What does kaph mean?
Kaph is the name in English of the twenty-second letter of the Hebrew alphabet. The letter is also called kaf, and the two spellings appear in different transliteration styles. In modern Hebrew, kaph is written כ in initial or medial position and ך at the end of a word. Its pronunciation may be a velar stop or a fricative, depending on context and pronunciation tradition. English speakers most often encounter the term in Hebrew-script instruction, biblical studies, transliteration, and discussions of letter names. Kaph is distinct from qoph, the seventeenth Hebrew letter, whose sound is /q/. Although specialized and uncommon in ordinary English, kaph is useful for anyone learning the Hebrew alphabet because it identifies a specific letter and preserves its established Hebrew name. It also helps distinguish the closely related names kaph and qoph, which can cause confusion in English-language references.
nounThe twenty-second letter of the Hebrew alphabet, conventionally called kaf and transliterated as k or kh in English.
- The name of the twenty-second letter of the Hebrew alphabet.
"A line of Hebrew verse begins with a kaph."
"The scroll's first line opens with a kaph."
"Students learned to distinguish kaph from qoph by comparing their names and sounds."
Usually used when several instances or written forms of the letter are being counted.
"The manuscript contains three kaphs."
Meet kaph, the Hebrew letter whose final form, ך, closes a word from the left.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does kaph come from?
English kaph comes from the Hebrew letter-name qāp (קָף), also represented as kaf in transliteration. The Hebrew noun qāp means “monogram” or “abbreviation,” and the letter-name is traditionally associated with that word. Kaph should be distinguished from qoph, a separate Hebrew letter whose form and pronunciation have sometimes caused transliteration confusion.
Related word forms
How kaph is actually used
Chiefly a scholarly and educational term used in Hebrew-script instruction, biblical studies, and transliteration; it is uncommon in general English. Both kaph and kaf are established spellings, with usage varying by reference work.
Easily confused with kaph
Kaf is another established transliteration of the same Hebrew letter-name rather than a separate letter.
Kaph is the twenty-second Hebrew letter and is commonly pronounced /k/ or /x/ in modern Hebrew, whereas qoph is the seventeenth letter and is pronounced /q/.