Syllable formation in Biblical Hebrew significantly influences vowel quantity and pronunciation. Syllables typically begin with a consonant, though initial ו and י can act like vowel-letters, with וְ often pronounced וּ before a Šewâ or labial consonant. Final syllables may be open (ending in a vowel), closed (ending in one consonant), or doubly closed (ending in two consonants). Open syllables usually carry long vowels, though short vowels can appear in specific contexts, such as disyllabic forms from monosyllables, suffixes, or before the local ה. Vocal Šewâ preceding a full syllable merges with it, especially in prefixes like בְ, כְ, לְ, and וְ. Closed syllables without tone always take short vowels, while tone-bearing closed syllables may have either short (typically Pathaḥ or Seghôl) or long vowels (ā, ē, ō). Sharpened syllables, where a consonant ends and begins adjacent syllables, vary in vowel length depending on tone. Doubly closed final syllables usually contain short vowels, though longer vowels may persist, sometimes aided by helping vowels for smoother pronunciation. These patterns reflect the intricate interplay between syllable structure, vowel length, and accent in Hebrew phonology.
1. Initial Syllables: In Hebrew, a syllable typically begins with a consonant. In certain cases, however, initial ו and י behave like vowel-letters. An exception is the copula, especially וְ (and), which is often pronounced as וּ before a Šewâ or labial consonants (e.g., וּדְבַר, וּמֶ֫לֶךְ). In the Babylonian tradition, this is marked with וֿ.
2. Final Syllables: A syllable may end in different ways:
- (a) Open (simple): Ends in a vowel, e.g., קָטַ֫לְתָּ (first and last syllables).
- (b) Closed with one consonant: e.g., קָטַל, לֵבָב; includes syllables ending in doubled consonants, like קַטֵּל.
- (c) Doubly closed: Ends in two consonants, e.g., קָטַ֫לְתְּ, קשְׁטְ.
3. Vowels in Open Syllables: Normally, these carry long vowels—whether accented (e.g., יֵ֫לֶךְ) or unaccented (e.g., קָטַ֫ל, לָהֶ֫ם). Short vowels can occur in open syllables in the following instances:
- (a) Disyllabic forms from monosyllables using helping vowels: נַ֫חַל, בַּ֫יִת.
- (b) In suffixes like ־ַ֫נִי (e.g., קְטָלַ֫נִי), due to tone and sharpening effect.
- (c) Before the local ־ָה, especially in construct state: מִדְבַּ֫רָה.
- (d) In combinations involving ḥaṭeph vowels: נַֽעֲרוֹ, יֶֽאֱסֹר, due to opening of previously closed syllables.
- (e) In later-opened syllables such as יֶֽחֶזְקוּ, פָּֽעָלְךָ.
Note: Tone and metheg often support short vowels in these cases.
4. Šewâ Mobile and Preceding Consonants: Consonants with vocal Šewâ before a full syllable (e.g., לְחִי, יִלְמְדוּ) form a combined unit with the syllable that follows. This rule especially applies to prefixes like בְ, כְ, לְ, וְ. Even if Šewâ derives from a full vowel, it is not treated by the Masoretes as forming an open syllable on its own.
5. Closed Syllables Without Tone: Always take short vowels, regardless of their position (initial or final). Examples: מַלְכָּה, חָכְמָה, וַיָּ֫סַר.
6. Tone-Bearing Closed Syllables: May have either long or short vowels. If short, they are typically Pathaḥ or Seghôl. Long vowels include ā, ē, ō, but not î, ê, or û. Examples: יַקְטִ֫ילוּ, תַּקְטֵ֫לְנָה, קוּ֫מוּ, קֹ֫מְנָה.
7. Sharpened (Doubled) Syllables: These end with the same consonant that begins the next syllable, e.g., אִמִּי, כֻּלּוֹ. If they carry the tone, they may have either short (e.g., הִנֶּ֫נּוּ) or long vowels (e.g., הֵ֫מָּה). If toneless, they use short vowels.
8. Doubly Closed Final Syllables: These occur only at the end of words and usually contain short vowels, e.g., קָטַלְתְּ, וַיִּשְׁבְּ. Sometimes longer vowels are retained (e.g., נֵרְדְּ, תּוֹסְףְּ). To ease pronunciation, a helping vowel may be introduced.
