Aleph (letter)

This is about the Semitic letter. For mathematical and other uses of Aleph see Aleph.

Aleph originally expressed the glottal stop (IPA ), usually transliterated as , a symbol based on the Greek spiritus lenis , for example in the transliteration of the letter name itself, .

The Phoenician letter gave rise to the Greek Alpha (Α), being re-interpreted to express not the glottal consonant but the accompanying vowel, and hence the Latin A and Cyrillic А.

Origin

Aleph is thought to be derived from the West Semitic for "ox", and the shape of the letter derives from a Proto-Sinaitic glyph based on a hieroglyph depicting an ox's head, F1

In modern Hebrew, "aluf" means a domesticated animal, such as a bull or a sheep. In modern Arabic, "aleef" literally means "domesticated".

Hebrew Aleph

In Modern Israeli Hebrew, the letter is either a glottal stop, or has no pronunciation besides that of the vowel under it.

In gematria, aleph represents the number 1, and when used at the beginning of Hebrew years, it means 1000 (i.e. א'תשנ"ד in numbers would be the date 1754).

Aleph is the subject of a midrash which praises its humility in not demanding to start the Bible. (In Hebrew the Bible is begun with the second letter of the alphabet, Bet.) In this folktale, Aleph is rewarded by being allowed to start the Ten Commandments. (In Hebrew, the first word is 'Anokhi, which starts with an aleph.)

Aleph also begins the three words that make up God's mystical name in Exodus, I Am That I Am, (in Hebrew, 'Ehye 'Asher 'Ehye), and aleph is an important part of mystical amulets and formulas.

Arabic Alif

Historically, the Arabic letter was used to render either a long or a glottal stop [. This led to orthographical confusion, and to introduction of the additional letter hamza .

The is, as it were, a double alif, expressing both a glottal stop and a long vowel: (final )

The is actually a dotless , (final ) (ISO 233 ) pronounced .

Phoenician alphabet

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Origin

Hebrew Aleph

Arabic Alif