Lesson 2

Heh (ܗ), Waw (ܘ), Zayn (ܙ), 

Zqapa (◌ܸ), Pthaha (◌ܹ)

ܗ
Heh (h)
The fifth consonant of the alap-beth, heh is pronounced identically to the English "H," such as in the word "hello." Heh does not continue the writing line to the following letter.
ܘ
Waw (w)
The sixth consonant of the alap-beth, was is pronounced identically to the English "W," such as in the word "water." Waw does not continue the writing line to the following letter.
ܙ
Zayn (z)
The seventh consonant of alap-beth, Zayn is pronounced identically to the English "Z," such as in the word "zebra." Zayn does not continue the writing line to the following letter.
◌ܸ
Zlama Psheeqa (i)
The third vowel of alap-beth, zlama psheeqa is pronounced identically to the English "I," as it is pronounced in the word "intern."
◌ܹ
Zlama Qashya (e)
The fourth vowel of alap-beth, llama qashya is pronounced identically to the English "E," as it is pronounced in the word "elephant."

Practice

A. Read the following aloud to practice the sounds of consonants and vowels, check the English transliteration at the bottom of the page for the answers.

ܐ. ܐܸ، ܐܸ، ܐܸ، ܐܹ، ܐܹ، ܐܹ

ܒ. ܗ، ܗ، ܗ، ܗܸ، ܗܸ، ܗܸ، ܗܹ، ܗܹ، ܗܹ

ܓ. ܘ، ܘ، ܘ، ܘܸ، ܘܸ، ܘܸ، ܘܹ، ܘܹ، ܘܹ

ܕ. ܙ، ܙ، ܙ، ܙܸ، ܙܸ، ܙܸ، ܙܹ، ܙܹ، ܙܹ

B. Read the following aloud to practice reading real words in Chaldean, check the English transliteration at the bottom of
the page for the answers.

ܐ. ܘܲ ܙܵܐ: ܘܲܙܵܐ

ܒ. ܙܵ ܓܵܐ: ܙܵܓܵܐ

ܓ. ܕܸ ܒܵܐ: ܕܸܒܵܐ

ܕ. ܒܓܵ ܘܸܕ: ܒܓܵܘܸܕ

ܗ. ܒܵ ܒܹܠ: ܒܵܒܹܠ

ܘ. ܕܲ ܗܵܐ: ܕܲܗܵܐ

Answers

A. 

  1. i, i, i, e, e, e
  2. h, h, h, hi, hi, hi, he, he, he
  3. w, w, w, wi, wi, wi, we, we, we
  4. z, z, z, zi, zi, zi, ze, ze, ze

B. 

  1. wa za: waza (goose)
  2. za ga: zaga (bell)
  3. di ba: diba (bear)
  4. bga wid: bgawid (inside of)
  5. ba bel: babel (Babylon)
  6. da ha: daha (now)