# What is the Hebrew pronunciation of Isaiah?

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-hebrew-pronunciation-of-isaiah/337069>\
**Category:** Factual Questions\
**Created:** [December 24, 2005, 8:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-hebrew-pronunciation-of-isaiah/337069 "2005-12-24T08:50:59Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 3\
**Page:** 2

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**Author:** ![Johanna](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johanna/32/8318_2.png) [@Johanna](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johanna)\
**Post date:** [December 27, 2005, 8:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-hebrew-pronunciation-of-isaiah/337069/21 "2005-12-27T08:36:19Z")

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> [@Lynwood Slim](#):
>
> In this regard, I find it instructive to mention that “Gaza” is spelt in Hebrew "ayin-

In Arabic, it’s spelled with the initial letter ghayn, which is written in the same form as ‘ayn, except that ghayn has a dot to tell it apart. The similarity of shape and name reflects that the two sounds have been associated since Proto-Semitic. Hebrew has one letter, ‘ayin, that corresponds to these two different letters in Arabic. Cognates that have ‘ayin in Hebrew might start with one or the other in other Semitic languages.

The appendix of Semitic roots in the 4th edition of the _American Heritage Dictionary_ lists a couple Hebrew words starting with ‘ayin that came from a Proto-Semitic root using the ghayn sound: _‘Eden, ‘omer, Lag b‘Omer_. The ones listed in the _AHD4_ are just Hebrew loanwords found in English; there’s got to be many more. If it weren’t so late at night and me about to bed down, I would look up more examples for you, but you get the idea. Gaza is one more example of this.

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**Author:** ![Earl\_Snake-Hips\_Tucker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/earl_snake-hips_tucker/32/3269_2.png) [@Earl\_Snake-Hips\_Tucker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Earl_Snake-Hips_Tucker)\
**Post date:** [December 28, 2005, 6:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-hebrew-pronunciation-of-isaiah/337069/22 "2005-12-28T18:03:20Z")

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> [@Johanna](#):
>
> Someone please explain how the tenth letter of the Hebrew alphabet got its name changed from yod to yud.

Did we ever get an answer on this?

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**Author:** ![Kyla](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/eada6e/32.png) [@Kyla](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kyla)\
**Post date:** [December 28, 2005, 8:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-hebrew-pronunciation-of-isaiah/337069/23 "2005-12-28T20:57:46Z")

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> [@Earl Snake-Hips Tucker](#):
>
> Did we ever get an answer on this?

I’m pretty sure it’s just a pronounciation/spelling/transliteration difference. It’s the same letter it’s always been.

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