Kamatz Katan (קָמַץ קָטָן)

Understanding the difference between two identical-looking vowel marks with different pronunciations.

The Problem

The Kamatz mark (אָ) can represent two different vowel sounds:

  • Kamatz Gadol (קָמַץ גָּדוֹל) - "big kamatz" - pronounced "ah" (like in father)
  • Kamatz Katan (קָמַץ קָטָן) - "small kamatz" - pronounced "o" (like in both)
Challenge: They look identical! How do you know which is which?

The Rule

Kamatz Katan appears in unstressed closed syllables:

Examples:
  • חָכְמָה (chochmah) - wisdom (first kamatz is katan = "o")
  • כָּל (kol) - all (kamatz katan)
  • אָמְנָם (omnam) - however (first kamatz is katan)

General Rule

If a syllable is:

  • Closed (ends in a consonant)
  • Unstressed
  • Has a kamatz

Then: It's likely Kamatz Katan (pronounced "o")

In Modern Texts: Some modern texts use a different mark for Kamatz Katan to avoid confusion, but most don't.