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Qaballah Pronunciation Guide
PRONUNCIATION GUIDE
to Sephiroth, Letters and Divine Names used on the Tree of Life,
with some additions for the Lesser Pentagram Ritual.
Adapted from:
"QABALAH No. 1" by Bill Heidrick, Copyright © 1982
and from: "O.T.O. Newsletter" #4, pp. 11-14, Copyright © 1978
There are two common methods for pronouncing Hebrew, the
Ashkenazic or German style and the Sephardic or Spanish style.
The suggestions given below are for Sephardic pronunciation.
Sephardic is closer to ancient Hebrew than is Ashkenazic.
-oOo-
THE MOST COMMON NAMES OF THE SEPHIROTH:
First Sephira: KETER, Koph-Taw-Resh, meaning "Crown.
Ke-ter --- e as in met. Accent first syllable.
Second Sephira: CHOKMAH, Chet-Koph-Mem-Heh , meaning "Wisdom".
Chok-Ma --- ch is a cough-like sound. o like in born. a like in father.
Accent last syllable.
Third Sephira: BINAH, Bet-Yod-Nun-Heh , meaning "Understanding"
Bi-Na --- i like in police. a like in father. Accent last syllable.
The Latent Sephira: DA'AT, Dalet-Ayin-Taw , meaning "Knowledge".
Da-at --- a double "a" sound like that in bard. These two "a" sounds are
separated by a "glottal stop", a sudden interruption of breath
by very brief closing of the epiglottis. This unique sound is
not used in English speech, but is sometimes used in German and
in many other languages. When the Letter Ayin occurs in the
middle of words, it almost always requires this effect.
Accent the first syllable.
Fourth Sephira: CHESED, Chet-Samekh-Dalet , meaning "Mercy".
Che-sed --- Ch is a cough-like sound. Both e's are like in met.
Accent first syllable.
Fifth Sephira: GEBURAH, Gemel-Bet-Vau-Resh-Heh , meaning "Severity".
Ge-boo-Ra --- e as the first in believe. oo as in moon. a as in father.
Accent last syllable.
Sixth Sephira: TIPHERET, Taw-Peh-Aleph-Resh-Taw , meaning "Beauty".
Tip-E-ret --- i like in bit. Both e's like in met. Accent mid syllable.
Seventh Sephira: NETZACH, Nun-Tzaddi-Chet , meaning "Victory through
Endurance".
Ne-tzach --- e as in met. a as in bard. ch like ck in "ICK!"
(This ch sound is not in standard English).
Accent the first syllable.
Eighth Sephira: HOD, Heh-Vau-Dalet , meaning "Glory".
Hod --- o like in bore.
Ninth Sephira: YESOD, Yod-Samekh-Vau-Dalet , meaning "foundation".
Ye-Sod --- e like the first e in believe. o like in bore.
The last syllable should be louder.
Tenth Sephira: MALKUT, Mem-Lamed-Koph-Vau-Taw , meaning "Kingdom".
Mal-Koot --- a as in bard. oo as in moon. Last syllable accent.
-oOo-
THE NAMES OF THE HEBREW LETTERS:
ALEPH, Aleph-Lamed-Pehfinal , meaning "Ox".
A-lef --- A like in father. e like in met. Accent the first syllable.
BET, Bet-Yod-Taw , meaning "Dwelling".
Be-Yt --- e like in bet. Y like in yes. Accent last syllable.
GIMEL, Gemel-Mem-Lamed , meaning "Camel".
Gi-mel --- i like in bit. e like in met. Accent first syllable.
DALET, Dalet-Lamed-Taw , meaning "Door".
Da-let --- a like in father. e like in met. Accent first syllable.
HEH, Heh-Aleph , meaning "Air Hole".
He --- e like in bet.
Note: There are several other Hebrew spellings for this letter, but
they all have the same pronunciation. Unusual ways to spell the
letters of Tetragrammaton are employed in Qabalah to obtain
Gematria for the numbers of the four Qabalistic worlds. That
subject is beyond the present topic, but can be taken up later
if there is interest.
VAU, Vau-Vau , meaning "Nail".
Vav --- Just like English "Wow" except use an a like in father in place
of the "o"
ZAIN, Zain-Yod-Nunfinal , meaning "Sword".
Za-yin --- a like in bard. i like in bit. Accent the first syllable.
CHET, Chet-Yod-Taw , meaning "Fence".
Chet --- Ch is a cough-like sound. e is like e in bet.
TET, Tet-Yod-Taw , meaning "Serpent".
Tet --- e like in bet.
YOD, Yod-Vau-Dalet , meaning "Hand".
Yad --- a like in father. Alternately: Yod --- o like in bore.
KOPH, Koph-Pehfinal , meaning "Closed Hand".
Kaf --- a like in father.
LAMED, Lamed-Mem-Dalet , meaning "Ox Goad".
La-med --- a like in father. e like in met. Accent the first syllable.
MEM, Mem-Memfinal or Mem-Yod-Memfinal , meaning "Water".
Mem or Meym --- e like in bet.
NUN, Nun-Vau-Nunfinal , meaning "Fish".
Noon --- just like the English "Noon".
SAMEKH, Samekh-Mem-Kophfinal , meaning "Prop".
Sa-mekh --- a like in bard. e like in met. Accent the first syllable.
AYIN, Ayin-Yod-Nunfinal , meaning "Eye".
A-yin --- A like in bard, but with a glottal stop, not normal to English,
from an interruption of breath. Y like in yes. i like in bit.
Accent the first syllable.
PEH, Peh-Heh or Peh-Aleph , meaning "Mouth".
Pe --- e as in met. Alternatively: e as in bet.
TZADDI, Tzaddi-Dalet-Yod , meaning "Fish Hook".
Tsa-De --- a like in father. e like in bet. The last syllable is louder.
QOF, Qof-Vau-Pehfinal , meaning "Back of the Head".
Qof --- o like in bore.
RESH, Resh-Yod-Shin , meaning "Head".
Resh --- e like in bet. sh like in wish.
SHIN, Shin-Yod-Nunfinal , meaning "Tooth".
Shin --- Sh like in wish. i like in police. Alternatively:
Sin --- S like in sin. i like in police.
TAW, Taw-Vau , last letter, meaning "Cross".
Tav --- a as in father. v like "w" in English.
-oOo-
THE DIVINE NAMES ASSOCIATED WITH THE SEPHIROTH
EHEIEH, Aleph-Heh-Yod-Heh , meaning "I AM".
E-he-ye --- First E like in met. Second e like the first e in believe.
Third e like in met. Accent the first syllable.
YAH, Yod-Heh , meaning "HE/SHE IS"
Yah --- a like in father. Alternatively:
Ye-Voh --- e like in met. o like in born. V and accent unchanged.
YAHWEH ELOHIM, Yod-Heh-Vau-Heh Aleph-Lamed-Heh-Yod-Memfinal,
meaning "HE/SHE MANIFESTS AS GODS & GODDESSS".
Ye-Veh --- Both e's like in met. V like w in wind. --- meaning "He is."
Alternatively:
Ye-Voh --- e like in met. o like in born. V and accent unchanged.
--- meaning "She is."
Elo-Him --- E as in met but shorter. o as in bore. i as in police.
Accent last syllable in both words.
Note: Pronunciation of Tetragrammaton with Elohim traditionally uses
the vowel points of Elohim. Otherwise, the vowel points of
Adonai are used.
EL, Aleph-Lamed , meaning "HE IS GREAT"
El --- E as in met.
ELOHIM GIBOR, Aleph-Lamed-Heh-Yod-Memfinal Gemel-Bet-Vau-Resh ,
meaning "THE MALE AND FEMALE DEITIES ARE MIGHTY"
"For Elohim, see above note."
Gib-Bor --- i like in bit. o like in bore. Accent on last syllable.
JEHOVAH ELOH Va-DA'AT, Yod-Heh-Vau-Heh Aleph-Lamed-Vau-Heh
Vau-Dalet-Ayin-Taw
meaning "HE/SHE IS DEITY & KNOWLEDGE"
Ye-ho-Vah --- e like first in believe. o like in bore. a like in
father. --- meaning "He is". Alternative:
Ye-ho-Voh --- pronounced the same, except the second o is like in bore.
Both alternatives have the V like an English "Wah" sound.
Both that the accent on the third syllable.
Elo-Ha --- E like in met but shorter. o like in bore. a like in bard.
Accent last syllable.
Ve-Da-at --- e like first e in believe. Both s's like in bard, but see
the note above on "Da'at" for the necessary glottal stop.
Middle syllable accented.
Note: When the vowel points of Adonai are used to pronounce the
Tetragrammaton, it comes out "Jehovah" instead of "Yahweh".
JEHOVAH TZABAOT, Yod-Heh-Vau-Heh Tzaddi-Bet-Aleph-Vau-Taw,
meaning "HE/SHE IS SPLENDOR"
Ye-Ho-Vah or Ye-Ho-Voh, "He is" or "She is", respectively.
See "Jehovah", just above.
Tse-Ba-Ot --- e like first in believe. a like in father. o like in bore.
Accent third syllable.
ELOHIM TZABAOT, Aleph-Lamed-Heh-Yod-Memfinal Tzaddi-Bet-Aleph-Vau-Taw,
meaning "MALE AND FEMALE DEITIES ARE SPLENDOR"
See above for pronunciation: "Elohim" and "Tzabaot."
SHADDAI EL CHAI, Shin-Dalet-Yod Aleph-Lamed Chet-Yod,
meaning "ALMIGHTY GOD LIVES FOREVER"
Sad-Day --- First a like in father. Second a like in bard.
Accent last syllable.
El --- E is in met.
Chay --- Ch is a coughing sound. a as in bard.
ADONAI MELEKH HA-ARETZ, Aleph-Dalet-Nun-Yod Mem-Lamed-Kophfinal
Heh-Aleph-Resh-Tzaddifinal,
meaning "LORD KING OF THE EARTH"
Ado-Nay --- A as in bard but shorter. o as in bore. Last a as in father.
Accent second syllable.
Me-lek --- Both e's like in met. Accent first syllable.
Ha-A-rets --- Both a's like in father. e like in met.
Accent first syllable.
Note: These three names are commonly used either separately or in
combination.
-oOo-
HEBREW WORDS USED IN THE LESSER BANISHING RITUAL OF THE PENTAGRAM.
ATEH, Aleph-Taw-Heh , meaning "THINE" or "UNTO THEE"
At-Ta --- First a like in bard. Second a like in father.
Accent second syllable.
MALKUT, --- see above under Sephiroth.
Ve-GEBURAH, --- see above under Sephiroth and next entry for prefix.
Ve-GEDULAH, Vau-Gemel-Dalet-Vau-Lamed-Heh , meaning "AND THE GREATNESS"
Ve-ge-doo-La --- e's both like the first in believe. oo as in moon.
a as in father. Accent last syllable.
Note: This is an alternate name for Chesed, the fourth Sephira.
Also, the Hebrew letter Vau is equivalent to the English
conjunction "and" when used at the front of a word.
Le-OLAHM, Lamed-Ayin-Vau-Lamed-Memfinal , meaning "FOR ETERNITY" or
"FOR ALL THAT EXISTS"
Le-a'a-o-La-m --- e as first in believe. The "a'a" signifies a very light
glottal stop; omit if too difficult. o as in bore.
a as in father. The "La" is accented, but the sound
should drop back to normal by the time you reach "m".
AMEN, Aleph-Mem-Nunfinal , meaning an assertion of strong conviction.
Am-En --- a as in father. E as in bet. Accent last syllable.
Note: This word is used intact in English, but does not have quite
the same religious connotations in Hebrew. There is no actual
English equivalent outside profanity and slang.
JEHOVAH, ADONAI, EHEIEH --- see above under Divine Names.
AGLA, Aleph-Gemel-Lamed-Aleph , no direct meaning. This is a Noteriqon or
mystical abbreviation of: Aleph-Taw-Heh Gemel-Bet-Vau-Resh
Lamed-Ayin-Vau-Lamed-Mem-final Aleph-Dalet-Nun-Yod,
Ateh Gibor Le-Olahm Adonai. That in turn means: "Thou art mighty
forever O'Lord". Pronunciation is also cryptic, but using the
initials of the component words and their attendant vowel points,
we get:
A-gi-le-A --- a as in bard. i as in bit. e as the first one in believe.
A as in bard. The last syllable should take the accent, but
even sylliblation is undecided.
RAPHAEL, Resh-Peh-Aleph-Lamed , meaning "GOD HEALS"
Re-Fa-El --- e as first one in believe. a as in father. e as in bet.
Accent the last two syllables.
GABRIEL, Gemel-Bet-Resh-Yod-Aleph-Lamed , meaning "GOD IS MIGHTY"
Gab-Ri-El --- a as in bard. i as in police. E as in bet.
Accent the last two syllables.
MICHAEL, Mem-Yod-Koph-Aleph-Lamed , meaning "LIKENESS OF GOD"
Mi-Ka-El --- i as in police. K like a light clearing of the throat.
a as in father. E as in bet. Accent the last two syllables.
URIEL, ARIEL, Aleph-Vau-Resh-Yod-Aleph-Lamed , meaning "LIGHT OF GOD", or
loosely, "Lucifer"
oo-Ri-El --- (The initial Aleph is silent --- no "a" sound here)
oo as in moon. i as in police. e as in bet.
Accent the last two syllables.
-oOo-
By now, the reader has had a chance to try these
pronunciations, and is just possibly a bit discouraged.
Actually, once a start has been made at book-taught
pronunciation of Hebrew, the worst is over. ow, but not when
you made your first attempt, there are a few simple tricks to
getting the sounds put together right. First, do each
syllable separately, as though they were distinct words.
Second, try the accent by making the unaccented syllable words
more quiet and the accent syllable word louder. Finally,
build fluency by saying the entire word as a smooth sound
instead of distinct syllables. Pick an English word to get
the feel of this final stage. Take an English Dictionary, and
practice putting words you already use together by the
pronunciation guide just after the first listing of the word
in the dictionary. You will find yourself making the same
natural errors in accent and fluency with these common words
that you are making with Hebrew. The "feel" of the clumsiness
of the pronunciation is the same for English as it is for
Hebrew. Likewise the "feel" of a well pronounced word is the
same.
Example: Take the English word: "Success". A good
dictionary will write: "(s*k-ses')"..."*" will be an
upsidedown "e". The front of the dictionary will explain the
sounds made by things like the upsidedown "e" symbol and the
other sound symbols. The apostrophe (') symbol comes just
after the accented syllable. Pretend that you have never used the
word before and try it. If it comes out: Suck-ces, you will be
able to hear yourself enough to see how to make the word sound
more correct. Work on the Hebrew until it "hears" like English to
you.
There is one more trick to this that is a bit harder, but
which works for some people. If you are not sure of several
minor differences in pronunciation for a given word, simply
try to say them all at the same instant. The resulting stress
produces an odd twisting in the mouth and can more closely
duplicate natural speech sounds than any purely academic
methods can possibly manage.
---- O'h yes, CROWLEY is pronounced Crow-lee, not Craughli!
--- TSG
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