Questions about Hebrew Words

Question

Questions about pronunciation and meaning of some Hebrew words.

Thanks for your help.

Hebrew word
Meaning
Pronunciation

שַׁבָּת
Sabbath
Sha-Bat

שָׁבַת
Sabbath
Sha-Vat

Why V sound vs B sound?

מִמְקוֹמוֹ
from its place
Mim-komo

Never heard as Mi’me-komo

לִמְקוֹמָה
to its place
Lim-komo

Yet for this word,

some say Li’me-komo

0

Answers

  1. The Just Ask! - AskTheRabbi.org Team

    1. In general the word “shabbat” is referring to the day and it is a noun. The word “shavat” is the verb – as in “shavat mimelachto” – He ceased from His work”. In the word Shabbat, it is a B sound because it follows a Patach which is a “short vowel.” In the word shavat it is a V sound because it follows a Kamatz which is a “long vowel.”

    2. and 3. The vowelization of both words has a Sheva Nach under the second letter. A Sheva Nach is always silent, and therefore both of the words that you are asking about should be pronounced in the same way – “Mimkomo” and “Limkomo”.

    Best wishes from the AskTheRabbi.org Team