The Hebrew infinitive is the 'to...' form of the verb. It always starts with the letter lamed (לְ/לִ/לָ). Infinitives are used after helper verbs like 'want', 'can', 'need', and 'love'.

The Lamed Prefix

Every Hebrew infinitive begins with לְ (le-), לִ (li-), or לָ (la-) followed by the verb pattern. The vowel depends on the binyan (verb pattern).

Common Infinitives

Hebrew	Transliteration	Meaning
לִכְתֹּב	likh-TOV	to write
לִלְמֹד	lil-MOD	to learn
לֶאֱכֹל	le-e-KHOL	to eat
לָלֶכֶת	la-LE-khet	to go / to walk
לְדַבֵּר	le-da-BER	to speak
לִשְׁמֹעַ	lish-MO-a	to hear
לִרְאוֹת	lir-OT	to see
לָתֵת	la-TET	to give
לָקַחַת	la-KA-khat	to take
לָבוֹא	la-VO	to come

Used After Helper Verbs

Infinitives follow verbs that express wanting, ability, or obligation:
• רוֹצֶה (ro-TSE) = want: אֲנִי רוֹצֶה לִלְמֹד
• יָכוֹל (ya-KHOL) = can: הוּא יָכוֹל לָבוֹא
• צָרִיךְ (tsa-RIKH) = need: אַתָּה צָרִיךְ לִכְתֹּב
• אוֹהֵב (o-HEV) = love: הִיא אוֹהֶבֶת לִקְרֹא

In Sentences

אֲנִי רוֹצֶה לִלְמֹד עִבְרִית

a-NI ro-TSE lil-MOD iv-RIT

I want to learn Hebrew

הוּא יָכוֹל לְדַבֵּר שָׁלוֹשׁ שָׂפוֹת

hu ya-KHOL le-da-BER sha-LOSH sa-FOT

He can speak three languages

אֲנַחְנוּ צְרִיכִים לָלֶכֶת

a-NAKH-nu tsri-KHIM la-LE-khet

We need to go

אַתְּ אוֹהֶבֶת לִקְרֹא סְפָרִים?

at o-HE-vet lik-RO sfa-RIM?

Do you (f.) love to read books?

Quick Tip

The infinitive never changes form - it stays the same regardless of who is speaking. Only the helper verb before it conjugates: אֲנִי רוֹצָה לִלְמֹד (f.) vs. אֲנִי רוֹצֶה לִלְמֹד (m.).