Holam

Holam
ֹ
IPA o or
Transliteration o
English example shore
Similar sound Qamatz qaṭan, ḥataf qamatz
Ḥolam Example
נֹעַר
The word noʿar (youth) in Hebrew. The first vowel (over Nun, the dot above) is the ḥolam.
Ḥolam male Example
חוֹלָם
The word ḥolam in Hebrew. The letter vav ו‎⟩ with the dot above it is the Ḥolam male itself.
Other Niqqud
Shva · Hiriq · Tzere · Segol · Patach · Kamatz · Holam · Dagesh · Mappiq · Shuruk · Kubutz · Rafe · Sin/Shin Dot

Holam or cholam (modern Hebrew: חוֹלָם, IPA: [χoˈlam], formerly חֹלֶם‎, ḥōlem) is a Hebrew niqqud vowel sign represented by a dot above the upper left corner of the consonant letter. For example, here the holam appears after the letter mem מ‎⟩‎: מֹ. In modern Hebrew, it indicates the mid back rounded vowel, [], and is transliterated as an o.

The mater lectionis letter which is usually employed with holam is vav, although in a few words, the letters alef or he are used instead of vav. When it is used with a mater lectionis, the holam is called holam male (חוֹלָם מָלֵא‎, IPA: [χoˈlam maˈle], "full holam"), and without it the holam is called holam haser (חוֹלָם חָסֵר‎, IPA: [χoˈlam χaˈser], "deficient holam").