Contents of this weekly column are (mostly) based on the sefer: EIM LAMIKRA HASHALEIM, by R' Nissan Sharoni, Ashdod, a guide to correct pronunciation of Hebrew, specifically in davening and Torah reading.
Here’s another topic we’re revisiting, because it belongs to Parshat Va’eira, more than most. Not because these kind of words don’t show up in most other sedras, but they particularly stand out in this week’s sedra.
We’re talking about verbs with a past tense format that are switched to future tense because of the prefix of a VAV... AND the shift of the accent from MIL’EL to MILRA (from the next-to-the-last syllable to the last syllable).
If G-d were to say “I took the people out of Egypt”, the word would be ho-TZEI-ti. Accent on the pen- ultimate syllable. If the word were just prefixed with a VAV, but no accent switch - v’ho-TZEI-ti, it would mean “And I took (them) out”. But when G-d is promising to take us out in the (near) future, the correct word (for, And I will take...) is v’ho-tzei-TI. The accent shifts to the last syllable (i.e. the word is pronounced MILRA).

In the 3-pasuk portion of the set of promises G-d makes to the people through Moshe, we find the famous “Four Terms of Redemption”. In fact, there are really more than four terms - there are eight. But for this column, we are concerned with the fact that seven of the eight verbs have the accent switch - and that many people, especially those whose mother tongue is English, and who speak Yeshivish - have trouble pronouncing the words correctly.

v’ho-tzei-TI; v’hi-tzal-TI; v’ga’al-TI. These three from pasuk 6:6 - the promise of the Exodus. Then there are v’la-kach-TI, v’ha-YI-ti (the ex- ception to the switched-accents), vi-daTEM. These from the part of the prophecy that refers to the Sinai experience (6:7). And then, in 6:8, v’hei- vei-TI, v’na-ta-TI. These referring to our acquisi- tion of and living in the Land of Israel.
If a Baal Korei, reading the Torah, says v’ho-TZEI ti or v’na-TA-ti, etc., he should be stopped and asked to reread the word(s) correctly. This is so because the meaning of the words change with the improper accent.
If he reads v’ha-yi-TI (which is incorrect), he is not to be stopped, because the mis-accent does not change the meaning of the word.

It’s sort of like referring to the Polish people as the polish (pronounced like the cream for shining silver) people. That mispronunciation changes the meaning of the word. As apposed to calling Italians (the first I as in hit), Italians (with the first I as in kite). Either way, the word means the same thing - only one is the correct pronunciation and the other isn’t. But no change in meaning.

We should also remember that there is a proper way to correct a Baal Korei (usually the job of the gabbai), and an improper way to correct him. With several people yelling out a correction, there is liable to be some embarrassment to the Baal Korei. This should be avoided. Correcting properly calls for tact. Embarrassing someone is far more serious than a mispronounced word.

The Academiya L’Lashon HaIvrit makes Hebrew names for many things, including things that are well-known by their foreign names or brandnames. Push or kick scooters, known here as Korkinets, are called GALGILAYIM.