Wiktionary:About Hebrew

Entry name
The name of the entry is that of the word or phrase that you are defining.

Diacritics: Nikud (vowel points) shouldn't be indicated on page names, but in headword-line templates with the use of  and   parameters.

The essentials

 * 1) Language header lets you know the language of the word in question, in this case Hebrew so:  . See Help:How to edit a page for some basic terminology we use. When there is more than one language header on a page, the language headers should appear in alphabetical order with Translingual and English given priority. Do not use Ancient/Biblical/Classical/Mishnaic/Modern Hebrew in the language header.
 * 2) Part of Speech header it is the key descriptor for the grammatical function of the term in question (such as 'noun', 'verb', 'root, etc). The definitions themselves come within its scope. This heading is most frequently in a level three heading, and a page may have more than one for a single language.
 * 3) Headword-line is the line immediately following the part of speech header. In the simplest entries, this will be the entry name in bold, followed by the gender, a romanization, and some basic inflection information. This should be done with the use of the Hebrew headword-line templates.
 * 4) Definitions or Translations of the word appear as a numbered list in the part of speech section immediately following the headword line, though it is a good idea to include a blank line in between for ease of editing.
 * 5) Declension/Conjugation should follow the Part of Speech header at a level 4. Use ====Declension==== for nouns and adjectives, and for verbs use ====Conjugation====, or ====Inflection==== for either. For nouns use.

A very simple example
This is a simple entry for the word, and shows the most fundamental elements of an article:
 * 1) the word's language (as a level 2 heading),
 * 2) the  template used to show the root of the word and categorize it,
 * 3) its part of speech or "type" (as a level 3 heading),
 * 4) the inflection word itself (using the correct Part of Speech template or the word in bold letters),
 * 5) a definition (preceded by "#", which causes automatic numbering),
 * 6) links in the definition or translation for key words,
 * 7) and declension (optionally).

This example can be copied and used to start an article or section of an article, with the appropriate parts changed.

Noun

 * 1) book
 * 2)  a writing

A more in-depth example
This is an entry for the word. It includes more information than the simple example above, including:
 * 1) Etymology,
 * 2) pronunciation,
 * 3) derived terms, related terms and see also.

There are other possible headers for use. See WT:EL for more information regarding these.

Etymology
From, see it for more.

Noun

 * 1) snow the frozen, crystalline state of water that falls as precipitation

Etymologies
For most types of word derivations there are templates, which reduce typing, help keep formatting consistent and make Wiktionary machine-readable. Many of these have shortcuts.
 * To indicate the (Hebrew) root of a term the template can be used.
 * For terms derived by affixation, use.
 * For calques, use.
 * For blends, use.
 * For inherited terms, use, or its shortcut.
 * For borrowed terms, use, or its shortcut.
 * For terms of uncertain derivation from other languages, use, or its shortcut.
 * ,, , can be used to identify languages in etymology sections.

Headword-line templates
There are a few headword-line templates available for Hebrew which include some Hebrew specific features such as the wv and dwv parameters. The most commonly used ones are: for entries of nouns,  for verb entries, and  for adjective entries (and its automatically declining sub-templates  and ).

Romanizations

 * Hebrew transliterations (that is, romanizations) are not words. Hebrew entries should only be written in the Hebrew script.
 * The headword line of an entry should include romanization, using the tr= parameter of the headword-line template.
 * In some etymology sections, the scholarly romanization may be preferred, in that case usually include both, regular then scholarly, separated by a comma.
 * When linking under certain circumstances to a Hebrew entry, include romanization, using the tr= or equivalent parameter of the link template (such as or ). This is to be done, for example, for a translation (in an English entry) but not, for example, for an inflected form listed on a headword line.
 * If a romanization is missing, it may be requested using, which adds the entry to Category:Requests for native script for Hebrew terms.
 * The letters are romanized as follows (in general: in some cases it might be necessary to use a romanization that is based not on Modern Israeli Hebrew but on another form).
 * {| class='wikitable'

!scope=col|letter !scope=col|name !scope=col|romanization !scope=col|scholarly romanization !scope=col|notes see the table of vowels, below, for י as vowel marker
 * א  ||  ||   or [nothing] ||   || Modern Hebrew: omitted (i.e., represented as [nothing]) when word-initial, word-final, or unvowelized (as in ) Biblical Hebrew: Always transliterated (as in ).
 * ב  ||  ||   or   ||   or   ||   when with a dagesh (or in the spelling of a triliteral root),   when without a dagesh
 * ג  ||  ||   ||   or   ||
 * ג׳  || ||   ||   ||
 * ד  ||  dalet ||   ||   or   ||
 * ה  ||  ||   ||   || omit word-final ה (i.e., represent it as [nothing]), except when with mapik (הּ)
 * ו  ||  ||   ||   || see the table of vowels, below, for ו as vowel marker
 * ז  ||  ||   ||   ||
 * ז׳  || ||   ||   ||
 * ח  ||  ||   ||   ||
 * ט  ||  ||   ||   ||
 * י  ||  ||   ||   || but optionally   when the latter part of a diphthong;
 * ו  ||  ||   ||   || see the table of vowels, below, for ו as vowel marker
 * ז  ||  ||   ||   ||
 * ז׳  || ||   ||   ||
 * ח  ||  ||   ||   ||
 * ט  ||  ||   ||   ||
 * י  ||  ||   ||   || but optionally   when the latter part of a diphthong;
 * ח  ||  ||   ||   ||
 * ט  ||  ||   ||   ||
 * י  ||  ||   ||   || but optionally   when the latter part of a diphthong;
 * ט  ||  ||   ||   ||
 * י  ||  ||   ||   || but optionally   when the latter part of a diphthong;
 * י  ||  ||   ||   || but optionally   when the latter part of a diphthong;
 * כ ,   ך   * ||  ||   or   ||   or   ||   when with a dagesh (or in the spelling of a triliteral root),   or   when without a dagesh
 * ל  ||  lamed ||   ||   ||
 * מ ,   ם   * || ||   ||   ||
 * נ ,   ן   * ||  ||   ||   ||
 * ס  ||  ||   ||   ||
 * ע  ||  ||   or [nothing] ||   || omitted (i.e., represented as [nothing]) when word-initial, word-final, or when the last consonant of a syllable vocalised with sh'va, like
 * פ ,   ף   * ||  ||   or   ||   or   ||   when with a dagesh (or in the spelling of a triliteral root),   when without a dagesh
 * צ ,   ץ   * ||  ||   ||   ||
 * צ׳ ,   ץ׳   * || ||   ||   || Represents "ch" as in.
 * ק  || קוֹף ||   ||   ||
 * ר  ||  resh ||   ||   ||
 * ש  ||  or ||   or   ||   or   ||   when shin (שׁ),   when sin: (שׂ)
 * ת  ||  ||   ||   or   ||
 * }
 * * For the letters with two forms, the one on the left is used at the beginning and middle of words, while the one on the right is used at the end of words.
 * צ ,   ץ   * ||  ||   ||   ||
 * צ׳ ,   ץ׳   * || ||   ||   || Represents "ch" as in.
 * ק  || קוֹף ||   ||   ||
 * ר  ||  resh ||   ||   ||
 * ש  ||  or ||   or   ||   or   ||   when shin (שׁ),   when sin: (שׂ)
 * ת  ||  ||   ||   or   ||
 * }
 * * For the letters with two forms, the one on the left is used at the beginning and middle of words, while the one on the right is used at the end of words.
 * ש  ||  or ||   or   ||   or   ||   when shin (שׁ),   when sin: (שׂ)
 * ת  ||  ||   ||   or   ||
 * }
 * * For the letters with two forms, the one on the left is used at the beginning and middle of words, while the one on the right is used at the end of words.
 * * For the letters with two forms, the one on the left is used at the beginning and middle of words, while the one on the right is used at the end of words.

Vowels

 * Vowels are romanized as follows:
 * {| class='wikitable'

!scope=col|vowel !scope=col|name !scope=col|Modern Hebrew romanization !scope=col|Biblical Hebrew transliteration (scholarly romanization) !scope=col|notes
 * בְ  ||  ||   or [nothing] ||   or [nothing] || an apostrophe when na`, omitted (i.e., represented as [nothing]) when nakh or when adjacent to א or ע which is transliterated other than by [nothing]
 * בַ  || || rowspan="3"|   || rowspan="2"|   ||
 * חַ  ||  || The accent is always indicated on the vowel preceding the furtive patach.
 * בֲ  ||  ||   ||
 * בָ  ||  ||   or   ||   or   || In Modern Hebrew it represents two different vowels:    and
 * בָה  ||  ||   ||   ||
 * בָיו  ||  Spelling of  after a plural masculine noun ||   ||   ||
 * בֳ  ||  ||   ||   ||
 * בֶ  ||  ||rowspan="7"|   ||   ||
 * בֵ  || ||
 * בֶי  ||  || rowspan="4"|   ||
 * בֵי  ||
 * בֶה  ||   ||
 * בֵה  ||  ||
 * בֱ  ||  ||   ||
 * בִ  ||  ||rowspan="2"|   ||
 * בִי  ||  ||
 * בֹ  ||  || rowspan="3"|   ||   ||
 * בוֹ  ||  || rowspan="2" |   ||
 * בֹה  ||  ||
 * בֻ  ||  ||rowspan="2"|   ||
 * בוּ  ||  ||
 * }
 * In Modern Hebrew transcriptions, stress is indicated using an acute accent on the vowel of the stressed (or only) syllable.
 * In Biblical Hebrew transliterations, stress is indicated in the same way as Modern Hebrew, but only when non final. Words ending with a guttural letter with pathaḥ furtivum take the accent on the preceding vowel, like
 * בֶה  ||   ||
 * בֵה  ||  ||
 * בֱ  ||  ||   ||
 * בִ  ||  ||rowspan="2"|   ||
 * בִי  ||  ||
 * בֹ  ||  || rowspan="3"|   ||   ||
 * בוֹ  ||  || rowspan="2" |   ||
 * בֹה  ||  ||
 * בֻ  ||  ||rowspan="2"|   ||
 * בוּ  ||  ||
 * }
 * In Modern Hebrew transcriptions, stress is indicated using an acute accent on the vowel of the stressed (or only) syllable.
 * In Biblical Hebrew transliterations, stress is indicated in the same way as Modern Hebrew, but only when non final. Words ending with a guttural letter with pathaḥ furtivum take the accent on the preceding vowel, like
 * בֹה  ||  ||
 * בֻ  ||  ||rowspan="2"|   ||
 * בוּ  ||  ||
 * }
 * In Modern Hebrew transcriptions, stress is indicated using an acute accent on the vowel of the stressed (or only) syllable.
 * In Biblical Hebrew transliterations, stress is indicated in the same way as Modern Hebrew, but only when non final. Words ending with a guttural letter with pathaḥ furtivum take the accent on the preceding vowel, like
 * }
 * In Modern Hebrew transcriptions, stress is indicated using an acute accent on the vowel of the stressed (or only) syllable.
 * In Biblical Hebrew transliterations, stress is indicated in the same way as Modern Hebrew, but only when non final. Words ending with a guttural letter with pathaḥ furtivum take the accent on the preceding vowel, like

Other diacritics

 * Other diacritics:
 * {| class='wikitable'

!scope=col|diacritic !scope=col|name !scope=col|romanization !scope=col|scholarly romanization !scope=col|notes
 * בּ  ||  || [nothing] || [nothing] or [doubled consonant] || The dagesh kal (found at the beginning of a word or after a silent shva) changes the phonetic values of ב, כ/ך, and פ from ,  , and   to  ,  , and   (and in scholarly transcription of ב, ג, ד, כ/ך, פ, and ת from  ,  ,  ,  ,  , and   to  ,  ,  ,  ,  , and  ). The dagesh chazak (which must be preceded by a vowel) has the previous effect and also indicates the historical doubling of the consonant.
 * הּ  ||  || [nothing] || [nothing] || The mapik is graphically identical to the dagesh, but occurs only at the end of a word on the letter ה (and rarely on the letter א) to indicate that the letter is not silent. Thus, the letter should be romanized in its usual way instead of being omitted from the romanization.
 * שׁ  || shin dot ||   ||   || Indicates that the letter ש is pronounced "sh".
 * שׂ  || sin dot ||   ||   || Indicates that the letter ש is pronounced "s".
 * בֽ  ||  || [accent] || [secondary stress], [open syllable], [virtual doubling] || Used sometimes in Modern Hebrew to indicate word stress. In Biblical Hebrew it indicates that a syllable is "heavy", i.e. either has a secondary stress, it is an open syllable or shows virtual doubling. A  following a syllable with a  is always vocal. A  accompanied by a méteg is always a  and therefore always pronounced /a/.
 * ב֫  ||  || [accent] || [accent] || Indicates that the syllable on which it appears is stressed.
 * }
 * שׂ  || sin dot ||   ||   || Indicates that the letter ש is pronounced "s".
 * בֽ  ||  || [accent] || [secondary stress], [open syllable], [virtual doubling] || Used sometimes in Modern Hebrew to indicate word stress. In Biblical Hebrew it indicates that a syllable is "heavy", i.e. either has a secondary stress, it is an open syllable or shows virtual doubling. A  following a syllable with a  is always vocal. A  accompanied by a méteg is always a  and therefore always pronounced /a/.
 * ב֫  ||  || [accent] || [accent] || Indicates that the syllable on which it appears is stressed.
 * }
 * ב֫  ||  || [accent] || [accent] || Indicates that the syllable on which it appears is stressed.
 * }

Dialects and languages
The standard on English Wiktionary is to treat all of Hebrew as one language, including Biblical, Mishnaic, and Modern Hebrew. All have the same categories, all have the same  headers, etc. The only exception is in Etymology sections, where to indicate derivation from Biblical Hebrew one can use, and to indicate derivation from Modern Israeli Hebrew one can use.

In Pronunciation sections, the following can be used and will provide a link to the corresponding Wikipedia article:
 * A Modern Israeli pronunciation can be indicated by the use of.
 * with.
 * Ashkenazi Hebrew stress can vary depending on the situation (e.g. davening vs. reading from the Torah), so best practice may be either not to indicate stress at all or to indicate both types (primarily-penultimate and primarily-ultimate). Reduced vowels should be avoided or indicated as allophonic of the actual phonemic vowel.
 * It's probably better to use Litvish, Poylish, etc. pronunciations than YIVO-style Ashkenazi Hebrew pronunciations.
 * with.
 * with.
 * with.
 * Syrian Hebrew with
 * with.
 * Biblical Hebrew with.
 * with.
 * Palestinian Hebrew with.

Odd binyanim
The binyan nitpa'el is to be treated as part of the binyan hitpa'el. For the past tense (which is where they differ in form), whichever is more common is to be written as a full entry, and the less common as an entry using. But if the less common one has meanings different from those of the more common one, or if both are equally common, then both should be given full entries.

Binyan pilpel is considered merely a mishkal of pi'el.

Proclitics
The community's decision was to exclude most constructions that are simply one or more proclitics plus a base word;, for example, is considered to be covered by the entries for and.

To be decided

 * Where to use k'tiv khaser and where to use k'tiv malé (e.g. for diber, where, and where ).
 * Where to supply vowel signs.
 * Whether roots warrant separate treatment from the words formed from them, and if so, what this treatment should include.
 * How to supply conjugations of verbs, declensions of nouns and adjectives, and pronoun-including forms of prepositions.

Please discuss on the talk-page (Wiktionary talk:About Hebrew)!

Resources for Hebrew language and Hebrew script

 * The language code is : many templates use he.
 * The script code is : many templates use Hebr, though script is automatically detected so this is generally unneeded.
 * Automatically generated list of most Hebrew-language templates
 * Automatically generated list of Hebrew-language usage-note templates
 * Automatically generated list of Hebrew-language new-page templates
 * Automatically generated list of Hebrew-language and Hebrew-script appendices
 * Automatically generated list of Hebrew-script entries
 * Hebrew-language category: includes entries, appendices, templates, etc.