Learn Nikud: the Sound – i
אִ – חִירִיק chirik
A chirik is pronounced I
For example, the Hebrew word for “if“ is “im” אִם.
In written Hebrew which does not contain dots, the letter י usually represents the vowel I and is not pronounced “y”.
For example תיקים tikim (bags), סיפור sipur ( a story )
Many words in written, dotted Hebrew, which contains the sound “I“, will substitute the “I” sound with the letter ” י”.
For example:
גִּבּוֹר –גיבור( hero)
חִפֵּשׂ – חיפש (looked for)
חִלֵּק – חילק ( divided, handed out)
Let’s practice.
Read these words.
שישי – – shishi (Friday)
אִישׁ – – ish (man)
אִמָּא – – ima ( mother)
מַצָּה – matzza– (matzza)
אִישִׁי – ishi – (privet)
צָעִיר – – tzair (young)