Hebrew verbs are built from 3-letter roots that carry a core meaning. These roots are placed into seven patterns called binyanim (buildings) that modify the meaning - active, passive, causative, reflexive, and more.
Root + Pattern = Verb
Every Hebrew verb has a 3-letter root (shoresh) and a pattern (binyan). The root כ-ת-ב carries the meaning of 'writing'. Placing it in different binyanim creates different words: כָּתַב (wrote), נִכְתַּב (was written), הִכְתִּיב (dictated).
The Seven Binyanim
| Binyan | Type | Example (root כ-ת-ב) | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| פָּעַל (pa-AL) | Basic active | כָּתַב (ka-TAV) | wrote |
| נִפְעַל (nif-AL) | Passive / reflexive | נִכְתַּב (nikh-TAV) | was written |
| פִּעֵל (pi-EL) | Intensive active | דִּבֵּר (di-BER) * | spoke |
| פֻּעַל (pu-AL) | Intensive passive | דֻּבַּר (du-BAR) * | was spoken |
| הִפְעִיל (hif-IL) | Causative active | הִכְתִּיב (hikh-TIV) | dictated |
| הֻפְעַל (huf-AL) | Causative passive | הֻכְתַּב (hukh-TAV) | was dictated |
| הִתְפַּעֵל (hit-pa-EL) | Reflexive | הִתְכַּתֵּב (hit-ka-TEV) | corresponded |
Same Root, Different Meanings
Here's how the root ל-מ-ד (learning) works across binyanim:
• פָּעַל: לָמַד (la-MAD) = learned, studied
• פִּעֵל: לִמֵּד (li-MED) = taught
• הִתְפַּעֵל: הִתְלַמֵּד (hit-lam-ED) = trained oneself
Roots in Action
Quick Tip
As a beginner, focus on Pa'al and Pi'el - they cover most everyday verbs. You'll naturally encounter the other binyanim as you advance. Recognizing the root across patterns is the key to expanding your vocabulary fast.