Hebrew Gershayim Mark

The double geresh marks an abbreviation or a multi-letter Hebrew numeral. In the Hebrew abbreviation ד״ר and the acronym תנ״ך, it tells you the letters stand for a title or phrase rather than spell an ordinary word.

It goes before the shortened form’s final letter. If a plural or gender ending follows, keep it after that original final letter, as in ח״כים. Multi-letter numerals use the same position, as in י״ד.

How did gershayim develop?

It grew out of Hebrew abbreviation practice. Rashi, a Jewish commentator writing in the eleventh century, explained passages with French words written in Hebrew letters. Later printed editions marked a word such as טרוי״ש with gershayim.

In 1646, Johannes Buxtorf published De abbreviaturis Hebraicis, a book devoted to Hebrew abbreviations; its Latin title means “On Hebrew Abbreviations.”

Is ״ a Hebrew quotation mark?

No; between Hebrew letters, it marks an abbreviation or numeral. Quotation marks sit around the words being quoted; ״ appears within a Hebrew string before its final letter. Its partner geresh ׳ is the single mark used for a one-word abbreviation or a single Hebrew numeral.

The above-letter ֞ is a different character: a cantillation accent, a mark that guides biblical chanting. The ASCII quotation mark (") can substitute for ״ in Hebrew text, but the characters have different identities and exact matching can distinguish them.

As of 2026, the ASCII substitute’s placement in right-to-left text can vary by app.