debka_notion: (Default)
debka_notion ([personal profile] debka_notion) wrote2004-12-05 05:32 pm

Hebrew Question

ANyone have input on the proper pronunciation of the Hebrew word for "high" or "tall"? Gavoha or gavoah? (looking at the masculine) I've been having a bit of an discussion/disagreement over it on Rikud. IF you want to read people's positions thus far, here's where hte latest summation is: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/rikud/message/14155

[identity profile] doodah.livejournal.com 2004-12-05 10:41 pm (UTC)(link)
Your link is for members only. :(

I say gavoha, but only because my ulpan teacher says it that way...

[identity profile] shirei-shibolim.livejournal.com 2004-12-05 11:15 pm (UTC)(link)
The biblical Hebrew word is inarguably gavoah, with a consonantal H as the final sound. A descriptive linguist could make a good case for the modern word being gavoha, although it is spelled identically to its biblical equivalent. Israelis just don't pronounce it the first way, you see.

[identity profile] thevortex.livejournal.com 2004-12-06 03:39 am (UTC)(link)
Gavoah is how I learned to pronounce it, and from an Israeli.

Huzzah!

The Vortex

SIGH

[identity profile] agru.livejournal.com 2004-12-06 12:14 am (UTC)(link)
You say Poe-tay-toe and I say Po-tah-toe
You say Toe-may-toe and I say To-mah-toe
Poe-tay-toe, Po-tah-toe
Toe-may-toe, To-mah-toe
Let's call the whole thing off!

Gavoa

[identity profile] yemeknight.livejournal.com 2004-12-06 02:43 pm (UTC)(link)
Gavoha and Gavoah are both used in Israel. Gavoha is a slang pronounciation, whereas Gavoah is proper. I guess this because people from Israel say both ways, and because my instinct is to say Gavoha even as I KNOW it's wrong.
I could be wrong, though.