yud

Yud, also known as yud-yud or yod, is the tenth letter of the Hebrew alphabet. It has a numerical value of 10. In ancient Hebrew script, yud was represented by a pictogram of an arm or hand. It is the smallest Hebrew letter and is sometimes described as a mere flourish or a dot. Despite its small size, yud is phonetically pronounced as a glide, similar to the 'y' sound in the English word "yes".

In Hebrew, yud can function as a vowel point or as a consonant. As a consonant, it represents the /j/ sound. As a vowel indicator, it can represent the long 'i' sound (like in "machine") or the short 'i' sound (like in "bit"), depending on context and the presence of other vowel markings. The use of yud as a matres lectionis, a letter used to indicate vowels in otherwise consonant-only texts, became more common over time, particularly in the development of the Masoretic Text.

The letter yud holds significant importance in Jewish mysticism and Kabbalah. It is often seen as representing divine presence, the spark of creation, or the beginning of all things. Its small size is sometimes interpreted as a symbol of humility or the hidden nature of God. Many Hebrew words begin with yud, including the divine name Yahweh, which is often abbreviated as "YH" or derived from it. The repetition of yud, as in "yud-yud," can emphasize a word or concept.