At http://www.fivedoves.com/letters/aug2012/edwardf86.htm , Edward asks several questions including

• "How is the word “סותר” pronounced in hebrew?" - The closest would be "Suter", which would have no "o" at the end.
• "I read, if I understood it correctly, that the vowel sounds aren't put in Hebrew written words, only if they are translated from another language to Hebrew? Is this true? Was it ever true?"

The second question is yes and no, but basically not exactly the right question.  the final "o" on his name will HAVE to be accounted for with a letter.  Here's why....

 

Every SYLLABLE has to be accounted for by a letter.  That letter may not differentiate EXACTLY which vowel it is, but only narrow the possibilities.  However, every SYLLABLE still needs a letter.  So while "סותרה" could be "Sutero" or "Sutera" or "Sutere", you still need SOMETHING there, because "סותר" would only be "Suter".  Modern Hebrew has added vowel markings to eliminate this ambiguity, but they have no numerical value or ancient connection.

 

Hebrew has 22 letters.  20 are consonants.  2 are not vowels, but placeholders.  ALEF (א) and AYIN (ע) mark that a syllable begins with a vowel.  AYIN (ע) is used if the vowel is gutteral, ALEF (א) if it is not.  Neither tells you if it is an "a", "e", "i", "o" or "u".  They don't tell you definitely which vowel it is, but do tell you that the syllable begins with a vowel.  One does not necessary write an ALEF or AYIN in Hebrew just because the English spelling of a name has a vowel.  It marks that a syllable STARTS with a vowel, and is not necessarily used just because a vowel is there.

 

When a syllable starts with a consonant, the vowel for that syllable would NEVER be written by an ALEF (א) and AYIN (ע).  A VAV (ו) or YUD (י) might be used if the vowel is long, but there is flexibility here, especially with foreign names. 

 

When a word ENDS in a vowel, Typically a HEY, YUD, ALEF or occasionally AYIN might get used to mark the ending syllable, else one would conclude that the word ends with the last consonant.  Different Israelis might argue whether to use "סותרה" or "סותרא" or "סתרא". 

 

Many Israelis would spell foreign names with an ALEF at the end irrregardless of pronunciation because it is impossible for that to be a Hebrew word, and thus clearly a proper name, whereas "סותרה" could be a Hebrew word.    Others would pick "סותרה" because it's more naturally the way a Hebrew word would end in such a case.  Granted, this Hebrew spelling makes "Su-te-ro" indistringuishable from "Se-ta-ra" or "Sa-te-ru".  But SOMETHING has to follow the RESH in order for every syllable to be accounted for.  So Sutero's name cannot end in a RESH when spelled in Hebrew.

Shalom, Joe