Gimel, Dalet and Kamats (Niqqud symbol)

Learn how to write gimel, dalet, and kamats, the first niqqud symbol

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Lesson Transcript

Shalom, ani Yana! Welcome to Hebrewpod101.com’s Alef-Beit be-kalei kalut.

The fastest, easiest, and most fun way to learn the Hebrew alphabet: the alef-beit!

In the last lesson, we learned the first two letters of the alef-beit. Do you remember them?

In this lesson we'll move on to the next couple of letters and the first Niqqud symbol.

So let’s start! Bou nathil!

The third letter of the alef-beit is Gimel. The sound of Gimel is 'g'.

Let’s first see how to write it by hand.

ג (handwriting)

and in print

ג (printed)

They look quite different don't they!

But the good news is that you already can write another Hebrew word

'gag'- This means roof.

גג (handwriting)

and in print

גג (printed)

Here you may be a little confused. If you were to see this word written, you might want to read it as “gg” -- there’s no vowel sound! In Hebrew the vowels are often not written. You would know that this word is pronounced “gag” because it has been taught to you before.

And this is why the Niqqud is so important. The Niqqud shows learners of the Hebrew language what vowel sound is used in words, but don’t rely on them too much! As you get more experienced with Hebrew, you should be able to remember how to read words even if the Niqqud is not attached.

Now it’s time to introduce to you the first Niqqud. Remember, Niqqud are small points and lines that are placed below consonants. This first one has the sound 'a' - just like Alef.

This is “kamats” and it looks like this-

and it is always written right under the consonant letter.

Let’s write “roof” a couple more times while pronouncing its sound-ָ-'a'.

So for example,

גָג

and in print

גָג

also the word -אָבָּא- has kamats under two of its letters.

אָבָּא

and in print

אָבָּא

So now you can read and write two words in Hebrew using the full vowel system.

You can adjust the sound of the letter Gimel by writing a comma right here. Now it is read 'g' (as in the name "George")

First the 'gimel' and then the comma on the upper left side.

and in print-

'ג-

So now let’s move to the fourth letter 'dalet' with the sound of 'd'.

That’s it! Just one curve for the hand writing.

and the print

So let’s make another word with the letters ג and ד-

Here 'dag'- means fish. This will come in very handy whenever you’re at a restaurant.

Let’s write it:

דג

'da'

'g'

and now in print-

דג

Now it's time for Yana's insights.

Don't get lost in studying and forget the real world - find Hebrew letters around you! Don't see any alef-beit letters around you? Go to HebrewPod101.com and check out the alef-beit transcripts for every lesson dialogue. You may not be able to read them all yet, but you can get a feel for how the Hebrew letters are used in real life.

Do you know what אהבה -"ahava" means?

Its the most romantic word in Hebrew!

You will be able to write and read this and more in the next lesson. See you then!

Lehitraot!!!

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