Hebrew has two main niqqud symbols that represent the “A” sound: Patach and Kamatz. Both sound like “ah” as in father, but they appear differently and sometimes carry subtle pronunciation differences depending on dialect or tradition.
Patach (ַ)
- Symbol: A small horizontal line under the letter
- Sound: “ah”
- Example: בַּיִת (bayit – house)
Kamatz (ָ)
- Symbol: A small T-shape under the letter
- Sound: Also “ah” in Modern Hebrew
- Example: תּוֹרָה (Torah – Torah)
In Biblical or traditional pronunciation, Kamatz can sometimes sound like “aw” (as in law), especially in Ashkenazi Hebrew.
