Session 5 — Shewa: Vocal vs. Silent

BBH 2026.1 · Ch3 Review · 10 items

Instructions: For each word, a target letter bearing a shewa is identified in the "Target" column. Determine whether the shewa is Vocal or Silent, and state the rule that applies.

Key Rules:

Vocal Shewa: (1) word-initial position, (2) after another shewa, (3) under a letter with Dagesh Forte.
Silent Shewa: (1) word-final position, (2) all other positions — closes a syllable.
Hateph Shewa (composite: מֲ מֱ מֳ): always vocal — used under gutturals instead of simple vocal shewa.

#	Word	Target (letter with shewa)	Vocal or Silent?	Rule
1	בְּרֵאשִׁית	בְּ
✓	בְּרֵאשִׁית	בְּ	Vocal	Word-initial position — every word begins with a vowel sound
2	מֶלֶךְ	ךְ
✓	מֶלֶךְ	ךְ	Silent	Word-final position — marks close of the last syllable; no sound
3	יְרוּשָׁלַיִם	יְ
✓	יְרוּשָׁלַיִם	יְ	Vocal	Word-initial position — Yod begins the word
4	מִשְׁפָּט	שְׁ
✓	מִשְׁפָּט	שְׁ	Silent	Middle-of-word, not word-initial, no dagesh forte under Shin — closes the first syllable מִשׁ
5	בְּרִית	בְּ
✓	בְּרִית	בְּ	Vocal	Word-initial position — Bet begins the word
6	יִשְׂרָאֵל	שְׂ
✓	יִשְׂרָאֵל	שְׂ	Silent	Middle-of-word after short Hireq (יִ) — closes the first syllable יִשׂ
7	כְּבוֹד	כְּ
✓	כְּבוֹד	כְּ	Vocal	Word-initial position — Kaf begins the word
8	נִשְׁמַר	שְׁ
✓	נִשְׁמַר	שְׁ	Silent	Middle-of-word after short Hireq (נִ) — closes the first syllable נִשׁ
9	שְׁמַע	שְׁ
✓	שְׁמַע	שְׁ	Vocal	Word-initial position — Shin begins the word (the Shema begins with this word!)
10	יִשְׁלַח	שְׁ
✓	יִשְׁלַח	שְׁ	Silent	Middle-of-word after short Hireq (יִ) — closes the first syllable יִשׁ