The Dageš is a diacritical point placed within a Hebrew consonant, serving two main functions: Dageš Forte, which strengthens or “fortifies” a consonant (e.g., קִטֵּל qiṭṭēl), and Dageš Lene, which hardens the pronunciation of the six בְּגַדְכְּפַת letters. The term “Dageš” likely derives from the Syriac root meaning “to pierce,” reflecting either the visual mark or its grammatical function of sharpening a sound. Dageš Forte plays a more significant grammatical role, akin to Latin notations for consonant doubling, though it is not marked in unpointed texts. While some scholars argue the Masoretes did not sharply distinguish between Dageš types, modern grammar treats them separately for clarity. Additionally, the dot in וּ can represent either a consonantal Wāw with Dageš or the vowel Šûreq, distinguishable only by context. Importantly, Dageš Forte does not indicate actual letter doubling in Hebrew script, though transliterations often reflect it with doubled consonants.
1. Definition and Types of Dageš
The Dageš is a point placed in the center of a Hebrew consonant. As previously noted, it serves two primary functions:
- Dageš Forte: Indicates the strengthening of a consonant. Example: קִטֵּל (qiṭṭēl)
- Dageš Lene: Indicates the harder pronunciation of the six letters בְּגַדְכְּפַת.
A rare variety of Dageš Lene appears in some printed texts.
2. Origin and Meaning of the Term “Dageš”
The root דגשׁ in Syriac means “to pierce” or “to bore through” with a sharp instrument. Accordingly, the term Dageš has been traditionally explained as referring to the dot or puncture itself.
However, like other Masoretic signs, its name may derive from its grammatical function. Thus, דָּגֵשׁ could imply “to sharpen” or “to harden” a consonant—comparable to the function of Mappîq (מַפִּיק, “causing to be pronounced”). The point was chosen to mark this vocal sharpening or fortification.
The opposite of Dageš is Rāphè (“soft”), which indicates the absence of strengthening.
3. Grammatical Role of Dageš Forte
From a grammatical perspective, Dageš Forte (the strengthening mark) is of greater significance than Dageš Lene. Its function may be compared to:
- The Latin sicilicus (e.g., Lucul̂us = Lucullus).
- The over-stroke used to indicate doubling in Latin abbreviations (e.g., m̄ or n̄).
In unpointed Hebrew texts, Dageš Forte is not marked—just like vowel signs and other reading aids. For the different types and rules of Dageš Forte.
Notes
- Note 1: Oort (Theol. Tijdschrift, 1902, p. 376) argues that the Masoretes made no real distinction between Dageš Lene and Dageš Forte, and simply used the dot to denote “sharp” rather than “soft” sounds. While this may be historically accurate, distinguishing between the two is vital for understanding Hebrew grammar and morphology.
- Note 2: In printed texts, וּ (Wāw with Dageš) looks identical to וּ when used as Šûreq. The latter, however, always functions as a vowel and does not take another vowel sign. It is typically recognizable by context.
- Note 3: Stade (Lehrbuch der hebräischen Grammatik, 1879, pp. 44, 103) rightly emphasized that the term “strengthened pronunciation” is more precise than “doubling,” since the consonant is not actually written twice in Hebrew script—though doubling is often used in transliteration to represent it.
See also: Graetz, “Die mannigfache Anwendung und Bedeutung des Dagesch,” Monatsschrift für Geschichte und Wissenschaft des Judentums, 1887, pp. 425 ff., 473 ff.
