Hebrew has two types of syllables: open and closed. An open syllable has one consonant and one vowel (abbreviated cv). מִי mî who? A closed syllable has a consonant, a vowel, and a second consonant closing the syllable (cvc). שֵׁת šēṯ Seth It follows, then, that all syllables—whether open or closed—normally begin with a consonant and have one vowel sound. In English, a word like Adam begins with a vowel, but the Hebrew spelling of this word begins with the consonant אָדָם ׃א ʾāḏām.