yodh

/jɒd/

yodh

English Noun

Definition

The tenth letter of many Semitic alphabets/abjads (Phoenician, Aramaic, Hebrew, Syriac, Arabic and others).

Etymology

Borrowed from Hebrew יו״ד (yo"d, “name of the tenth letter of the Hebrew alphabet”), ultimately from Proto-Semitic *yad- (“hand”). That letter is used also in other Semitic alphabets; it represents the voiced palatal approximant /j/. Doublet of iota, jot, and yod.