I was asked how to pronounce the two Hebrew words for trust that I have been writing about; batach and chacha.

Batach, the most common word for trust is pronounced: baw-taCH.  The “CH” indicates a sound that is made in the back of your throat.  It’s called a guttural sound. 

One of the most important things you need to be able to do when speaking Hebrew is make that special sound in the back of your throat, the “guttural” sound.  The word guttural literally means ‘of the throat.’ 

It’s hard to describe with words but, the guttural is a light scraping sound that is made in the back of your throat while you are speaking.  It sounds almost like your clearing your throat while speaking.

The second word for trust Chacah is pronounced with the guttural sound in the beginning of the word: CHaw-saw.

This word fascinates me because it is defined as something the soul can take refuge in.  “I will abide in Your tabernacle forever; I will trust [chacah] in the shelter of Your wings.”  (Psalm 61:4)

Selah…

Enjoy some Hebrew honey.  Here are two passages that use our words with a Hebrew transliteration below.
“I will trust in Thee [batach]” (Psalm 56:3) 

ah-nee   aye-le-CHah    eh-b-taCH. 

a literal translation: I, in You, will trust.

“In thee, O LORD, do I put my trust [chacha]” (Psalm 31:1)

B’CHah   Adonai   CHah-see-tee

A literal translation:  In You LORD, I sought refuge.

To-dah – very good