[b] 2. The Alphabet consists, like all Semitic alphabets, solely of consonants, twenty-two in number, some of which, however, have also a kind of vocalic power (§ 7 b). The following Table shows their form, names, pronunciation, and numerical value (see k):—
| FORM. | NAME. | PRONUNCIATION. | NUMERICAL VALUE. |
|---|---|---|---|
| א | ʾĀlĕph | ʾ spiritus lenis | 1
|
| ב | Bêth | b (bh, but see § 6 n) | 2
|
| ג | Gimĕl (Giml) | g (gh, but see § 6 n) | 3
|
| ד | Dālĕth | d (dh, but see § 6 n) | 4
|
| ה | Hē | h | 5
|
| ו | Wāw (Wāu) | w (u)[1] | 6
|
| ז | Záyĭn | z, as in English (soft s) | 7
|
| ח | Ḥêth | ḥ, a strong guttural | 8
|
| ט | Ṭêth | ṭ, emphatic t | 9
|
| י | Yôd | y (i)[1] | 10
|
| כ, final ך | Kaph | k (kh, but see § 6 n) | 20
|
| ל | Lāmĕd | l | 30
|
| מ, final ם | Mêm | m | 40
|
| נ, final ן | Nûn | n | 50
|
| ס | Sāmĕkh | s | 60
|
| ע | ʿÁyĭn | ʿ a peculiar guttural (see below) | 70
|
| פ, final ף | Pê | p (f, see § 6 n) | 80
|
| צ, final ץ | Ṣādê | ṣ, emphatic s | 90
|
| ק | Qôf | q, a strong k[2] formed at the back of the palate | 100
|
| ר | Rêš | r | 200
|
| שׂ | Śîn | ś | 300
|
| שׁ | Šîn[3] | š, pronounced sh | 300
|
| ת | Tāw (Tāu) | t (th, buy see § 6 n) | 400
|
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 Philippi, ‘Die Aussprache der semit. Consonanten ו und י,’ in ZDMG. 1886, p. 639 ff., 1897, p. 66 ff., adduces reasons in detail for the opinion that ‘the Semitic ו and י are certainly by usage consonants, although by nature they are vowels, viz. u and i, and consequently are consonantal vowels’; cf. § 8 m.
- ↑ As a representation of this sound the Latin q is very suitable, since it occupies in the alphabet the place of the Semitic ק (Greek κόππα).
- ↑ Nestle (Actes du onzième Congrès... des Orientalistes, 1897, iv. 113 ff.) has shown that the original order was שׁ, שׂ.
