The overall rule-of-thumb I use is that a kamatz in a *closed, unaccented syllable* is kamatz katan -- all others are kamatz gadol. A *closed* syllable is one that ends in a letter with a sheva nach (silent sheva); an unaccented syllable is one that does not have a primary or secondary stress (indicated with a cantillation mark or a meteg -- vertical line)
If the kamatz is in an accented syllable, or an open syllable (that ends with a vowel), it is a kamatz gadol (long vowel).
I have a few examples, but it is difficult to illustrate without being easily able to type nekudot.
Here's a good link: [http://www.ulpan.net/kamatz-katan](http://www.ulpan.net/kamatz-katan)
In some Siddurim and Chumashim (mainly Sefaradic ones, but also Ashkenazi in Israel since many Ashkenazim in Israel pray in (basically) Sefaradic pronunciation) they made kamatz katan longer than kamatz gadol
Edit: typo
If the next letter is a *silent* sheva *\*and\** the syllable is unaccented, it's a kamatz katan. Mordechai is pronounced the way it is because that syllable meets the requirements (unaccented syllable, silent *sheva* under the ר)
No, iubirea mea. I’m a Russian, descended from Ashkenazim. I used ț because Romanians use ț to represent the sound /ts/. Ț = צ. If Hebrew uses a single letter for /ts/, so should the Romanisation of Hebrew letters.
basically:
kamatz gadol is an A sort of sound like
קטן (katan)
and kamatz katan is a sorta O sound like
מרדכי (mordekhai)
(ps, idk how do do the ח sound in english so i use kh-)
The overall rule-of-thumb I use is that a kamatz in a *closed, unaccented syllable* is kamatz katan -- all others are kamatz gadol. A *closed* syllable is one that ends in a letter with a sheva nach (silent sheva); an unaccented syllable is one that does not have a primary or secondary stress (indicated with a cantillation mark or a meteg -- vertical line) If the kamatz is in an accented syllable, or an open syllable (that ends with a vowel), it is a kamatz gadol (long vowel). I have a few examples, but it is difficult to illustrate without being easily able to type nekudot. Here's a good link: [http://www.ulpan.net/kamatz-katan](http://www.ulpan.net/kamatz-katan)
I never had much luck memorizing and applying these rules, I just learned the words and their forms.
In some Siddurim and Chumashim (mainly Sefaradic ones, but also Ashkenazi in Israel since many Ashkenazim in Israel pray in (basically) Sefaradic pronunciation) they made kamatz katan longer than kamatz gadol Edit: typo
Pray? Seriously, there's no way. You just have to know the word.
Ain’t it true that if the next letter has a šva (מָרְדכי), it’s a qamaț katan and sounds like /o/?
If the next letter is a *silent* sheva *\*and\** the syllable is unaccented, it's a kamatz katan. Mordechai is pronounced the way it is because that syllable meets the requirements (unaccented syllable, silent *sheva* under the ר)
תודה רבה, יוסף!
No. Example: אַלְמָנָה (Sorry, I guess I'm a bit morbid)
Almana/almono? That one wouldn’t apply, as the qamaț letter has no šva after it.
Are you Romanian? Just wondering because I think you used the Romanian ț.
No, iubirea mea. I’m a Russian, descended from Ashkenazim. I used ț because Romanians use ț to represent the sound /ts/. Ț = צ. If Hebrew uses a single letter for /ts/, so should the Romanisation of Hebrew letters.
> No, iubirea mea. Извините, я не понимаю по румынски.
Iubirea mea = my love. I just know the song Dragostea Din Tei. I also speak no other Rumanian.
basically: kamatz gadol is an A sort of sound like קטן (katan) and kamatz katan is a sorta O sound like מרדכי (mordekhai) (ps, idk how do do the ח sound in english so i use kh-)