Ancient Hebrew

[Alessan]

@Johanna

שמע shəma‘ - ‘listen’
שמא shemā’ - ‘perhaps’

The difference in pronunciation between ‘ and ’ is now lost, since both have become zero (not pronounced). The distinction between long and short vowels has been lost too. The only difference between the two words in Modern Hebrew would be the shwa in ‘listen’ vs. the vowel /e/ in ‘perhaps’. The dictionary says that shemā’ is a literary word for ‘perhaps’, it isn’t used in conversation, so its pronunciation matters less. If you look up “perhaps” English to Hebrew, shemā’ isn’t listed; instead it gives ula or yitakhen.

Don’t forget the vowell stresses. “Listen (imperative)” is pronounced “SHMA”. “Perhaps” (a better translation would be “perchance*”) is pronounced “SHEH-mah.”

*IMHO:

Ulai - Maybe.

Yitachen - Perhaps.

Shema - Perchance.

It’s a matter of degree.