In Hebrew why do vet and vav have the same sound and what makes them different?

Answer 1

During the time that Jews lived in Europe, from after the year 70 CE to the present, European sounds influenced how we speak Hebrew, Especially German, Polish, and English.

At one time in Jewish history, vav had the sound of w, and vet had the sound of either v or bh. Most European languages do not have a w, and most do not have a "bh" sound (spanish has this sound). Simplification occurred and both Vet and Vav became V.

Even though those two letters have the same sound, they are as different as k and hard c are in English. You can't interchange them, just as you can't spell cat with a k.

Note that some Jews from arabic-speaking countries still pronounce the vav like a w.

Answer 2

because at one time in Jewish history, vav had the sound of w. They are as different as k and hard c are in English (even though those two letters have the same sound).