hebrew-nikud

# Hebrew Nikud (ניקוד) Reference

A reference guide for adding **selective nikud** to Hebrew text. Designed for AI agents that need accurate pronunciation hints (e.g., for TTS).

## Golden Rule

**Only add nikud when you're 100% certain it's correct.** Wrong nikud is worse than no nikud — the TTS model will read your mistake literally instead of guessing correctly from context.

## When to Add Nikud

1. **Ambiguous consonants** (dagesh in בכ"פ)
2. **Gender-specific suffixes**
3. **Homographs** (same spelling, different pronunciation)
4. **Foreign names and loanwords**
5. **Stress placement** that changes meaning

When in doubt — don't nikud. Let the TTS model guess from context.

---

## 1. Vowel Symbols Reference

| Symbol | Name | Sound | Example |
|--------|------|-------|---------|
| ַ | פַּתָח (Patach) | a | כַּלְבּ (kalb) |
| ָ | קָמָץ (Kamatz) | a (sometimes o) | שָׁלוֹם (shalom) |
| ֶ | סֶגוֹל (Segol) | e | מֶלֶךְ (melekh) |
| ֵ | צֵרֵי (Tzere) | e | לֵב (lev) |
| ִ | חִירִיק (Hiriq) | i | סִפֵּר (siper) |
| ֹ | חוֹלָם (Holam) | o | כֹּל (kol) |
| וֹ | חוֹלָם מָלֵא | o | שׁוֹמֵר (shomer) |
| ֻ | קֻבּוּץ (Kubutz) | u | קֻבּוּץ (kubutz) |
| וּ | שׁוּרוּק (Shuruk) | u | סוּס (sus) |
| ְ | שְׁוָא (Shva) | silent or e | זְמַן (zman) |
| ֲ | חֲטַף פַּתַח | short a | חֲלוֹם (khalom) |
| ֱ | חֲטַף סֶגוֹל | short e | נֶאֱמָן (ne'eman) |
| ֳ | חֲטַף קָמָץ | short o | צׇהֳרַיִם (tzohorayim) |

### Shva Rules (שְׁוָא)
- **Start of word** → vocal (na): בְּרֵאשִׁית (bereshit)
- **End of word** → silent (nach): כָּתַבְתְּ (katavt)
- **Two consecutive** → first silent, second vocal: יִשְׁמְרוּ (yishmeru)
- **After long vowel** → vocal: כּוֹתְבִים (kotvim)
- **After short vowel** → silent: מַלְכָּה (malka)

---

## 2. Dagesh (דגש) — Hard vs Soft Consonants

### Begedkefet (בגדכפ"ת)

Six letters historically changed sound with dagesh. In **modern Hebrew**, only three still have audible differences:

| Letter | With dagesh (hard) | Without dagesh (soft) | Audible in modern Hebrew? |
|--------|-------------------|----------------------|--------------------------|
| בּ | B | V (ב) | ✅ Yes |
| גּ | G | Gh (ג) | ❌ No (both G) |
| דּ | D | Dh (ד) | ❌ No (both D) |
| כּ | K | Kh (כ) | ✅ Yes |
| פּ | P | F (פ) | ✅ Yes |
| תּ | T | Th (ת) | ❌ No (both T) |

**For TTS purposes, only בכ"פ matter** (B/V, K/Kh, P/F).

### When does dagesh appear?

**Dagesh Lene (light)** — hardening, in begedkefet letters:
- At the start of a word (after pause): בַּיִת (bayit)
- After a silent shva: מִסְפָּר (mispar - the פ has dagesh)

**Dagesh Forte (strong)** — doubling, in any letter except gutturals (אהחע"ר):
- After the definite article הַ: הַבַּיִת (habayit)
- In Pi'el/Pu'al/Hitpa'el verb patterns: סִפֵּר, דִּבֵּר
- After prepositions with article: בַּבַּיִת (babayit)

### Common dagesh examples for TTS

**Pe/Fe (פּ/פ) — most error-prone:**
- פִּיצָה (pizza), פִּייר (Pierre), פַּעַם (pa'am)
- פּוֹלִיטִיקָה (politika), פָּרִיז (Paris)
- אוֹפֶּרָה (opera), קָפּוּצִ'ינוֹ (cappuccino)

**Bet/Vet (בּ/ב):**
- בְּסֵדֶר (b'seder), בְּדִיוּק (bediyuk), בְּרָכָה (brakha)
- בּוֹסְטוֹן (Boston), בֵּירָה (bira - beer)

**Kaf/Khaf (כּ/כ):**
- כּוֹס (kos), כַּמָּה (kama), כּוֹכָב (kokhav)
- כְּרִיסְטִינָה (Christina)

---

## 3. Verb Conjugations (בניינים)

Hebrew has 7 verb patterns. **This is the hardest part** — if unsure of the binyan, don't nikud the verb.

### פָּעַל (Pa'al / Qal) — Basic active
| Form | Pattern | Example |
|------|---------|---------|
| Past 3ms | קָטַל | כָּתַב (wrote), שָׁמַר (guarded), לָמַד (learned) |
| Past 3fs | קָטְלָה | כָּתְבָה, שָׁמְרָה |
| Past 1s | קָטַלְתִּי | כָּתַבְתִּי |
| Present ms | קוֹטֵל | כּוֹתֵב (writes), שׁוֹמֵר, לוֹמֵד |
| Present fs | קוֹטֶלֶת | כּוֹתֶבֶת |
| Future 3ms | יִקְטוֹל | יִכְתּוֹב, יִשְׁמוֹר |
| Infinitive | לִקְטוֹל | לִכְתּוֹב, לִשְׁמוֹר |

### פִּעֵל (Pi'el) — Intensive active
| Form | Pattern | Example |
|------|---------|---------|
| Past 3ms | קִטֵּל | סִפֵּר (told), דִּבֵּר (spoke), בִּקֵּשׁ (asked), לִמֵּד (taught) |
| Past 3fs | קִטְּלָה | סִפְּרָה, דִּבְּרָה |
| Present ms | מְקַטֵּל | מְסַפֵּר (tells), מְדַבֵּר (speaks), מְלַמֵּד (teaches) |
| Future 3ms | יְקַטֵּל | יְסַפֵּר, יְדַבֵּר |
| Infinitive | לְקַטֵּל | לְסַפֵּר, לְדַבֵּר |

### הִפְעִיל (Hif'il) — Causative active
| Form | Pattern | Example |
|------|---------|---------|
| Past 3ms | הִקְטִיל | הִסְבִּיר (explained), הִזְמִין (invited), הִתְחִיל (started) |
| Present ms | מַקְטִיל | מַסְבִּיר (explains), מַזְמִין (invites) |
| Future 3ms | יַקְטִיל | יַסְבִּיר, יַזְמִין |
| Infinitive | לְהַקְטִיל | לְהַסְבִּיר, לְהַזְמִין |

### הִתְפַּעֵל (Hitpa'el) — Reflexive
| Form | Pattern | Example |
|------|---------|---------|
| Past 3ms | הִתְקַטֵּל | הִתְקַשֵּׁר (called), הִסְתַּכֵּל (looked) |
| Present ms | מִתְקַטֵּל | מִתְקַשֵּׁר, מִסְתַּכֵּל |
| Infinitive | לְהִתְקַטֵּל | לְהִתְקַשֵּׁר |

### נִפְעַל (Nif'al) — Passive of Pa'al
| Form | Pattern | Example |
|------|---------|---------|
| Past 3ms | נִקְטַל | נִכְתַּב (was written), נִשְׁמַר (was guarded) |
| Present ms | נִקְטָל | נִכְתָּב, נִשְׁמָר |
| Infinitive | לְהִקָּטֵל | לְהִכָּתֵב |

### פֻּעַל (Pu'al) — Passive of Pi'el
| Form | Pattern | Example |
|------|---------|---------|
| Past 3ms | קֻטַּל | סֻפַּר (was told), בֻּקַּשׁ (was requested) |
| Present ms | מְקֻטָּל | מְסֻפָּר (is told), מְבֻקָּשׁ (wanted/requested) |

### הֻפְעַל (Huf'al) — Passive of Hif'il
| Form | Pattern | Example |
|------|---------|---------|
| Past 3ms | הֻקְטַל | הֻסְבַּר (was explained), הֻזְמַן (was invited) |
| Present ms | מֻקְטָל | מֻסְבָּר (is explained), מֻזְמָן (is invited) |

### ⚠️ Common Verb Confusions

| Word | Wrong | Right | Why |
|------|-------|-------|-----|
| סיפר | סָפַר (counted, Pa'al) | סִפֵּר (told, Pi'el) | Different binyan! |
| דיבר | דָּבַר (thing/noun) | דִּבֵּר (spoke, Pi'el) | Noun vs verb |
| ביקש | בָּקַשׁ | בִּקֵּשׁ (asked, Pi'el) | Pi'el, not Pa'al |
| למד | לָמַד (learned, Pa'al) | לִמֵּד (taught, Pi'el) | Pa'al vs Pi'el |
| הסביר | הֶסְבֵּר | הִסְבִּיר (explained, Hif'il) | Hif'il pattern |
| שמר | שָׂמַר (guarded) | שִׂמֵּר (preserved, Pi'el) | Context-dependent |

**Rule of thumb:**
- Simple action → Pa'al (כָּתַב wrote, שָׁמַר guarded)
- Intensive / caused action → Pi'el (סִפֵּר told, דִּבֵּר spoke, לִמֵּד taught)
- Made someone do → Hif'il (הִסְבִּיר explained, הִזְמִין invited)
- Was done to → Nif'al/Pu'al/Huf'al (נִכְתַּב was written)

---

## 4. Gender Suffixes

| Suffix | Male | Female |
|--------|------|--------|
| Your (singular) | ְךָ (-kha) | ֵךְ (-ekh) |
| You (pronoun) | אַתָּה | אַתְּ |
| To you | לְךָ | לָךְ |
| You (object) | אוֹתְךָ | אוֹתָךְ |
| Of you | שֶׁלְּךָ | שֶׁלָּךְ |
| Your (plural) | ְכֶם (-khem, m) | ְכֶן (-khen, f) |

### Examples
```
מה שלומְךָ? (to male)
מה שלומֵךְ? (to female)
יש לְךָ זמן? (to male)
יש לָךְ זמן? (to female)
אני אוהב אוֹתְךָ (male object)
אני אוהב אוֹתָךְ (female object)
```

---

## 5. Common Homographs

Words spelled the same but pronounced differently:

| Spelling | Pronunciation 1 | Pronunciation 2 | Pronunciation 3 |
|----------|-----------------|-----------------|-----------------|
| ספר | סֵפֶר (book) | סָפַר (counted) | סִפֵּר (told) / סַפָּר (barber) |
| בקר | בּוֹקֶר (morning) | בָּקָר (cattle) | בִּקֵּר (visited) |
| עולם | עוֹלָם (world) | עוֹלֵם (concealing) | |
| ילד | יֶלֶד (child) | יָלַד (gave birth) | |
| חלק | חֵלֶק (part) | חָלָק (smooth) | חִלֵּק (divided) |
| קרא | קָרָא (read/called) | קוֹרֵא (reader) | |
| ערב | עֶרֶב (evening) | עָרֵב (pleasant) | עָרַב (guaranteed) |
| כלב | כֶּלֶב (dog) | כָּלֵב (Caleb, name) | |
| אכל | אָכַל (ate) | אוֹכֵל (food/eating) | |
| גדול | גָּדוֹל (big) | גִּדּוּל (growth/tumor) | |

---

## 6. Foreign Names & Loanwords

The model often mispronounces foreign words. Add dagesh for P/B/K sounds:

| Word | Nikud | Why |
|------|-------|-----|
| פִּייר (Pierre) | dagesh in פ | P not F |
| פָּרִיז (Paris) | dagesh in פ | P not F |
| פִּיצָה (pizza) | dagesh in פ | P not F |
| בּוֹסְטוֹן (Boston) | dagesh in ב | B not V |
| כְּרִיסְטִינָה (Christina) | dagesh in כ | K not Kh |
| פּוֹלִין (Poland) | dagesh in פ | P not F |
| קָפּוּצִ'ינוֹ (cappuccino) | dagesh in פ | P not F |
| בּוּדָפֶּשְׁט (Budapest) | dagesh in בּ and פּ | B and P |
| פּוֹרְטוּגָל (Portugal) | dagesh in פ | P not F |
| בַּרְצֶלוֹנָה (Barcelona) | dagesh in ב | B not V |

---

## 7. Preposition Nikud Rules

Prepositions בְּ (be-), כְּ (ke-), לְ (le-) change nikud in certain situations:

| Before... | Rule | Example |
|-----------|------|---------|
| Regular consonant | Shva: בְּ | בְּבַיִת (bevayit) |
| Shva consonant | Hiriq: בִּ | בִּירוּשָׁלַיִם (birushalayim) |
| Definite article הַ | Absorb article: בַּ | בַּבַּיִת (babayit = in the house) |
| Hataf vowel | Match the hataf | בַּאֲמִתָּה (ba'amita) |

---

## 8. Quick Decision Tree

```
Should I add nikud to this word?
│
├─ Is it a common word with obvious pronunciation?
│  └─ YES → Don't nikud (מה, יש, אני, הוא, שלום, טוב, etc.)
│
├─ Is it a בכ"פ letter that could go either way?
│  └─ YES → Add dagesh if it's P/B/K (not F/V/Kh)
│
├─ Is it a gender suffix (ך, את)?
│  └─ YES → Add nikud for the correct gender
│
├─ Could it be read as a different word (homograph)?
│  └─ YES → Add nikud to disambiguate
│
├─ Is it a foreign name or loanword?
│  └─ YES → Add dagesh for P/B/K sounds
│
├─ Is it a verb where the binyan matters?
│  │
│  ├─ Am I certain of the binyan?
│  │  └─ YES → Add nikud per the binyan table above
│  │
│  └─ Am I NOT certain?
│     └─ DON'T nikud it! Let TTS guess.
│
├─ Am I 100% sure of the correct nikud?
│  ├─ YES → Add it
│  └─ NO → Don't add it!
│
└─ Default: Don't nikud.
```

---

## 9. Common Mistakes to Avoid

1. **Over-nikuding** — Adding nikud to every word makes TTS worse, not better
2. **Wrong binyan** — סָפַר (counted) instead of סִפֵּר (told) is a classic
3. **Forgetting dagesh in loanwords** — פיצה sounds like "fitza" without dagesh
4. **Kamatz vs Kamatz Katan** — Both look like ָ but kamatz katan sounds "o" (כָּל = kol)
5. **Mixing gender suffixes** — ְךָ (male) vs ֵךְ (female) are easy to confuse
6. **Nikuding when unsure** — If you're not 100% certain, DON'T. The TTS model's contextual guess is usually better than wrong nikud.