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Why is Alif in Arabic a vowel when Aleph Hebrew consonant?

Alif is not a vowel in Arabic. It is a consonant, and it represents the glottal stop sound /ʔ/. This sound is made by completely blocking the airflow from your lungs, and then suddenly releasing it. It is similar to the sound that you make when you say the word "uh-oh".

In contrast, Aleph in Hebrew is a consonant. It represents the glottal fricative sound /h/. This sound is made by partially blocking the airflow from your lungs, and then releasing it through a narrow opening between your vocal cords. It is similar to the sound that you make when you whisper the letter "h".

So, while Alif in Arabic and Aleph in Hebrew both represent sounds that are made in the throat, they are not actually the same sound. Alif represents a glottal stop, while Aleph represents a glottal fricative.

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