Classification: formative, guttural, mater lectionis

Sequence: 1 / Value: 1

Learned: Lesson 2

Alef normally represents a glottal stop, like the gap in the English word “ut-oh”, and is essentially a silent letter. Like all Hebrew consonants, it can carry a vowel with it. For this reason, it is often used as a placeholder consonant at the beginning of words that otherwise start with a vowel sound.

aspirated, mother letters, quiescent