Languages and pronunciation
Hebrew cantillation marks: what to listen for and what to read
An introduction to distinguishing letters, vowels, and recitation marks when following a Hebrew text with audio.
When looking at a vocalized Hebrew biblical text, you may find letters, vowel points, and cantillation marks. They do not serve the same function. Vowels help represent how words are read; the marks relate to organization and traditional recitation. Synthesized narration does not necessarily preserve all that written information audibly.
Separate the layers of the text
If you are just starting out, first locate the letters of a word. Then identify the vowel points with the help of a learning resource. Do not try to interpret all the marks at once or pronounce each mark as though it were an additional letter.
Sefaria allows you to consult the vocalized text. Comparing it with a printed edition helps you recognize what appears within the word and what belongs to other layers of presentation.
Do not learn the marks solely from TTS
The Vox voice narrates a text prepared for synthesis. It does not promise to render the marks with a melody or according to a cantillation tradition. A pause you hear may come from the voice model and does not demonstrate how the passage should be recited.
To learn marks and melodies, use specialized material that identifies its tradition. Sefaria documents resources for chanted Torah; a teacher can help you recognize what you are hearing and practice without confusing the forms of reading.
Check a brief passage
Choose a few lines and compare the text, narration, and a reference recitation when one is available. Note which information remains visual and which you perceive in each audio recording. Do not generalize to the entire Tanakh from a single example.
If you hear a letter or sound in Vox that seems to have been added, keep the book, chapter, and reference so you can review it. The goal is to check the actual word before incorporating it into your reading. Distinguishing letters, vowels, and cantillation avoids treating every written mark as something the synthesizer should pronounce literally.