The Hebrew Niqqud

The complete vowel sound list, grouped by sound.

(A) sounds:

אֲ
chataf patach(ă) – very short 'a'
אַ
patach(a) – short 'a' as in 'bat'
אָ
qamats(a/o) – long 'a' in Sephardi; long 'o' in Ashkenazi
אָה
qamats hey(a) – long 'a' as in laugh

(E) sounds:

אֱ
chataf segol(ĕ) – very short 'e'
אֶ
segol(e) – short 'e' as in 'bed'
אֵ
tsere(e) – long 'ey' as in 'they'
אֵי
tsere yod(e) – long 'ey' as in 'they'
אֶי
segol yod(e) – long 'ey' as in 'they'

(O) sounds:

אֳ
chataf qamats(ŏ) – very short 'o'
אֹ
cholam(o) – 'o' as in 'cold'
אִו
cholam vav(i) – 'ee' as in 'meet'

(I) sounds:

אִ
chiriq(i) – short 'ee' as in 'meet'
אִי
chiriq yod(i) – long 'ee' as in 'eel'

(U) sounds:

אֻ
qubuts(u) – short 'u' as in 'put'
א‎ וּ
shuruq(u) – long 'u' as in 'mood'

(Neutral) sounds:

אְ
sheva(ə) – reduced vowel or silent