Chapter 2 — Sounding Out Proper Names

BBH Chapter 2 · Hebrew Vowels · 15 proper names

Instructions: For each Hebrew proper name, write the English name and indicate whether any vowel letters (matres lectionis — ו, י, or ה functioning as vowel holders) are present.
# Hebrew Name English Name Matres Lectionis?
1 שָׂרָה
שָׂרָה Sarah Yes — ה (Qamets He): the final he is a mater for long A
2 נֹחַ
נֹחַ Noah No matres lectionis
3 דָּוִד
דָּוִד David No matres lectionis (the waw is a consonant here)
4 רוּת
רוּת Ruth Yes — ו (Shureq): waw with dagesh dot = long U mater
5 לֵאָה
לֵאָה Leah Yes — ה (Qamets He): the final he is a mater for long A
6 מֹשֶׁה
מֹשֶׁה Moses Yes — ה (Seghol He): the final he is a mater for short E
7 יַעֲקֹב
יַעֲקֹב Jacob No matres lectionis
8 יִצְחָק
יִצְחָק Isaac No matres lectionis
9 אַהֲרֹן
אַהֲרֹן Aaron No matres lectionis
10 מִרְיָם
מִרְיָם Miriam No matres lectionis (yod is a consonant)
11 שְׁלֹמֹה
שְׁלֹמֹה Solomon Yes — ה (Holem He): the final he is a mater for long O
12 אֱלִיָּהוּ
אֱלִיָּהוּ Elijah Yes — ו (Shureq): final waw with dagesh dot = long U mater
13 יוֹסֵף
יוֹסֵף Joseph Yes — ו (Holem Waw): waw with holem dot above = long O mater
14 אַבְרָהָם
אַבְרָהָם Abraham No matres lectionis (the he is a consonant with Qamets under it)
15 יְרוּשָׁלַיִם
יְרוּשָׁלַיִם Jerusalem Yes — ו (Shureq): waw with dagesh dot after resh = long U mater