The Shva is a unique niqqud symbol in Hebrew. It looks like two vertical dots under a letter and can represent either a silent pause or a quick, almost imperceptible vowel sound.
Shva (ְ)
- Symbol: Two vertical dots under the letter
- Function: Can be silent or sounded, depending on its position
- Example (silent): מַלְכָּה (malka – queen) → the לְ is silent
- Example (sounded): שְׁמוּאֵל (Shmuel – Samuel) → the שְׁ is pronounced as a short “e”
Two Types of Shva
- Shva Nach (שווא נח) – Silent Shva
- Appears at the end of a syllable
- Not pronounced
- Example: אַרְבַּע (arbah) → the רְ is silent
- Shva Na (שווא נע) – Sounded Shva
- Appears at the beginning of a syllable
- Pronounced as a quick “e”
- Example: יְלָדִים (yeladim) → the יְ is sounded
💡 Tip: If a Shva appears under the first letter of a word, it’s usually sounded. If it’s in the middle or end, it’s often silent.
