Note that the feminine plural construct ending ָת corresponds to the BH וֹת (see I C). The original postpositive article א is sometimes spelled ה, and conversely, the feminine ending ה is sometimes spelled א. Nouns with the gentilic ending ָי (see I Q) end in ָיַא rather than ַיָּא in the emphatic state plural. Because the emphatic state is determinate or definite it is used to indicate the vocative: מַלְכָּא may be “O king” as well as “the king” (e.g. Dan. 2:29, 31, etc.). :