אל״ף

See also: אַלף and אלף

Hebrew

Etymology

Pausal form of אֶלֶף (élef, ʾɛ́lɛp̄, “cattle, oxen”), term used in reference to the original shape of this letter, which was representing the head of an ox (𐤀).

Cognate with Arabic أَلِف (ʔalif), which is also used for the first letter of the Arabic abjad, namely أ.

Pronunciation

• (Biblical Hebrew) IPA^(key): /ʔalp/
• (Tiberian Hebrew) IPA^(key): /ˈʔɔːlɛf/, [ˈʔɔːlɛf]
• (Yemenite Hebrew) IPA^(key): /ˈʔɔlaf/, [ˈʔɔːlæf]
• (Persian Hebrew) IPA^(key): /ˈ(ʔ)ɒlef/
• (Ashkenazi Hebrew) IPA^(key): /ˈɔlɛf/
• (Modern Israeli Hebrew) IPA^(key): /ˈ(ʔ)alef/

Noun

אָלֶ״ף • (álef, ʾɔ́lɛp̄) f

1. aleph, alef (the first letter of the Hebrew script)