On the Rudiments of Hebrew

BOOK ONE

You should keep this in mind, for it will be very helpful for pronouncing syllables. Added to this is the knowledge of diphthongs. We have delayed explaining them until now, because without them, you will not be able to read syllables or words correctly. A diphthong is a single-syllable sound made of two voices mixed under a single point. Some diphthongs are called proper, while others are called improper. There are six proper diphthongs: af, ef, if, ai, ei, and oi.

The first diphthong is af, as in the word thaf original: "תו", the letter Tav in Ezekiel 9: "Mark a sign original: "thau" upon the foreheads of the men." Similarly, there is Esaf original: "עשו", the name Esau in Genesis 25: "And his name was called Esau."

The second is ef, as in Kislef original: "כסליו", the month Kislev, which means November, in Zechariah 7: "on the fourth day of the ninth month, which is Casleu."

The third is if, as in zif original: "זיו", the month Ziv, which means April, in 1 Kings 6: "In the fourth year, in the month of Ziu."

Although the Romans use au, ei, and iu for these sounds, the Greeks imitate the Hebrews in this. For example, they say Autocraton original: "Autocraton" for "autocrator", meaning emperor for emperor. They say Efangelion original: "Efangelion" for "euangelion" for Gospel, and Ifgenios original: "Ifgenios" for "Eugenios" for well-born or bearded. However, in this position, the F should sound softly and not strongly. It is like the ancient Aeolic digamma An ancient Greek letter that sounded like a "w" or "v".. The Romans used this sound to create the consonant v, as the grammarian Priscian testifies in his first book. Even today, it can be called the Aeolic digamma.

The fourth proper diphthong is ai. This is like the Latin poet Virgil’s line: "They were pouring cups of wine in the middle of the hall" original: "Aulai in medio libabant pocula bachi". Reuchlin highlights the archaic "ai" ending in "aulai".. It is the same in the Hebrew word hai original: "חי", meaning living in Psalm 42: "My soul thirsts for the strong, living God." It also appears as ai with the vowel camez, as in the word Shaddai original: "שדי", a name for God in Isaiah.

The fifth diphthong is ei, as in heil original: "חיל", meaning wealth or abundance in Job 20: "according to the multitude of his riches." The Latins also use this, as Terence does in his play Andria: "Ah, I was afraid because of Chrysis" original: "Hei metui a Chriside".

The sixth diphthong is oi, as in hoi original: "הוי", meaning woe in Jeremiah 22: "Woe, brother! and woe, sister!" The Latins end this sound in e, as in hoe. Horace uses it in his Odes: "Alas, woe, spare me, Bacchus" original: "Heu hoe parce liber".

The others are called improper diphthongs. Although they are written with two vowels in one syllable, the voices do not actually mix when spoken. Instead, only one voice is heard. There are three improper diphthongs:
I as in eli original: "אלי", my God or alai original: "עלי", upon me;
O as in alav original: "אלו" or "עלו", upon him;
U as in alav original: "אלו" or "עלו".
Let these few remarks on diphthongs be enough for beginners.