Vowels and Nikkud (נִקּוּד)

Hebrew letters represent only consonants. To indicate vowels, a system of dots and dashes called nikkud (נִקּוּד — "dotting" or "pointing") is placed above, below, or inside the letters. In this lesson, you will learn all the essential vowel marks and how to read them.

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When Is Nikkud Used?

Context	Nikkud Used?
Torah and sacred texts	Always
Children's books and textbooks	Always
Poetry	Usually
Dictionaries	Usually
Newspapers and websites	Rarely
Street signs and labels	Rarely
Everyday writing	Almost never

Most modern Hebrew text is written without nikkud. Experienced readers infer vowels from context. However, learning nikkud is essential for beginners, accurate pronunciation, and reading religious texts.

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The Five Vowel Sounds

Hebrew has five basic vowel sounds, each with short and long variants: