The Mudcat Café TM
Thread #28733 Message #487403
Posted By: Mark Cohen
19-Jun-01 - 08:03 PM
Thread Name: Lyr Add: The Alphabet Song variations
Subject: RE: The Alphabet Song
There is a Hebrew version that uses a different tune. It's usually done as a call and echo. I'll try to post the tune if I get a chance. (Just sold my house and moved to an apartment by the ocean, so unpacking boxes is a major task at the moment.)
Alef, Bet, Vet (alef, bet, vet)
Gimel, Daled, Hei (simile)
Vav, Zayin, Chet, Tet
Yod, Kaf, Chaf
Lamed, Mem, Nun
Samech, Ayin, Pei, Fei
Tzadi, Koof, Resh
Sin, Shin, Tav
The reason there seem to be more letters than in Alex's version is that some Hebrew letters have two forms, with two different pronunciations, which are distinguished by the presence or absence (or, in one case, the location) of a dagesh, or dot, in the written letter. The one exception to this is the last letter of the alphabet, Tav. As a child I learned this with two forms, Sav (no dot) and Tav (with a dot). In modern Israeli (Sefardi) Hebrew, both forms are still written, but they are both pronounced with the "t" sound. Aren't you glad you asked?
Aloha,
Mark