What does vav mean?
Vav is chiefly the conventional English name for the sixth letter of the Hebrew alphabet, written ו. In Hebrew and Jewish studies, it may also be called waw, because vav and waw are alternative transliterations of the same letter. The Hebrew character can also be used as the conjunction meaning “and,” particularly in Biblical Hebrew, so references to a vav can concern either its letter-name or the conjunction it represents. In everyday Jewish naming practice, “vav” can indicate that a person’s middle name begins with ו; “Chaim Vav David” is a familiar form of this convention. For most readers, however, vav means the letter itself. The word is uncommon in general English but familiar to anyone encountering the Hebrew alphabet, biblical texts, or Jewish names. It is a useful reminder that a single letter may carry a grammatical function as well as a name.
nounThe sixth letter of the Hebrew alphabet, written ו. In Biblical Hebrew, the same character can also represent the conjunction meaning “and.”
- The sixth letter of the Hebrew alphabet.
- The Hebrew conjunction meaning “and,” particularly in Biblical Hebrew.
"The Hebrew alphabet has twenty-two letters, and vav is the sixth."
"The Hebrew letter vav is written with a single vertical stroke."
"Chaim Vav David has a middle name beginning with the Hebrew letter vav."
The standard plural is used when referring to instances of the Hebrew letter.
"The scribe checked both vavs before completing the inscription."
Vav is both a letter and a tiny bridge: in Biblical Hebrew, it can connect words and clauses with the meaning “and.”
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Etymology of vav
The English noun comes from Hebrew, where vav is the name of the sixth letter of the Hebrew alphabet. The same letter is also transliterated as waw, particularly in biblical contexts, where it can represent the conjunction “and.” Vav and waw are therefore alternative English renderings associated with the same Hebrew letter rather than unrelated terms.
How vav is actually used
Vav is a learned term used chiefly in Hebrew studies, biblical scholarship, and Jewish naming conventions. It is uncommon in ordinary general English. When used as a placeholder in an English personal name, it is commonly capitalized.
Easily confused with vav
Waw is an alternative transliteration of the same Hebrew letter rather than a different letter.