Waw (letter) facts for kids

Waw (wāw), also known as vav or vau, is the sixth letter in the Hebrew alphabet. It's a very important letter because it can make different sounds, acting as both a consonant and a vowel.

What is the Waw Letter?

The letter Waw (Hebrew: Vav) holds the sixth spot in the Hebrew alphabet. It's unique because it can represent different sounds. Sometimes it acts like a consonant, making a "v" sound. Other times, it acts like a vowel, making "o" or "u" sounds. This makes it a versatile letter in Hebrew words.

Waw's Sounds and Uses

The Waw letter can make two main types of sounds:

• Consonant sound: When Waw is used as a consonant, it often sounds like the "v" in "van." For example, in the Hebrew word for "rose" (vered), the first letter is Waw, making a "v" sound.
• Vowel sounds: Waw can also be a vowel. It can sound like the "o" in "go" or the "oo" in "moon." The exact sound depends on small marks called "nikkud" that are placed near the letter. These marks tell you how to pronounce the vowels.

Waw is also used as a conjunction, meaning it connects words or phrases. When it appears at the beginning of a word, it often means "and." For example, if you see "waw" followed by a word, it might mean "and [that word]."

Waw in Ancient and Modern Hebrew

The way the letter Waw looks has changed over time.

• Ancient Hebrew: In very old Hebrew writing, the symbol for Waw looked like an arm raised up. This ancient form helps us understand how the letter might have been drawn or what it represented visually.
• Modern Hebrew: Today, in modern Hebrew, the letter Waw looks like a simple line going from top to bottom. It's a straight, vertical line, making it easy to write and read. This modern form is what you will see in most Hebrew books and texts today.

The history of Waw shows how languages and their writing systems evolve. Even though its appearance changed, its role as the sixth letter and its ability to make different sounds remained important.

Images for kids

• 

  Different shapes of the Waw letter in Syriac, a language related to Hebrew.

See also

In Spanish: 𐤅 para niños