ASCII Character ָ

Ḥaṭaf Qamatz (Hebrew: חֲטַף קָמַץ, IPA: [χaˈtaf kaˈmats]) is a "reduced qamatz". Like qamatz qatan, it is pronounced [o], but the rationale for its usage is different: it replaces the shva on letters which require a shva according to the grammar, but where the traditional pronunciation is [o]. This mostly happens with gutturals, for example in אֳרָנִים‎ ([oʁaˈnim], "pines", the plural form of אֹרֶן‎, [ˈoʁen]), but occasionally also on other letters, for example שֳׁרָשִׁים‎ ([ʃoʁaˈʃim], "roots", the plural of שֹׁרֶשׁ‎ [ˈʃoʁeʃ]) and צִפֳּרִים‎ ([tsipoˈʁim], "birds", the plural of צִפּוֹר‎ ([tsiˈpoʁ]).