1. English has letters with two pronunciations, for example, the letter “c” in city and cat, or the “th" in this and thing. There are six letters that had two pronunciations when Aramaic was spoken. These letters are referred to by the mnemonic begadkefat.

2. These letters (technically) have TWO pronunciations.
b – g – d – k – p – t ת פ כ ד ג ב
These letters (technically) have TWO pronunciations.
In some cases, an English hearer can detect the difference between pronunciations; in other cases they cannot.
The different pronunciations are marked with a DOT in the letter called a DAGHESH LENE or
“weak daghesh”

3. ב בּ
Hard “b”
as in “boy”
soft “b” = “v”

4. Still same”g” sound; no difference
ג גּ
“g”
as in “get”
Still same”g” sound; no difference

5. Still same”d” sound; no difference
ד דּ
“d”
as in “dog”
Still same”d” sound; no difference

6. כ כּ
“k”
as in “kite”
“ch” sound as in “Bach”

7. “ph” or “f” sound as in “phone”
פ פּ
“p”
as in “pot”
“ph” or “f” sound as in “phone”

8. ת תּ
“t”
as in “toe”
Still same “t” sound

9. A second kind of daghesh…
the DAGHESH FORTE or
“strong daghesh”

10. The “weak daghesh” already learned makes some letters soft
The “strong daghesh”
doubles the letter it is in

11. Weak daghesh ONLY goes in begadkefat letters
Strong daghesh can go in ANY letter
EXCEPT
Gutturals - א ה ח ע
and ר

12. How can you tell the difference?

13. מִשְׁפָּט יְדַבֵּר מִדְבָּר מְדַבֵּר
Which kind of daghesh?
מִשְׁפָּט
יְדַבֵּר
מִדְבָּר
מְדַבֵּר
weak
strong
weak
strong