Article Discussion: Baby Namings in My Interfaith Family

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[AriEl]

How does one actually pronounce " Chava?"

This is something I really want to know.

My family is of German-Jewish descent; its important for me to use this name soon in my own family and I want to say it correctly. I speak German fairly, but not Hebrew. Please help me with this!

[Cynthia C.M.]

I assume Chava = Hah-vah. 

[Debbie B.]

"Chava" is the Hebrew name of the Bliblical "Eve". The name sounds like "Hah-vah" with the accent on the first syllable. The "H" stands for the Hebrew letter "chet" (ח) which is sometimes transliterated as "ch" and is the same as the beginning of the holiday "Chanukah". It is sometimes described as a "guttural", but it's made at the back of the palate, not in the throat. It is much like the Spanish "j". But people who can't make the sound, typically substitute the "h" sound. You will sometimes see this name spelled "Havah" with the H at the beginning because the "chet" letter is not in English, and the final "h" represents the final (silent) letter "hey" (ה)  in the Hebrew name.