MORE ABOUT SHEWA

Featuring “The Rule of Shewa”

More About Shewa

Two kinds of shewa:

Vocal: Really short sound, for example: amuse

-א+ל ש()ל%מ%ה ש()מו

Silent: Marks the end of a syllable, no sound.

) א1ב)ר1ה1ם ל1ך

More About Shewa

Vocal:If a shewa occurs at the beginning of a syllable, it is a vocal shewa.

-א+ל - א+ל ש()מו ש() מוIf a shewa follows a long vowel, then it is a vocal shewa.

ש(ו% פ) ט9ים ש(ו%פ)ט9ים An exception: If the syllable has a long vowel and is a stressed syllable, then it is silent. For example: 1ה visualize a little stress mark) ל+כ)נabove the lamed) 1ה ל+כ) נ

Silent:If a shewa occurs at the end of a syllable, it is a silent shewa.If a shewa follows a short vowel, then it is a silent shewa.

ישA) ר1 א+ל ישA)ר1א+ל

More About Shewa

Two shewas in a row:When two shewas are next to each other, the first shewa is silent and the second shewa is vocal.

ל9י -Eר)מ) -Eר) מ) ל9י (Carmelite) כ כ

One notable exception: ( ת- 1לEד) (both silent) י

The Rule of Shewa

What happens when two shewas are at the beginning of a word?

Rule 1: The first shewa becomes a hireq.

(this usually happens when we add a preposition to a word)

-א+ל ש()מו-א+ל ל) + ש()מו

-א+ל - א+ל ל)ש()מו ל) ש() מו-א+ל - א+ל ל9ש()מו ל9ש() מו

The Rule of Shewa

Rule 2: If the second shewa is a composite shewa (beneath a guttural), the first shewa will morph and match the vowel of the composite shewa.

(composite shewa = partial shewa = khatef qamets/khatef patakh/khatef segol)

אLדו%ם ל)+ אLדו%ם ל) אL דו%ם ל)אLדו%ם לM אL דו%ם לMאLדו%ם

לMאLדו%ם לEאOדו%ם ל1אNדו%ם

Shewa Summary

Vocal:

1. At the beginning of a syllable.

2. After a long vowel (in an unstressed syllable).

3. If it is the second of two shewas (unless at the end of a word).

Silent:

1. At the end of a syllable.

2. After a short vowel.

3. If it is the first of two shewas.

Special “Rule of Shewa” applies to two shewas at the beginning of a word.