BBA Chapter 2 — Aramaic Vowels

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Basics of Biblical Aramaic, Van Pelt
Chapter 2: Vowels

1. Introduction

Biblical Aramaic uses the same Tiberian pointing system as Biblical Hebrew. The vowel signs (niqqud) were added by the Masoretes and appear in the same positions — beneath, above, or within the consonants. Students who know Hebrew vowels already know the Aramaic vowel system; the differences are matters of distribution and frequency, not of the signs themselves.

2. The Aramaic Vowel System

Aramaic vowels are classified by quality (a, e, i, o, u) and quantity (long vs. short). The Tiberian system represents these distinctions through distinct diacritical signs.

2.1 Long Vowels

2.2 Short Vowels

2.3 Reduced Vowels (Shevas)

3. Distinguishing Qamets from Qamets Hatuph

The long Qamets (ā) and the short Qamets Hatuph (o) look identical (ָ). Context and grammar determine which you have:

Practical note: In Aramaic texts you will encounter, the qamets hatuph is less frequent than in Hebrew. When in doubt, read it as long ā unless grammar demands otherwise.

4. Matres Lectionis (Vowel Letters)

Aramaic uses the same three consonants as Hebrew to serve as vowel letters — consonants that indicate a long vowel without actually being pronounced:

Key difference from Hebrew: In Aramaic, Aleph (א) functions as a mater lectionis far more frequently — especially as the determined state suffix (see Chapter 5). A final א in Aramaic typically signals the determined (definite) state, not a genuine consonant.

5. The Sheva

The sheva (ְ) has two functions:

1. Vocal sheva — represents a very brief, reduced vowel (like the e in "believe"). It occurs under a consonant that opens a syllable.
2. Silent sheva — marks the closure of a syllable. It is not pronounced.

How to distinguish:
- A sheva under the first letter of a word is always vocal.
- A sheva under a consonant with Dagesh Forte is always vocal.
- Two shevas in succession: the first is silent, the second is vocal.
- A sheva after a long vowel is usually vocal.
- A sheva after a short vowel in a closed syllable is usually silent.

6. Gutturals and Vowels

Gutturals (א ה ח ע) cannot take a simple sheva. Instead, they take compound shevas (hatephs):

7. Dagesh

The dagesh is a dot inside a consonant with two functions:

Dagesh Lene

• Appears only in the Bgdkpt letters (ב ג ד כ פ ת)
• Signals the hard pronunciation
• Occurs when the letter follows a closed syllable or begins a word

Dagesh Forte

• Can appear in any consonant except gutturals (א ה ח ע) and Resh (ר)
• Indicates the consonant is doubled
• Often results from an assimilated Nun (נ → doubled next consonant)

8. Mapping Aramaic Vowel Patterns

Aramaic shares with Hebrew the principle that stressed syllables tend to lengthen and unstressed syllables tend to reduce. In Aramaic:

• The ultima (last syllable) carries primary stress in most forms
• Propretonic reduction (vowel reduction two syllables before the stress) is less extensive than in Hebrew
• Aramaic shows a preference for long vowels in open syllables

Summary