1.7 We classify ten Hebrew letters as “SQiN eM LeVY” consonants

Figure 1.8: The SQiN eM LeVY Letters

SQiN eM LeVY letters sometimes cause spelling changes

• This is another group of letters that can behave differently
• They are called the SQiN eM LeVY letters because of the made-up word that is formed by the letters:
  • S - שׂשׁסצ the Sibilants (letters that make an S sound)¹⁸
  • Q - ק
  • N - נ
  • M - מ
  • L - ל
  • V - ו
  • Y - י
• We will save a discussion on exactly how this group (mis)behaves for another lesson
• For now, memorize which letters are the SQiN eM LeVY consonants

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18. The ז is also a sibilant, but as it turns out, it is not generally affected by the SQiN eM LeVY exception.↩︎