Niqqud

:This article concerns the vowel points or vowel marks of Hebrew. For those of Arabic, see Harakat.

Related Topics:
Arabic - Harakat

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In Hebrew orthography, Niqqud or Nikkud (Standard Hebrew נִקּוּד, Biblical Hebrew נְקֻדּוֹת, Tiberian Hebrew {{Unicode|Nəquddôṯ}} "vowels") is the system of diacritical vowel points (or vowel marks) in the Hebrew alphabet. Several orthographic systems for representing Hebrew vowels were developed in the early middle ages. The most widespread system (and the only one still used to a significant degree today) was created by the Masoretes of Tiberias (see Masoretic Text, Tiberian Hebrew).

Related Topics:
Hebrew - Orthography - Standard Hebrew - Biblical Hebrew - Tiberian Hebrew - Diacritical - Hebrew alphabet - Masoretes - Masoretic Text

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Niqqud marks are small compared to the consonants they are positioned adjacent to, and thus can be added, without requiring the retranscription of texts whose writers did not anticipate their eventual addition.

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Non-speakers of Hebrew give their greatest attention to vowel points (usually without using the word "niqqud") in the context of controversy over the interpretation of those written with the Tetragrammaton -- written as יְהוָה in Hebrew. The interpretation affects discussion of the authentic ancient pronunciation of the name whose other conventional English forms are "Jehovah" and "Yahweh".

Related Topics:
Tetragrammaton - Hebrew - Jehovah

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