | נ || ''nun'' || [n]
|-
| align=center | ן || ''final nun'' || [n]
|-
| align=center | ס || ''samekh'' || [s]
|-
| align=center | ע || ''ayin'' || silent, like א ({{IPA|[ʕ]}} among Oriental Hebrew speakers)
|-
| align=center | פּ || ''pe'' || [p]
|-
| align=center | פ || ''fe'' || [f]
|-
| align=center | ף || ''final fe'' || [f]
|-
| align=center | צ || ''tsadi'' || {{IPA|[ts]}}
|-
| align=center | ץ || ''final tsadi'' || {{IPA|[ts]}}
|-
| align=center | ’צ || ''tshadi'' || {{IPA|[tʃ]}} (used only in loanwords) <br> and {{IPA|[dˤ]}} (used to indicate the [[Arabic alphabet|Arabic]] letter {{unicode|[[Ḍād]]}} ض) 
|-
| align=center | ק || ''kuf'' || {{IPA|[k]}} (pronounced {{IPA|[q]}} by many Israelis as well as speakers <br> hailing from the Arab world, {{IPA|[ɡ]}} by some Teimanim) 
|-
| align=center | ר || ''resh'' || {{IPA|[ʁ]}} ({{IPA|[r]}} among Oriental Hebrew speakers)  
|-
| align=center | שׁ || ''shin'' || {{IPA|[ʃ]}} 
|-
| align=center | שׂ || ''sin'' || [s] 
|-
| align=center | תּ || ''tav'' || [t] 
|-
| align=center | ת || ''thav'' || {{IPA|[t]}} ({{IPA|[θ]}} among Teimanim, Mizrahim and some Sephardim, <br> [s] by some Ashkenazim) 
|}

Dagesh and [[mappiq]] symbols, the dots in otherwise identical letters, are often omitted in writing.  For instance, בּ is often written as ב.  The use or omission of such marks is usually consistent throughout any given context.

===Matres lectionis===
{{further|[[Mater lectionis]]}}

The letters {{Script/Hebrew|א}} ''alef'', {{Script/Hebrew|ה}} ''he'', {{Script/Hebrew|ו}} ''vav'' and {{Script/Hebrew|י}} ''yod'' are consonants that can sometimes have the value of vowels. ''Vav'' and ''yod'' in particular are more often vowels than they are consonants.

:{|class="wikitable"
|-
!Symbol!!Name!!Vowel formation
|-
| align="center" style="font-family:SBL Hebrew, Ezra SIL SR, Ezra SIL, Cardo, Chrysanthi Unicode, TITUS Cyberbit Basic, Arial Unicode MS, Narkisim, Times New Roman;font-size:200%"|א
|| alef  
|| ê, ệ, ậ, â, ô
|-
| align="center" style="font-family:SBL Hebrew, Ezra SIL SR, Ezra SIL, Cardo, Chrysanthi Unicode, TITUS Cyberbit Basic, Arial Unicode MS, Narkisim, Times New Roman;font-size:200%"|ה
|| he
|| ê, ệ, ậ, â, ô
|-
| align="center" style="font-family:SBL Hebrew, Ezra SIL SR, Ezra SIL, Cardo, Chrysanthi Unicode, TITUS Cyberbit Basic, Arial Unicode MS, Narkisim, Times New Roman;font-size:200%"|ו
|| vav
||  ô, û
|-
| align="center" style="font-family:SBL Hebrew, Ezra SIL SR, Ezra SIL, Cardo, Chrysanthi Unicode, TITUS Cyberbit Basic, Arial Unicode MS, Narkisim, Times New Roman;font-size:200%"|י
|| yod 
|| î, ê, ệ
|}

===Loanwords===
The sounds /tʃ, dʒ, ʒ/, written 'ז' , ג' , צ, are found in many loanwords that are part of the everyday Hebrew colloquial vocabulary, even among people who don't know the source languages.  In addition, there are ways of writing some sounds in words that are truly foreign, not part of Israeli Hebrew:

:{| class="wikitable"
|-
!! colspan=6 | Everyday Colloquial Hebrew
|-
!! colspan=1 | Name
!! colspan=1 | Symbol
!! colspan=1 | [[International Phonetic Alphabet|IPA]]
!! colspan=1 | [[Transliteration]]
!! colspan=1 | Example
! Letter
|-
| Jimel
| align=center | {{Script/Hebrew|1=<span style="font-size:200%;">’ג</span>}}  
| align="center" | {{IPA|/dʒ/}}
| align="center" | j
| align="center" | '''j'''ump
| align="center" | J
|-
| Zhayin
| align=center | {{Script/Hebrew|1=<span style="font-size:200%;">’ז</span>}}  
| align="center" | {{IPA|/ʒ/}}
| align="center" | varies
| align="center" | vi'''si'''on, A'''si'''a 
| align="center" | ''see examples''
|-
| Tshadi
| align=center | {{Script/Hebrew|1=<span style="font-size:200%;">’צ</span>}}  
| align="center" | {{IPA|/tʃ/}}
| align="center" | ch
| align="center" | '''ch'''annel
| align="center" | "ch"
|-
| Double Vav
| align=center | {{Script/Hebrew|1=<span style="font-size:200%;">וו</span>}}  
| align="center" | {{IPA|/w/}}
| align="center" | w
| align="center" | '''w'''ing
| align="center" | W
|-
!! colspan=6 | Foreign Sounding Loanwords
|-
| Dhal
| align=center | {{Script/Hebrew|1=<span style="font-size:200%;">’ד</span>}}
| align="center" | {{IPA|/ð/}}
| align="center" | th
| align="center" | '''th'''en
| align="center" | "th", Ḏāl (ذ)
|-
| Kha
| align=center | {{Script/Hebrew|1=<span style="font-size:200%;">’ח</span>}}
| align="center" | {{IPA|/χ/}}
| align="center" colspan=2 | ''Arabic''
| align="center" | [[Ḫāʼ]] (خ)
|-
| Za
| align=center | {{Script/Hebrew|1=<span style="font-size:200%;">’ט</span>}}
| align="center" | {{IPA|/ðˤ/}}
| align="center" colspan=2 | ''Arabic''
| align="center" | [[Ẓāʼ]] (ظ)
|-
| Ghayin
| align=center | {{Script/Hebrew|1=<span style="font-size:200%;">’ע</span>}}
| align="center" | {{IPA|/ʁ/}}
| align="center" colspan=2 | ''Arabic''
| align="center" | [[Ġayn]] (غ)
|-
| Tshadi
| align=center | {{Script/Hebrew|1=<span style="font-size:200%;">’צ</span>}}  
| align="center" | {{IPA|/dˤ/}}
| align="center" colspan=2 | ''Arabic''
| align="center" | [[Ḍād]] (ض)
|-
| Thav
| align=center | {{Script/Hebrew|1=<span style="font-size:200%;">’ת</span>}}
| align="center" | {{IPA|/θ/}}
| align="center" | th
| align="center" | '''th'''ing
| align="center" | "th", [[Ṯāʼ]] (ث)
|-
|}

===Pronunciation===
In [[Israel]]'s general population, many consonants have merged to the same pronunciation. They are:
:{| class="wikitable"
|-
! Letter
! with
!! colspan=3 | Letter(s)
|-
| align=center | {{Script/Hebrew|1=<span style="font-size:200%;">א</span>}}<br>''alef''
| align=center | <small>''with (varyingly)''</small>
| align=center colspan=3 | {{Script/Hebrew|1=<span style="font-size:200%;">ה</span>}} <br>''hey''
|-
| align=center | {{Script/Hebrew|1=<span style="font-size:200%;">ב</span>}}<br>''vet''
| align=center | <small>''(without ''dagesh'') with''</small>
| align=center colspan=3 | {{Script/Hebrew|1=<span style="font-size:200%;">ו</span>}}<br>''vav''
|-
| align=center | {{Script/Hebrew|1=<span style="font-size:200%;">ח</span>}}<br>''het''
| align=center |  <small>''with (without ''dagesh'')''</small>
| align=center colspan=3 | {{Script/Hebrew|1=<span style="font-size:200%;">כ</span>}}<br>''kaf''
|-
| align=center | {{Script/Hebrew|1=<span style="font-size:200%;">ט</span>}}<br>''tet''
| align=center |<small>''with''</small>
| align=center colspan=3 |{{Script/Hebrew|1=<span style="font-size:200%;">ת</span>}}<br>''tav''
|-
| align=center | {{Script/Hebrew|1=<span style="font-size:200%;">כּ</span>}}<br>''kaf''
| align=center |<small>''(with ''dagesh'') with''</small>
| align=center  colspan=3 |{{Script/Hebrew|1=<span style="font-size:200%;">ק</span>}}<br>''qof''  
|-
| align=center | {{Script/Hebrew|1=<span style="font-size:200%;">ס</span>}}<br>''samech''
| align=center | <small>''with''</small>
| align=center colspan=3 | {{Script/Hebrew|1=<span style="font-size:200%;">שׂ</span>}}<br>''sin (with left dot)''
|-
| align=center | {{Script/Hebrew|1=<span style="font-size:200%;">צ</span>}}<br>''tzadi''
| align=center | <small>''(varyingly) with the consonant cluster''</small>
| align=center | {{Script/Hebrew|1=<span style="font-size:200%;">תס</span>}}<br>''tav-semech''
| align=center | <small>''and''</small>
| align=center | {{Script/Hebrew|1=<span style="font-size:200%;">תשׂ</span>}}<br>''tav-sin''
|-
|}
-->

== Unicode encodings ==
In computer typography there are two ways to use a {{lang|he-Latn|dagesh}} with Hebrew text. The following examples give the [[Unicode]] and [[numeric character reference]]s:

*Using [[combining character]]s:
**{{lang|he-Latn|bet}} + {{lang|he-Latn|dagesh}}: {{Script/Hebrew|בּ}} = <code>U+05D1</code><code>U+05BC</code> or <code>&amp;#1489;</code><code>&amp;#1468;</code>
**{{lang|he-Latn|kaf}} + {{lang|he-Latn|dagesh}}: {{Script/Hebrew|כּ}} = <code>U+05DB</code><code>U+05BC</code> or <code>&amp;#1499;</code><code>&amp;#1468;</code>
**{{lang|he-Latn|pe}} + {{lang|he-Latn|dagesh}}: {{Script/Hebrew|פּ}} = <code>U+05E4</code><code>U+05BC</code> or <code>&amp;#1508;</code><code>&amp;#1468;</code>
*Using [[precomposed character]]s:
**{{lang|he-Latn|bet}} with {{lang|he-Latn|dagesh}}: {{Script/Hebrew|בּ}} = <code>U+FB31</code> or <code>&amp;#64305;</code>
**{{lang|he-Latn|kaf}} with {{lang|he-Latn|dagesh}}: {{Script/Hebrew|כּ}} = <code>U+FB3B</code> or <code>&amp;#64315;</code>
**{{lang|he-Latn|pe}} with {{lang|he-Latn|dagesh}}: {{Script/Hebrew|פּ}} = <code>U+FB44</code> or <code>&amp;#64324;</code>

Some [[font]]s, [[character set]]s, [[Character encoding|encoding]]s, and [[operating system]]s may support neither, one, or both methods.

== See also ==
* [[Shaddah]], analogous to the {{lang|he-Latn|dagesh hazak}} in written Arabic
* [[Hebrew spelling]]
* [[Yiddish orthography|Yiddish spelling]]
* [[Judaeo-Spanish#Orthography|Ladino spelling]]
* [[Geresh]]
* [[Dakuten and Handakuten]] (Japanese equivalent)

== Notes ==
{{Notelist}}

== References ==
{{Reflist}}

== Further reading ==
* {{Cite GHG|12}}, {{Cite GHG|13|notitle=1|nologo=1}}
* M. Spiegel and J. Volk, 2003. "Hebrew Vowel Restoration with Neural Networks," Proceedings of the Class of 2003 Senior Conference, Computer Science Department, Swarthmore College, pp.&nbsp;1–7: [https://web.archive.org/web/20070804042244/http://www.cs.swarthmore.edu/~richardw/cs97-s03/papers/01_Paper.pdf Open Access Copy]

== External links ==
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20020615055802/http://www.alanwood.net/unicode/hebrew.html alanwood.com Hebrew]
* [http://www.alanwood.net/unicode/alphabetic_presentation_forms.html alanwood.com Alphabetic presentation]

{{Hebrew language}}

[[Category:Niqqud]]