vav

Vav is the sixth letter of the Hebrew alphabet, written as ו in its standard form. In modern Hebrew it typically represents the consonant /v/, although earlier stages of the language could pronounce it as /w/. Vav can also function as a vowel indicator (a mater lectionis), with niqqud marks signaling vowels such as /o/ or /u/ in certain spellings; when used this way, it does not carry a fixed vowel sound on its own.

Origins and name: Vav descends from the Phoenician letter waw, a sign that historically may have represented a hook or peg. The shape and name evolved in the Hebrew script, while the Arabic letter waw is its direct Semitic relative. The Latin letters V, U, and W trace their lineage back to this ancestor.

Numerical value: In Hebrew gematria, vav has the value 6.

Usage and phonology: Beyond its role as a consonant, vav is commonly used as a prefix meaning “and,” forming the conjunction ve- in Hebrew spelling. Phonologically, the pronunciation of this prefix can vary with the following sound due to assimilation rules, and in some contexts may affect the vocalization of the adjacent syllable.

Glyph and variants: In modern Hebrew, vav is a straightforward vertical stroke, though historical and paleographic variants show more pronounced tails or flourishes. The letter is standard across Hebrew orthography and appears in everyday writing, liturgical texts, and scholarly works.

See also: Hebrew alphabet; Phoenician alphabet; Gematria.