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# 05b. Verb paradigms: the strong verb in seven binyanim and the weak roots

**On this page**

1. [1. Affixes shared by all binyanim](#1-affixes-shared-by-all-binyanim)
2. [2. The strong verb in each binyan](#2-the-strong-verb-in-each-binyan)
3. [3. Weak roots: key cells](#3-weak-roots-key-cells)
4. [4. Summary of stems](#4-summary-of-stems)
5. [References](#references)

This file holds the paradigm tables that go with [05. The verb: system, binyanim, tense and use](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/docs/languages/he/05-verbs/), which explains the system (roots, binyanim, tenses, the imperative and its substitutes, spoken levelling). Section 1 lists the affixes common to all binyanim; section 2 gives a full paradigm of a strong root in each binyan; section 3 gives the key cells of every weak-root class, with the main colloquial variants. Index: [Modern Hebrew (he): a reference manual for Mova](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/docs/languages/he/). Neighbours: [Nouns, adjectives, pronouns and numerals](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/docs/languages/he/04-nouns-adjectives-pronouns/), [Prepositions, prefixes, conjunctions and particles](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/docs/languages/he/06-prepositions-particles/), [7. Syntax](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/docs/languages/he/07-syntax/).

**How to read the tables.** Each cell gives the pointed (vocalised) normative form, then the transliteration of the normal Israeli pronunciation (chapter 02 conventions: stress marked only when not final; *kh* = /χ/; *'* = an actually pronounced glottal stop). The ordinary unpointed spelling in *ktiv male* is given in the first column of each binyan header and wherever it differs notably (*i* written with י in pi'el and nif'al future, *o/u* written with ו). Forms labelled **formal** are normative but rare in speech; forms labelled **spoken** are the usual colloquial forms (05-verbs.md § 10). The cells were written for this manual and checked against UniMorph Hebrew (`heb_voc`, from Wiktionary; Goldman, UniMorph 4.0) wherever UniMorph has the verb; disagreements are noted.

---

## 1. Affixes shared by all binyanim

The past and future affixes are the same in every binyan; only the stem changes.

### 1.1 Past (suffixes on the past stem)

| Person | Suffix | Example (pa'al כתב) |
| --- | --- | --- |
| 1SG | ־תִּי *-ti* | כתבתי *katávti* |
| 2MS | ־תָּ *-ta* | כתבת *katávta* |
| 2FS | ־תְּ *-t* | כתבת *katavt* |
| 3MS | — | כתב *katav* |
| 3FS | ־ָה *-a* | כתבה *katva* |
| 1PL | ־נוּ *-nu* | כתבנו *katávnu* |
| 2MPL | ־תֶּם *-tem* | כתבתם *ktavtem* (spoken *katávtem*) |
| 2FPL | ־תֶּן *-ten* | כתבתן *ktavten* (spoken *katávten*) |
| 3PL | ־וּ *-u* | כתבו *katvu* |

Notes. 2MS and 2FS are spelled alike without points (כתבת); in speech they differ (*katávta* / *katavt*). The past has no gender distinction in the 1st person and in the 3PL. The suffixes are stressless except 3FS and 3PL, which take the stress in pa'al/nif'al/pi'el/pu'al/hitpa'el (*katva*, *katvu*) and leave it on the stem in hif'il (*hirgísha*, *hirgíshu*). When the root ends in ת or ד, the suffix *t* merges: *pakádti* (פקדתי) is regular, but *natáti* "I gave" from נ-ת-נ shows assimilation of *n* to *t*.

### 1.2 Future (prefixes and suffixes on the future stem)

| Person | Affix | Example (pa'al כתב) |
| --- | --- | --- |
| 1SG | א־ *e-/a-* | אכתוב *ekhtov* (spoken *yikhtov*, *ikhtov*) |
| 2MS | ת־ *ti-/te-/ta-* | תכתוב *tikhtov* |
| 2FS | ת־…־י *-i* | תכתבי *tikhtevi* |
| 3MS | י־ *yi-/ye-/ya-* | יכתוב *yikhtov* |
| 3FS | ת־ | תכתוב *tikhtov* (= 2MS) |
| 1PL | נ־ *ni-/ne-/na-* | נכתוב *nikhtov* |
| 2PL | ת־…־וּ *-u* | תכתבו *tikhtevu* |
| 2FPL (formal) | ת־…־נָה *-na* | תכתובנה *tikhtóvna* |
| 3PL | י־…־וּ | יכתבו *yikhtevu* |
| 3FPL (formal) | ת־…־נָה | תכתובנה *tikhtóvna* |

The prefix vowel depends on the binyan: *i* in pa'al (strong), nif'al and hitpa'el; *e* (written ְ) in pi'el and pu'al; *a* in hif'il and in pa'al of some weak roots; *u* in huf'al.

### 1.3 Present (participle endings)

|  | Endings | Example (pa'al) |
| --- | --- | --- |
| MS | — | כותב *kotev* |
| FS | ־ֶת *-et* or ־ָה *-a* | כותבת *kotévet*; (hif'il) מרגישה *margisha* |
| MPL | ־ִים *-im* | כותבים *kotvim* |
| FPL | ־וֹת *-ot* | כותבות *kotvot* |

The FS ending is *-et* (unstressed, with a segolate stem: *kotévet*, *medabéret*, *mitlabéshet*) in pa'al, pi'el, pu'al, hitpa'el and most nif'al verbs, and stressed *-a* in hif'il (*margisha*), hollow pa'al (*kama*), final-weak verbs (*kona*) and some nif'al verbs.

### 1.4 Imperative

The imperative is the future 2nd person without the prefix: MS (no ending), FS *-i*, MPL *-u*, FPL *-na* (formal). Nif'al and hif'il restore a prefix *hi-* / *ha-*. Pu'al and huf'al have none.

---

## 2. The strong verb in each binyan

### 2.1 Pa'al — כ-ת-ב "write" (future in *o*)

|  | Past |  | Future |  |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1SG | כָּתַבְתִּי | *katávti* | אֶכְתֹּב | *ekhtov* |
| 2MS | כָּתַבְתָּ | *katávta* | תִּכְתֹּב | *tikhtov* |
| 2FS | כָּתַבְתְּ | *katavt* | תִּכְתְּבִי | *tikhtevi* |
| 3MS | כָּתַב | *katav* | יִכְתֹּב | *yikhtov* |
| 3FS | כָּתְבָה | *katva* | תִּכְתֹּב | *tikhtov* |
| 1PL | כָּתַבְנוּ | *katávnu* | נִכְתֹּב | *nikhtov* |
| 2MPL | כְּתַבְתֶּם | *ktavtem*, spoken *katávtem* | תִּכְתְּבוּ | *tikhtevu* |
| 2FPL | כְּתַבְתֶּן | *ktavten*, spoken *katávten* | תִּכְתֹּבְנָה | *tikhtóvna* (formal) |
| 3MPL | כָּתְבוּ | *katvu* | יִכְתְּבוּ | *yikhtevu* |
| 3FPL | כָּתְבוּ | *katvu* | תִּכְתֹּבְנָה | *tikhtóvna* (formal; spoken *yikhtevu*) |

| Present |  | Imperative |  | Non-finite |  |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| MS כּוֹתֵב | *kotev* | MS כְּתֹב | *ktov* | INF לִכְתֹּב | *likhtov* |
| FS כּוֹתֶבֶת | *kotévet* | FS כִּתְבִי | *kitvi* | VN כְּתִיבָה | *ktiva* |
| MPL כּוֹתְבִים | *kotvim* | MPL כִּתְבוּ | *kitvu* | PASS.PTCP כָּתוּב | *katuv* |
| FPL כּוֹתְבוֹת | *kotvot* | FPL כְּתֹבְנָה | *któvna* (formal) |  |  |

Unpointed future spellings: אכתוב, תכתוב, יכתוב (ו for *o*); imperative כתוב.

Spirantisation: כ is [k] at the start of a word (*katav*) and [kh] after a vowel prefix (*yikhtov*, *likhtov*); ב is [v] throughout this paradigm, because it always follows a vowel or a shva that was historically vocal (*kitvi* goes back to *ketubi).

**Pa'al with future in *a*.** Verbs whose 2nd or 3rd root consonant is a guttural, and some statives, take *a* in the future and imperative but keep *o* in the infinitive:

|  | למד "learn" | שכב "lie down" | שמע "hear" |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| past 3MS | לָמַד *lamad* | שָׁכַב *shakhav* | שָׁמַע *shama* |
| future 3MS | יִלְמַד *yilmad* | יִשְׁכַּב *yishkav* | יִשְׁמַע *yishma* |
| imperative MS | לְמַד *lmad* | שְׁכַב *shkav* | שְׁמַע *shma* |
| infinitive | לִלְמֹד *lilmod* | לִשְׁכַּב *lishkav* | לִשְׁמֹעַ *lishmóa* |

### 2.2 Nif'al — כ-נ-ס "enter"

|  | Past |  | Future |  |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1SG | נִכְנַסְתִּי | *nikhnásti* | אֶכָּנֵס | *ekanes* (spoken *ikanes*, *yikanes*) |
| 2MS | נִכְנַסְתָּ | *nikhnásta* | תִּכָּנֵס | *tikanes* |
| 2FS | נִכְנַסְתְּ | *nikhnast* | תִּכָּנְסִי | *tikansi* (spoken also *tikanesi*) |
| 3MS | נִכְנַס | *nikhnas* | יִכָּנֵס | *yikanes* |
| 3FS | נִכְנְסָה | *nikhnesa* | תִּכָּנֵס | *tikanes* |
| 1PL | נִכְנַסְנוּ | *nikhnásnu* | נִכָּנֵס | *nikanes* |
| 2MPL | נִכְנַסְתֶּם | *nikhnastem*, spoken *nikhnástem* | תִּכָּנְסוּ | *tikansu* (spoken also *tikanesu*) |
| 2FPL | נִכְנַסְתֶּן | *nikhnasten* | תִּכָּנַסְנָה | *tikanásna* (formal) |
| 3PL | נִכְנְסוּ | *nikhnesu* | יִכָּנְסוּ | *yikansu* (spoken also *yikanesu*) |

| Present |  | Imperative |  | Non-finite |  |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| MS נִכְנָס | *nikhnas* | MS הִכָּנֵס | *hikanes* | INF לְהִכָּנֵס | *lehikanes* |
| FS נִכְנֶסֶת | *nikhnéset* | FS הִכָּנְסִי | *hikansi* | VN הִכָּנְסוּת | *hikansut* (lexical noun כְּנִיסָה *knisa*) |
| MPL נִכְנָסִים | *nikhnasim* | MPL הִכָּנְסוּ | *hikansu* |  |  |
| FPL נִכְנָסוֹת | *nikhnasot* | FPL הִכָּנַסְנָה | *hikanásna* (formal) |  |  |

Unpointed: future and imperative are spelled with י after the prefix in full spelling: איכנס, תיכנס, ייכנס, היכנס, להיכנס. The past 3MS and the present MS are spelled and pronounced alike (נכנס *nikhnas*): context decides. Spirantisation alternates in the first root consonant: *nikhnas* (past, [kh]) but *yikanes* (future, [k], historically doubled).

### 2.3 Pi'el — ד-ב-ר "speak"

|  | Past |  | Future |  |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1SG | דִּבַּרְתִּי | *dibárti* | אֲדַבֵּר | *adaber* (spoken *yedaber*) |
| 2MS | דִּבַּרְתָּ | *dibárta* | תְּדַבֵּר | *tedaber* |
| 2FS | דִּבַּרְתְּ | *dibart* | תְּדַבְּרִי | *tedabri* |
| 3MS | דִּבֵּר | *diber* | יְדַבֵּר | *yedaber* |
| 3FS | דִּבְּרָה | *dibra* | תְּדַבֵּר | *tedaber* |
| 1PL | דִּבַּרְנוּ | *dibárnu* | נְדַבֵּר | *nedaber* |
| 2MPL | דִּבַּרְתֶּם | *dibartem*, spoken *dibártem* | תְּדַבְּרוּ | *tedabru* |
| 2FPL | דִּבַּרְתֶּן | *dibarten* | תְּדַבֵּרְנָה | *tedabérna* (formal) |
| 3PL | דִּבְּרוּ | *dibru* | יְדַבְּרוּ | *yedabru* |

| Present |  | Imperative |  | Non-finite |  |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| MS מְדַבֵּר | *medaber* | MS דַּבֵּר | *daber* | INF לְדַבֵּר | *ledaber* |
| FS מְדַבֶּרֶת | *medabéret* | FS דַּבְּרִי | *dabri* | VN דִּבּוּר | *dibur* |
| MPL מְדַבְּרִים | *medabrim* | MPL דַּבְּרוּ | *dabru* |  |  |
| FPL מְדַבְּרוֹת | *medabrot* | FPL דַּבֵּרְנָה | *dabérna* (formal) |  |  |

Unpointed past in full spelling: דיבר, דיברה, דיברו (י for *i*). The middle ב is a stop [b] throughout (historically doubled). With a begadkefat **first** consonant the alternation shows: כִּבֵּס *kibes* "washed (laundry)" / מְכַבֵּס *mekhabes* / יְכַבֵּס *yekhabes*; פִּתֵּחַ *pitéakh* "developed" / מְפַתֵּחַ *mefatéakh*.

**Quadriliteral pi'el** (four-consonant roots) — ט-ל-פ-נ "phone":

|  | Past | Present | Future | Imperative | INF | VN |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| MS / 3MS | טִלְפֵּן *tilfen* | מְטַלְפֵּן *metalfen* | יְטַלְפֵּן *yetalfen* | טַלְפֵּן *talfen* | לְטַלְפֵּן *letalfen* | — (see note) |
| 1SG | טִלְפַּנְתִּי *tilfánti* | — | אֲטַלְפֵּן *atalfen* |  |  |  |
| 3FS / FS | טִלְפְּנָה *tilfena* | מְטַלְפֶּנֶת *metalfénet* | תְּטַלְפֵּן *tetalfen* | טַלְפְּנִי *talfeni* |  |  |
| 3PL / MPL | טִלְפְּנוּ *tilfenu* | מְטַלְפְּנִים *metalfenim* | יְטַלְפְּנוּ *yetalfenu* | טַלְפְּנוּ *talfenu* |  |  |

Note: in four-consonant stems the cluster is broken with *e* before vowel-initial suffixes (*tilfenu*, not **tilfnu*). The *f* of a borrowed root stays *f* everywhere (*metalfen*); the verbal noun is not in common use (speakers say *sikhat télefon* "phone call"). Other quadriliterals: תִּרְגֵּם *tirgem* "translated" (VN תִּרְגּוּם *tirgum*), גִּלְגֵּל *gilgel* "rolled" (VN גִּלְגּוּל *gilgul*), פִּרְסֵם *pirsem* "published" (VN פִּרְסוּם *pirsum*), סִנְכְּרֵן *sinkhren* "synchronised".

### 2.4 Pu'al — ס-ד-ר "be arranged"

|  | Past |  | Future |  |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1SG | סֻדַּרְתִּי | *sudárti* | אֲסֻדַּר | *asudar* |
| 2MS | סֻדַּרְתָּ | *sudárta* | תְּסֻדַּר | *tesudar* |
| 2FS | סֻדַּרְתְּ | *sudart* | תְּסֻדְּרִי | *tesudri* |
| 3MS | סֻדַּר | *sudar* | יְסֻדַּר | *yesudar* |
| 3FS | סֻדְּרָה | *sudra* | תְּסֻדַּר | *tesudar* |
| 1PL | סֻדַּרְנוּ | *sudárnu* | נְסֻדַּר | *nesudar* |
| 2MPL | סֻדַּרְתֶּם | *sudartem* | תְּסֻדְּרוּ | *tesudru* |
| 2FPL | סֻדַּרְתֶּן | *sudarten* | תְּסֻדַּרְנָה | *tesudárna* (formal) |
| 3PL | סֻדְּרוּ | *sudru* | יְסֻדְּרוּ | *yesudru* |

Present: מְסֻדָּר *mesudar*, מְסֻדֶּרֶת *mesudéret*, מְסֻדָּרִים *mesudarim*, מְסֻדָּרוֹת *mesudarot* (mainly adjectives "tidy, organised"). No imperative, infinitive or verbal noun. Unpointed full spelling: סודר, מסודר (ו for *u*).

### 2.5 Hif'il — ר-ג-ש "feel"

|  | Past |  | Future |  |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1SG | הִרְגַּשְׁתִּי | *hirgáshti* | אַרְגִּישׁ | *argish* (spoken *yargish*) |
| 2MS | הִרְגַּשְׁתָּ | *hirgáshta* | תַּרְגִּישׁ | *targish* |
| 2FS | הִרְגַּשְׁתְּ | *hirgasht* | תַּרְגִּישִׁי | *targíshi* |
| 3MS | הִרְגִּישׁ | *hirgish* | יַרְגִּישׁ | *yargish* |
| 3FS | הִרְגִּישָׁה | *hirgísha* | תַּרְגִּישׁ | *targish* |
| 1PL | הִרְגַּשְׁנוּ | *hirgáshnu* | נַרְגִּישׁ | *nargish* |
| 2MPL | הִרְגַּשְׁתֶּם | *hirgashtem*, spoken *hirgáshtem* | תַּרְגִּישׁוּ | *targíshu* |
| 2FPL | הִרְגַּשְׁתֶּן | *hirgashten* | תַּרְגֵּשְׁנָה | *targéshna* (formal) |
| 3PL | הִרְגִּישׁוּ | *hirgíshu* | יַרְגִּישׁוּ | *yargíshu* |

| Present |  | Imperative |  | Non-finite |  |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| MS מַרְגִּישׁ | *margish* | MS הַרְגֵּשׁ | *hargesh* | INF לְהַרְגִּישׁ | *lehargish* |
| FS מַרְגִּישָׁה | *margisha* | FS הַרְגִּישִׁי | *hargíshi* | VN הַרְגָּשָׁה | *hargasha* |
| MPL מַרְגִּישִׁים | *margishim* | MPL הַרְגִּישׁוּ | *hargíshu* |  |  |
| FPL מַרְגִּישׁוֹת | *margishot* | FPL הַרְגֵּשְׁנָה | *hargéshna* (formal) |  |  |

Hif'il is the binyan whose 3FS and 3PL past and 2FS/PL future keep the stress on the stem vowel *i* (*hirgísha*, *targíshi*, *yargíshu*). The present FS ends in stressed *-a* (*margisha*). The imperative MS has *e* (*hargesh*), which speakers often replace with the future *targish*.

### 2.6 Huf'al — ר-ג-ש "be felt"

|  | Past |  | Future |  |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1SG | הֻרְגַּשְׁתִּי | *hurgáshti* | אֻרְגַּשׁ | *urgash* |
| 2MS | הֻרְגַּשְׁתָּ | *hurgáshta* | תֻּרְגַּשׁ | *turgash* |
| 2FS | הֻרְגַּשְׁתְּ | *hurgasht* | תֻּרְגְּשִׁי | *turgeshi* |
| 3MS | הֻרְגַּשׁ | *hurgash* | יֻרְגַּשׁ | *yurgash* |
| 3FS | הֻרְגְּשָׁה | *hurgesha* | תֻּרְגַּשׁ | *turgash* |
| 1PL | הֻרְגַּשְׁנוּ | *hurgáshnu* | נֻרְגַּשׁ | *nurgash* |
| 2MPL | הֻרְגַּשְׁתֶּם | *hurgashtem* | תֻּרְגְּשׁוּ | *turgeshu* |
| 2FPL | הֻרְגַּשְׁתֶּן | *hurgashten* | תֻּרְגַּשְׁנָה | *turgáshna* (formal) |
| 3PL | הֻרְגְּשׁוּ | *hurgeshu* | יֻרְגְּשׁוּ | *yurgeshu* |

Present: מֻרְגָּשׁ *murgash*, מֻרְגֶּשֶׁת *murgéshet*, מֻרְגָּשִׁים *murgashim*, מֻרְגָּשׁוֹת *murgashot*. No imperative, infinitive or verbal noun. Unpointed: הורגש, מורגש (ו for *u*). The vowel is pointed either *qubbuts* (הֻ) or *qamats qatan* (הָ, the older *hof'al* pronunciation *horgash*); Modern Hebrew pronounces *u* and spells with ו.

### 2.7 Hitpa'el — ל-ב-ש "get dressed"

|  | Past |  | Future |  |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1SG | הִתְלַבַּשְׁתִּי | *hitlabáshti* | אֶתְלַבֵּשׁ | *etlabesh* (spoken *itlabesh*, *yitlabesh*) |
| 2MS | הִתְלַבַּשְׁתָּ | *hitlabáshta* | תִּתְלַבֵּשׁ | *titlabesh* |
| 2FS | הִתְלַבַּשְׁתְּ | *hitlabasht* | תִּתְלַבְּשִׁי | *titlabshi* |
| 3MS | הִתְלַבֵּשׁ | *hitlabesh* | יִתְלַבֵּשׁ | *yitlabesh* |
| 3FS | הִתְלַבְּשָׁה | *hitlabsha* | תִּתְלַבֵּשׁ | *titlabesh* |
| 1PL | הִתְלַבַּשְׁנוּ | *hitlabáshnu* | נִתְלַבֵּשׁ | *nitlabesh* |
| 2MPL | הִתְלַבַּשְׁתֶּם | *hitlabashtem*, spoken *hitlabáshtem* | תִּתְלַבְּשׁוּ | *titlabshu* |
| 2FPL | הִתְלַבַּשְׁתֶּן | *hitlabashten* | תִּתְלַבֵּשְׁנָה | *titlabéshna* (formal) |
| 3PL | הִתְלַבְּשׁוּ | *hitlabshu* | יִתְלַבְּשׁוּ | *yitlabshu* |

| Present |  | Imperative |  | Non-finite |  |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| MS מִתְלַבֵּשׁ | *mitlabesh* | MS הִתְלַבֵּשׁ | *hitlabesh* | INF לְהִתְלַבֵּשׁ | *lehitlabesh* |
| FS מִתְלַבֶּשֶׁת | *mitlabéshet* | FS הִתְלַבְּשִׁי | *hitlabshi* | VN הִתְלַבְּשׁוּת | *hitlabshut* |
| MPL מִתְלַבְּשִׁים | *mitlabshim* | MPL הִתְלַבְּשׁוּ | *hitlabshu* |  |  |
| FPL מִתְלַבְּשׁוֹת | *mitlabshot* | FPL הִתְלַבֵּשְׁנָה | *hitlabéshna* (formal) |  |  |

The past 3MS and the imperative MS are identical (הִתְלַבֵּשׁ). For metathesis with sibilants (*histakel*, *hishtamesh*, *hitstalem*, *hizdaken*) see 05-verbs.md § 2.7; the endings are the same.

**Nitpa'el (formal past only)** is not used with this root; typical forms: נִתְקַבֵּל *nitkabel* "was received", נִתְגַּלָּה *nitgala* "was revealed", 3FS נִתְקַבְּלָה *nitkabla*, 3PL נִתְגַּלּוּ *nitgalu*. Present and future coincide with nif'al-like *nitkabel*/hitpa'el and are not used separately.

### 2.8 The copula היה

See 05-verbs.md § 9.1 for the full table (*hayíti … yihyu*); infinitive לִהְיוֹת *lihyot*; imperative הֱיֵה *heye*, הֲיִי *hayi*, הֱיוּ *heyu*. *Haya* is a final-weak (ל"ה) pa'al verb with an initial *h*, so it follows § 3.5 below; its first consonant ה is a guttural, which in pointed writing gives the future יִהְיֶה *yihye* with a silent shva under ה (an exception among gutturals).

---

## 3. Weak roots: key cells

Each table gives, per verb: past 3MS, past 1SG, past 3FS, present MS / FS, future 1SG, future 3MS, imperative MS, infinitive, verbal noun. A dash means the cell does not exist or is not in use. The unchanged cells of the paradigm follow the strong pattern of the same binyan (§ 2).

### 3.1 First consonant *n* (פ"נ)

The *n* assimilates (doubling the next consonant, now only visible as a stop) when it closes a syllable, and in some verbs drops in the imperative and infinitive.

| Verb | Past 3MS | Past 1SG | Past 3FS | Present MS / FS | Fut 1SG | Fut 3MS | Imp MS | INF | VN |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| pa'al נפל "fall" | נָפַל *nafal* | נָפַלְתִּי *nafálti* | נָפְלָה *nafla* | נוֹפֵל *nofel* / נוֹפֶלֶת *nofélet* | אֶפֹּל *epol* | יִפֹּל *yipol* | נְפֹל *nefol* | לִפֹּל *lipol* | נְפִילָה *nefila* |
| pa'al נסע "travel" | נָסַע *nasa* | נָסַעְתִּי *nasáti* | נָסְעָה *nas'a* | נוֹסֵעַ *noséa* / נוֹסַעַת *nosáat* | אֶסַּע *esa* | יִסַּע *yisa* | סַע *sa* | לִנְסֹעַ *linsóa* | נְסִיעָה *nesi'a* |
| pa'al נתן "give" | נָתַן *natan* | נָתַתִּי *natáti* | נָתְנָה *natna* | נוֹתֵן *noten* / נוֹתֶנֶת *noténet* | אֶתֵּן *eten* | יִתֵּן *yiten* | תֵּן *ten* | לָתֵת *latet* | נְתִינָה *netina* |
| nif'al נצל "be saved" | נִצַּל *nitsal* | נִצַּלְתִּי *nitsálti* | נִצְּלָה *nitsla* | נִצָּל *nitsal* / נִצֶּלֶת *nitsélet* | אֶנָּצֵל *enatsel* | יִנָּצֵל *yinatsel* | הִנָּצֵל *hinatsel* | לְהִנָּצֵל *lehinatsel* | הִנָּצְלוּת *hinatslut* |
| hif'il הפיל "drop" | הִפִּיל *hipil* | הִפַּלְתִּי *hipálti* | הִפִּילָה *hipíla* | מַפִּיל *mapil* / מַפִּילָה *mapila* | אַפִּיל *apil* | יַפִּיל *yapil* | הַפֵּל *hapel* | לְהַפִּיל *lehapil* | הַפָּלָה *hapala* |
| hif'il הגיע "arrive" | הִגִּיעַ *higía* | הִגַּעְתִּי *higáti* | הִגִּיעָה *higía* | מַגִּיעַ *magía* / מַגִּיעָה *magi'a* | אַגִּיעַ *agía* | יַגִּיעַ *yagía* | הַגַּע *haga* | לְהַגִּיעַ *lehagía* | הַגָּעָה *hagaa* |
| huf'al הוּפַּל "was dropped" | הֻפַּל *hupal* | הֻפַּלְתִּי *hupálti* | הֻפְּלָה *hupla* | מֻפָּל *mupal* | — | יֻפַּל *yupal* | — | — | — |

Notes.

- In hif'il and huf'al the *n* is lost entirely; the resulting stems look biliteral (*hipil* < **hinpil*). Speakers recover the root from pa'al or nouns (נפילה).
- The pa'al 1st *n* verbs differ: נפל keeps *n* in the imperative (*nefol*) and drops it nowhere but the future; נסע drops it in the imperative (*sa*) but keeps it in the infinitive (*linsóa*); נתן drops it everywhere outside the past and present, and its 3rd *n* assimilates to the suffix *t* (*natáti*) and to the infinitive (*latet*).
- **Spoken:** the imperative of נפל is rare (*al tipol* "don't fall"); *sa* "drive! go!" is common; *ten* is very common, also as "let": *ten li lahashov* "let me think". Some speakers say *nasánu*-type forms regularly; the infinitive *linsóa* is stable.
- Many 1st *n* verbs behave as strong in pa'al and nif'al when the second consonant is a guttural: נהג *nahag* "drove", fut. *yinhag*; נגע *naga* "touched", fut. *yiga* (assimilating), inf. *lingóa*.

### 3.2 First consonant *y* (פ"י / פ"ו)

Two subtypes. (a) **Original *w*-roots** (most): the *y* drops in the pa'al future, imperative and infinitive, which take *e* and the feminine *-et* ending; in nif'al, hif'il and huf'al the old *w* reappears as *o*/*u*/*v*. (b) **Original *y*-roots** (a few: ישן, ינק, יטב): the *y* stays as *i* in the future.

| Verb | Past 3MS | Past 1SG | Past 3FS | Present MS / FS | Fut 1SG | Fut 3MS | Imp MS | INF | VN |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| pa'al ישב "sit" | יָשַׁב *yashav* | יָשַׁבְתִּי *yashávti* | יָשְׁבָה *yashva* | יוֹשֵׁב *yoshev* / יוֹשֶׁבֶת *yoshévet* | אֵשֵׁב *eshev* | יֵשֵׁב *yeshev* | שֵׁב *shev* | לָשֶׁבֶת *lashévet* | יְשִׁיבָה *yeshiva* |
| pa'al ירד "go down" | יָרַד *yarad* | יָרַדְתִּי *yarádti* | יָרְדָה *yarda* | יוֹרֵד *yored* / יוֹרֶדֶת *yorédet* | אֵרֵד *ered* | יֵרֵד *yered* | רֵד *red* | לָרֶדֶת *larédet* | יְרִידָה *yerida* |
| pa'al ידע "know" | יָדַע *yada* | יָדַעְתִּי *yadáti* | יָדְעָה *yad'a* | יוֹדֵעַ *yodéa* / יוֹדַעַת *yodáat* | אֵדַע *eda* | יֵדַע *yeda* | דַּע *da* | לָדַעַת *ladáat* | יְדִיעָה *yedi'a* |
| pa'al יצא "go out" (also ל"א) | יָצָא *yatsa* | יָצָאתִי *yatsáti* | יָצְאָה *yats'a* | יוֹצֵא *yotse* / יוֹצֵאת *yotset* | אֵצֵא *etse* | יֵצֵא *yetse* | צֵא *tse* | לָצֵאת *latset* | יְצִיאָה *yetsi'a* |
| pa'al ישן "sleep" (type b) | יָשַׁן *yashan* | יָשַׁנְתִּי *yashánti* | יָשְׁנָה *yashna* | יָשֵׁן *yashen* / יְשֵׁנָה *yeshena* | אִישַׁן *ishan* | יִישַׁן *yishan* | יְשַׁן *yeshan* | לִישֹׁן *lishon* | (שֵׁנָה *shena*) |
| nif'al נולד "be born" | נוֹלַד *nolad* | נוֹלַדְתִּי *noládti* | נוֹלְדָה *nolda* | נוֹלָד *nolad* / נוֹלֶדֶת *nolédet* | אִוָּלֵד *ivaled* | יִוָּלֵד *yivaled* | הִוָּלֵד *hivaled* | לְהִוָּלֵד *lehivaled* | הִוָּלְדוּת *hivaldut* |
| hif'il הושיב "seat" | הוֹשִׁיב *hoshiv* | הוֹשַׁבְתִּי *hoshávti* | הוֹשִׁיבָה *hoshíva* | מוֹשִׁיב *moshiv* / מוֹשִׁיבָה *moshiva* | אוֹשִׁיב *oshiv* | יוֹשִׁיב *yoshiv* | הוֹשֵׁב *hoshev* | לְהוֹשִׁיב *lehoshiv* | הוֹשָׁבָה *hoshava* |
| hif'il הוריד "take down" | הוֹרִיד *horid* | הוֹרַדְתִּי *horádti* | הוֹרִידָה *horída* | מוֹרִיד *morid* / מוֹרִידָה *morida* | אוֹרִיד *orid* | יוֹרִיד *yorid* | הוֹרֵד *hored* | לְהוֹרִיד *lehorid* | הוֹרָדָה *horada* |
| huf'al הורד "was lowered" | הוּרַד *hurad* | הוּרַדְתִּי *hurádti* | הוּרְדָה *hurda* | מוּרָד *murad* | — | יוּרַד *yurad* | — | — | — |

Notes.

- The pa'al infinitives *lashévet*, *larédet*, *ladáat*, *latset*, *lalédet* "to give birth" are fossilised *-et* forms. Children and some casual speakers say *leshev*, *lered* (Ravid 1995); these are non-standard.
- The type (b) future *yishan* is written with two yods in full spelling (יישן).
- הלך *halakh* "go" behaves like a 1st *y* verb in the future and imperative: אֵלֵךְ *elekh*, יֵלֵךְ *yelekh*, לֵךְ *lekh*, לָלֶכֶת *lalékhet* (05-verbs.md § 6.2 on *lekh*). Spoken 1SG future: *ani yelekh*.
- In hif'il and huf'al the root *y* appears as *o* / *u*; in pi'el and hitpa'el it is an ordinary consonant: יִשֵּׁב *yishev* "settled", הִתְיַשֵּׁב *hityashev* "sat down, settled".

### 3.3 First consonant a guttural (פ' גרונית) and *'* (פ"א)

Gutturals (א, ה, ח, ע) cannot take a silent shva in the pointed system, so the vowels around them change in writing; in speech, א and ע are usually silent or a glottal stop, ה is often dropped, and ח is *kh*. The audible effect in Modern Hebrew is mostly in the vowels *a* / *e* after the prefix.

| Verb | Past 3MS | Past 1SG | Past 3FS | Present MS / FS | Fut 1SG | Fut 3MS | Imp MS | INF | VN |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| pa'al עבד "work" | עָבַד *avad* | עָבַדְתִּי *avádti* | עָבְדָה *avda* | עוֹבֵד *oved* / עוֹבֶדֶת *ovédet* | אֶעֱבֹד *e'evod* | יַעֲבֹד *ya'avod* | עֲבֹד *avod* | לַעֲבֹד *la'avod* | (עֲבוֹדָה *avoda*) |
| pa'al חשב "think" | חָשַׁב *khashav* | חָשַׁבְתִּי *khashávti* | חָשְׁבָה *khashva* | חוֹשֵׁב *khoshev* / חוֹשֶׁבֶת *khoshévet* | אֶחְשֹׁב *ekhshov* | יַחְשֹׁב *yakhshov* | חֲשֹׁב *khashov* | לַחְשֹׁב *lakhshov* | חֲשִׁיבָה *khashiva* |
| pa'al אכל "eat" (פ"א) | אָכַל *akhal* | אָכַלְתִּי *akhálti* | אָכְלָה *akhla* | אוֹכֵל *okhel* / אוֹכֶלֶת *okhélet* | אֹכַל *okhal* | יֹאכַל *yokhal* | אֱכֹל *ekhol* | לֶאֱכֹל *le'ekhol* | אֲכִילָה *akhila* |
| pa'al אמר "say" (פ"א) | אָמַר *amar* | אָמַרְתִּי *amárti* | אָמְרָה *amra* | אוֹמֵר *omer* / אוֹמֶרֶת *oméret* | אֹמַר *omar* | יֹאמַר *yomar* | אֱמֹר *emor* | לוֹמַר *lomar* / לֵאמֹר *lemor* | אֲמִירָה *amira* |
| nif'al נעלם "disappear" | נֶעֱלַם *ne'elam* | נֶעֱלַמְתִּי *ne'elámti* | נֶעֶלְמָה *ne'elma* | נֶעֱלָם *ne'elam* / נֶעֱלֶמֶת *ne'elémet* | אֵעָלֵם *e'alem* | יֵעָלֵם *ye'alem* | הֵעָלֵם *he'alem* | לְהֵעָלֵם *lehe'alem* | הֵעָלְמוּת *he'almut* |
| hif'il העביר "transfer" | הֶעֱבִיר *he'evir* | הֶעֱבַרְתִּי *he'evárti* | הֶעֱבִירָה *he'evíra* | מַעֲבִיר *ma'avir* / מַעֲבִירָה *ma'avira* | אַעֲבִיר *a'avir* | יַעֲבִיר *ya'avir* | הַעֲבֵר *ha'aver* | לְהַעֲבִיר *leha'avir* | הַעֲבָרָה *ha'avara* |

Notes.

- Pe-aleph pa'al (אכל, אמר, and אבד, אפה) has future *o-*: *yokhal*, *yomar*. In speech, the 1SG *okhal* often becomes *yokhal* (05-verbs.md § 10.1). Other א-initial verbs are regular guttural verbs: אהב *ahav* "loved", fut. *ye'ehav*, spoken *yohav* (normative *ye'ehav*, often avoided).
- אמר is defective in speech: future, imperative and infinitive come from הגיד *higid* (*agid*, *tagid*, *lehagid*); *yomar* and *lomar* are formal (05-verbs.md § 6.2). The infinitive לֵאמֹר *lemor* means "saying (as follows)" in formal and biblical style.
- In nif'al of 1st guttural roots, the future cannot double the guttural, so the vowel of the prefix lengthens to *e* (*ye'alem*, *e'alem*) — "compensatory lengthening"; in speech this is simply *ye'alem* vs strong *yikanes*.

### 3.4 Hollow roots: middle *v* or *y* (ע"ו / ע"י)

The middle consonant is a vowel (*u*, *o*, *i*), so the stem has two consonants. These are among the most frequent verbs (קם, בא, שם, גר, רץ, טס, שר, מת).

| Verb | Past 3MS | Past 1SG | Past 3FS | Present MS / FS | Fut 1SG | Fut 3MS | Imp MS | INF | VN |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| pa'al קום "get up" | קָם *kam* | קַמְתִּי *kámti* | קָמָה *káma* | קָם *kam* / קָמָה *kama* | אָקוּם *akum* | יָקוּם *yakum* | קוּם *kum* | לָקוּם *lakum* | קִימָה *kima* |
| pa'al בוא "come" (also ל"א) | בָּא *ba* | בָּאתִי *báti* | בָּאָה *bá'a* | בָּא *ba* / בָּאָה *ba'a* | אָבוֹא *avo* | יָבוֹא *yavo* | בּוֹא *bo* | לָבוֹא *lavo* | בִּיאָה *bi'a* |
| pa'al שיר "sing" (ע"י) | שָׁר *shar* | שַׁרְתִּי *shárti* | שָׁרָה *shára* | שָׁר *shar* / שָׁרָה *shara* | אָשִׁיר *ashir* | יָשִׁיר *yashir* | שִׁיר *shir* | לָשִׁיר *lashir* | שִׁירָה *shira* |
| hif'il הקים "set up" | הֵקִים *hekim* | הֵקַמְתִּי *hekámti* | הֵקִימָה *hekíma* | מֵקִים *mekim* / מְקִימָה *mekima* | אָקִים *akim* | יָקִים *yakim* | הָקֵם *hakem* | לְהָקִים *lehakim* | הֲקָמָה *hakama* |
| hif'il הביא "bring" (also ל"א) | הֵבִיא *hevi* | הֵבֵאתִי *hevéti* | הֵבִיאָה *hevi'a* | מֵבִיא *mevi* / מְבִיאָה *mevi'a* | אָבִיא *avi* | יָבִיא *yavi* | הָבֵא *havé* (spoken *tavi*, *havi*) | לְהָבִיא *lehavi* | הֲבָאָה *hava'a* |
| huf'al הוקם "was set up" | הוּקַם *hukam* | הוּקַמְתִּי *hukámti* | הוּקְמָה *hukma* | מוּקָם *mukam* | — | יוּקַם *yukam* | — | — | — |
| nif'al נסוג "retreat" | נָסוֹג *nasog* | נְסוֹגוֹתִי *nesogóti* (spoken *nasógti*) | נָסוֹגָה *nasóga* | נָסוֹג *nasog* | אֶסּוֹג *esog* | יִסּוֹג *yisog* | הִסּוֹג *hisog* | לְהִסּוֹג *lehisog* | הִסּוֹגוּת *hisogut* |
| hitpa'el (hitpolel) התכונן "prepare" | הִתְכּוֹנֵן *hitkonen* | הִתְכּוֹנַנְתִּי *hitkonánti* | הִתְכּוֹנְנָה *hitkonena* | מִתְכּוֹנֵן *mitkonen* / מִתְכּוֹנֶנֶת *mitkonénet* | אֶתְכּוֹנֵן *etkonen* | יִתְכּוֹנֵן *yitkonen* | הִתְכּוֹנֵן *hitkonen* | לְהִתְכּוֹנֵן *lehitkonen* | הִתְכּוֹנְנוּת *hitkonenut* |

Notes.

- **Stress distinguishes past from present** in the FS: past קָמָה *káma* "she got up" (penultimate) vs present קָמָה *kama* "she gets up" (final). Likewise *bá'a* / *ba'a*, *shára* / *shara*. In unpointed text they are identical.
- **Hif'il of hollow roots** has *e* in the past and *a* in the future: *hekim* / *yakim*; *hevi* / *yavi*; *hevin* "understood" / *yavin*. Older literary 1SG past forms with *-óti* (הֲקִימוֹתִי *hakimóti*, הֲבִיאוֹתִי) are now archaic.
- **Pi'el and hitpa'el** of hollow roots have two shapes: the old *polel* / *hitpolel*, which repeats the last consonant (קוֹמֵם *komem* "raised up", הִתְקוֹמֵם *hitkomem* "rebelled", הִתְבּוֹנֵן *hitbonen* "observed"), and a newer regular shape with the middle *y* as a consonant (קִיֵּם *kiyem* "kept, fulfilled", הִתְקַיֵּם *hitkayem* "took place", צִיֵּר *tsiyer* "drew", הִתְחַיֵּב *hitkhayev* "committed oneself"). New coinages use the regular shape.
- **Hollow nif'al** is rare (נָסוֹג, נָבוֹךְ, נָכוֹן as adjective); its normative 1SG past *nesogóti* is replaced in speech by *nasógti*. This row is given from normative grammar; UniMorph does not have it.
- **Spoken:** future 1SG *ani yakum*, *ani yavo*, *ani yavi* (§ 10.1 of 05-verbs.md); imperative of הביא is the future *tavi* (*tavi li et ze* "give me that").

### 3.5 Final weak (ל"ה / ל"י)

Roots whose last consonant was *y* (written ה at the end of the 3MS). The stem ends in a vowel: *-a* in the past 3MS, *-e* in the present MS and future, *-i/-e* before consonant suffixes, *-ot* in the infinitive, and the 3FS past has the old *-ta*.

| Verb | Past 3MS | Past 1SG | Past 3FS | Present MS / FS | Fut 1SG | Fut 3MS | Imp MS | INF | VN |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| pa'al קנה "buy" | קָנָה *kana* | קָנִיתִי *kaníti* | קָנְתָה *kanta* | קוֹנֶה *kone* / קוֹנָה *kona* | אֶקְנֶה *ekne* | יִקְנֶה *yikne* | קְנֵה *kne* | לִקְנוֹת *liknot* | קְנִיָּה *kniya* |
| nif'al נקנה "be bought" | נִקְנָה *nikna* | נִקְנֵיתִי *niknéti* | נִקְנְתָה *nikneta* | נִקְנֶה *nikne* / נִקְנֵית *niknet* | אֶקָּנֶה *ekane* | יִקָּנֶה *yikane* | הִקָּנֵה *hikane* | לְהִקָּנוֹת *lehikanot* | הִקָּנוּת *hikanut* |
| pi'el שינה "change" | שִׁנָּה *shina* | שִׁנִּיתִי *shiníti* | שִׁנְּתָה *shinta* | מְשַׁנֶּה *meshane* / מְשַׁנָּה *meshana* | אֲשַׁנֶּה *ashane* | יְשַׁנֶּה *yeshane* | שַׁנֵּה *shane* | לְשַׁנּוֹת *leshanot* | שִׁנּוּי *shinui* |
| hif'il הפנה "refer, direct" | הִפְנָה *hifna* | הִפְנֵיתִי *hifnéti* | הִפְנְתָה *hifneta* | מַפְנֶה *mafne* / מַפְנָה *mafna* | אַפְנֶה *afne* | יַפְנֶה *yafne* | הַפְנֵה *hafne* | לְהַפְנוֹת *lehafnot* | הַפְנָיָה *hafnaya* |
| hitpa'el התנסה "try out" | הִתְנַסָּה *hitnasa* | הִתְנַסֵּיתִי *hitnaséti* | הִתְנַסְּתָה *hitnasta* | מִתְנַסֶּה *mitnase* / מִתְנַסָּה *mitnasa* | אֶתְנַסֶּה *etnase* | יִתְנַסֶּה *yitnase* | הִתְנַסֵּה *hitnase* | לְהִתְנַסּוֹת *lehitnasot* | הִתְנַסּוּת *hitnasut* |

The rest of the future: 2FS *tikni*, 2/3PL *tiknu*, *yiknu* (the stem vowel is dropped before *-i*, *-u*); past 3PL *kanu*. The present FPL is *konot*, MPL *konim*.

Notes.

- **Past 1/2 vowel:** *-íti* in pa'al and pi'el, *-éti* in nif'al, pu'al, hif'il, huf'al, hitpa'el (as UniMorph gives נִקְנֵיתִי, הִתְנַסֵּיתִי). In speech *-íti* tends to spread (*hitnasíti*) (05-verbs.md § 10.5).
- **Nif'al present FS** has two normative forms, נִקְנֵית *niknet* and (formal) נִקְנָה *nikna*.
- **Spoken 3FS past:** forms like *kanta* are universal; *hitnasta*, *shinta* likewise.
- The copula היה belongs here: *haya*, *hayíti*, *hayta*; future *yihye*; inf *lihyot*.
- Common verbs of this class: ראה *ra'a* "see" (fut. *yir'e*, inf. *lir'ot*), עשה *asa* "do" (fut. *ya'ase*, inf. *la'asot*), רצה *ratsa* "want", שתה *shata* "drink", בנה *bana* "build", עלה *ala* "go up", קרה *kara* "happen", ניסה *nisa* "try", גילה *gila* "discover", הראה *her'a* "show", התראה *hitra'a* "see each other".

### 3.6 Final *'* (ל"א)

The final א is silent in Modern Hebrew. In pointed writing these verbs differ from final-weak verbs (the stem keeps the *a* or *e* of the strong pattern and the spelling keeps א), but in pronunciation many forms coincide, and speakers often inflect them like ל"ה (05-verbs.md § 10.4).

| Verb | Past 3MS | Past 1SG | Past 3FS | Present MS / FS | Fut 1SG | Fut 3MS | Imp MS | INF | VN |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| pa'al קרא "read, call" | קָרָא *kara* | קָרָאתִי *karáti* | קָרְאָה *kar'a* | קוֹרֵא *kore* / קוֹרֵאת *koret* | אֶקְרָא *ekra* | יִקְרָא *yikra* (spoken *yikre*) | קְרָא *kra* | לִקְרֹא *likro* | קְרִיאָה *kri'a* |
| pa'al מצא "find" | מָצָא *matsa* | מָצָאתִי *matsáti* | מָצְאָה *mats'a* | מוֹצֵא *motse* / מוֹצֵאת *motset* | אֶמְצָא *emtsa* | יִמְצָא *yimtsa* (spoken *yimtse*) | מְצָא *mtsa* | לִמְצֹא *limtso* | מְצִיאָה *metsi'a* |
| nif'al נקרא "be called" | נִקְרָא *nikra* | נִקְרֵאתִי *nikréti* (spoken *nikríti*) | נִקְרְאָה *nikre'a* | נִקְרָא *nikra* / נִקְרֵאת *nikret* | אֶקָּרֵא *ekare* | יִקָּרֵא *yikare* | הִקָּרֵא *hikare* | לְהִקָּרֵא *lehikare* | הִקָּרְאוּת *hikar'ut* |
| pi'el מילא "fill" | מִלֵּא *mile* | מִלֵּאתִי *miléti* (spoken *milíti*) | מִלְּאָה *mil'a* | מְמַלֵּא *memale* / מְמַלֵּאת *memalet* | אֲמַלֵּא *amale* | יְמַלֵּא *yemale* | מַלֵּא *male* | לְמַלֵּא *lemale* | מִלּוּי *milui* |
| hif'il המציא "invent" | הִמְצִיא *himtsi* | הִמְצֵאתִי *himtséti* | הִמְצִיאָה *himtsi'a* | מַמְצִיא *mamtsi* / מַמְצִיאָה *mamtsi'a* | אַמְצִיא *amtsi* | יַמְצִיא *yamtsi* | הַמְצֵא *hamtse* | לְהַמְצִיא *lehamtsi* | הַמְצָאָה *hamtsa'a* |

Notes.

- The pa'al infinitive *likro*, *limtso* sounds the same as a ל"ה infinitive would without its *-t*; speakers occasionally produce **likrot* by analogy (non-standard).
- Spoken merger: future *yikre*, *yimtse*; imperative *tikre*; nif'al and pi'el 1SG past with *-íti*. The spelling with א is kept in careful writing; misspellings with י (מיליתי) are frequent and are the main written evidence of the merger (Ravid 1995).
- ל"א verbs that are also hollow (בא, הביא) or 1st *y* (יצא) combine both sets of changes (§§ 3.2, 3.4).

### 3.7 Final guttural (ל' גרונית: ח, ע)

Final ח and ע take a "furtive" *a* before them when preceded by *i*, *e*, *o*, *u* (written ַ under the guttural): the effect in speech is an extra *a* and a stress before it.

| Verb | Past 3MS | Past 1SG | Present MS / FS | Fut 3MS | Imp MS | INF | VN |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| pa'al שמע "hear" | שָׁמַע *shama* | שָׁמַעְתִּי *shamáti* | שׁוֹמֵעַ *shoméa* / שׁוֹמַעַת *shomáat* | יִשְׁמַע *yishma* | שְׁמַע *shma* | לִשְׁמֹעַ *lishmóa* | שְׁמִיעָה *shmi'a* |
| pa'al פתח "open" | פָּתַח *patakh* | פָּתַחְתִּי *patákhti* | פּוֹתֵחַ *potéakh* / פּוֹתַחַת *potákhat* | יִפְתַּח *yiftakh* | פְּתַח *ptakh* | לִפְתֹּחַ *liftóakh* | פְּתִיחָה *ptikha* |
| pi'el פיתח "develop" | פִּתֵּחַ *pitéakh* | פִּתַּחְתִּי *pitákhti* | מְפַתֵּחַ *mefatéakh* / מְפַתַּחַת *mefatákhat* | יְפַתֵּחַ *yefatéakh* | פַּתֵּחַ *patéakh* | לְפַתֵּחַ *lefatéakh* | פִּתּוּחַ *pitúakh* |
| hif'il הבטיח "promise" | הִבְטִיחַ *hivtíakh* | הִבְטַחְתִּי *hivtákhti* | מַבְטִיחַ *mavtíakh* / מַבְטִיחָה *mavtikha* | יַבְטִיחַ *yavtíakh* | הַבְטֵחַ *havtéakh* | לְהַבְטִיחַ *lehavtíakh* | הַבְטָחָה *havtakha* |

Notes.

- The future has *a* before the final guttural (*yishma*, *yiftakh*), not *o* (§ 2.1); the infinitive keeps *o* (*lishmóa*).
- **Spoken:** the furtive vowel is often dropped in casual speech in some forms (*shomea* → *shoméa* is stable, but *lishmóa* may be heard as *lishmo'a*); the present FS of pa'al is commonly *shomáat* / *potákhat* (normative), with *shoméat* and *potékhet* heard as levelled forms. These are variable; no frequency data were found for this manual.

### 3.8 Geminate roots (ע"ע)

Roots with identical 2nd and 3rd consonants. Pa'al geminate verbs are mostly literary or behave as strong in speech (חגג *khagag* "celebrated", fut. *yakhgog*; סבב *savav* rare); the derived binyanim have short stems.

| Verb | Past 3MS | Past 1SG | Past 3FS | Present MS / FS | Fut 1SG | Fut 3MS | Imp MS | INF | VN |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| hif'il הגן "protect" | הֵגֵן *hegen* | הֵגַנְתִּי *hegánti* | הֵגֵנָּה *hegéna* | מֵגֵן *megen* / מְגִנָּה *megina* | אָגֵן *agen* | יָגֵן *yagen* | הָגֵן *hagen* | לְהָגֵן *lehagen* | הֲגָנָה *hagana* |
| hif'il הסב "divert, convert" | הֵסֵב *hesev* | הֵסַבְתִּי *hesávti* | הֵסֵבָּה *heséva* | מֵסֵב *mesev* / מְסִבָּה *mesiba* | אָסֵב *asev* | יָסֵב *yasev* | הָסֵב *hasev* | לְהָסֵב *lehasev* | הֲסָבָה *hasava* |
| pi'el (regular) סיבב "turn" | סִבֵּב *sibev* (spoken *sivev*) | סִבַּבְתִּי *sibávti* (spoken *sivávti*) | סִבְּבָה *sibeva* | מְסַבֵּב *mesabev* | אֲסַבֵּב *asabev* | יְסַבֵּב *yesabev* | סַבֵּב *sabev* | לְסַבֵּב *lesabev* | סִבּוּב *sibuv* |
| hitpa'el (hitpolel) הסתובב "turn around" | הִסְתּוֹבֵב *histovev* | הִסְתּוֹבַבְתִּי *histovávti* | הִסְתּוֹבְבָה *histoveva* | מִסְתּוֹבֵב *mistovev* | אֶסְתּוֹבֵב *estovev* | יִסְתּוֹבֵב *yistovev* | הִסְתּוֹבֵב *histovev* | לְהִסְתּוֹבֵב *lehistovev* | הִסְתּוֹבְבוּת *histovevut* |
| huf'al הוסב "was converted" | הוּסַב *husav* | הוּסַבְתִּי *husávti* | הוּסְבָה *husva* | מוּסָב *musav* | — | יוּסַב *yusav* | — | — | — |

Notes.

- The hif'il 1SG past is given in UniMorph in the modern form *hegánti*, *hesávti* (הֵגַנְתִּי, הֵסַבְתִּי); the older normative forms with *-óti* (הֲגִנּוֹתִי *haginóti*, הֲסִבּוֹתִי) survive in literary style.
- Pi'el and hitpa'el of geminate roots appear in two shapes, like hollow roots: *polel* (*sovev* "surrounded", *histovev*) and regular (*sibev*, spoken *sivev* with the middle consonant spirantised). The pi'el cells of סבב are not in UniMorph and are given from the general rule; the cluster in the 3FS is broken by *e* as in quadriliterals.
- In hif'il, geminate and hollow verbs look alike (*hegen* / *hekim* differ only by the stem vowel), and both differ from 1st *n* hif'il (*hipil*), which has a doubled (now stop) second consonant.

### 3.9 Quadriliteral and reduplicated roots

Four-consonant roots occur only in pi'el, pu'al and hitpa'el. They include old reduplications of two-consonant roots (גלגל, קלקל, טלטל), roots with an affix absorbed into the stem (תפקד from *tafkid*, שעבד "enslaved" from the old *shaf'el* causative), and loan roots (טלפן, פקסס, סנכרן).

| Verb | Binyan | Past 3MS | Present MS | Fut 3MS | INF | VN |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| גלגל "roll" | pi'el | גִּלְגֵּל *gilgel* | מְגַלְגֵּל *megalgel* | יְגַלְגֵּל *yegalgel* | לְגַלְגֵּל *legalgel* | גִּלְגּוּל *gilgul* |
| גולגל "was rolled" | pu'al | גֻּלְגַּל *gulgal* | מְגֻלְגָּל *megulgal* | יְגֻלְגַּל *yegulgal* | — | — |
| התגלגל "rolled (itself)" | hitpa'el | הִתְגַּלְגֵּל *hitgalgel* | מִתְגַּלְגֵּל *mitgalgel* | יִתְגַּלְגֵּל *yitgalgel* | לְהִתְגַּלְגֵּל *lehitgalgel* | הִתְגַּלְגְּלוּת *hitgalgelut* |
| תרגם "translate" | pi'el | תִּרְגֵּם *tirgem* | מְתַרְגֵּם *metargem* | יְתַרְגֵּם *yetargem* | לְתַרְגֵּם *letargem* | תִּרְגּוּם *tirgum* |
| פקסס "fax" | pi'el | פִקְסֵס *fikses* | מְפַקְסֵס *mefakses* | יְפַקְסֵס *yefakses* | לְפַקְסֵס *lefakses* | — |
| סימס "text" | pi'el | סִמֵּס *simes* | מְסַמֵּס *mesames* | יְסַמֵּס *yesames* | לְסַמֵּס *lesames* | — |
| התקטנן "be petty" | hitpa'el | הִתְקַטְנֵן *hitkatnen* | מִתְקַטְנֵן *mitkatnen* | יִתְקַטְנֵן *yitkatnen* | לְהִתְקַטְנֵן *lehitkatnen* | הִתְקַטְנְנוּת *hitkatnenut* |

Notes.

- In the 3FS past and the plural, a five-consonant cluster is broken by *e*: גִּלְגְּלָה *gilgela*, הִתְגַּלְגְּלוּ *hitgalgelu*; the same with loan roots: *fiksesa*, *metalfenim*.
- Loan verbs keep the foreign consonant value (*f*, and in the spelling פ without dagesh); the pointing פִקְסֵס marks *f*. Spoken 1SG future: *ani yefakses* (05-verbs.md § 10.1).
- סימס is a three-consonant pi'el from the acronym SMS; its spelling in full writing is סימס.

---

## 4. Summary of stems

The principal parts below let a learner or a generator rebuild any strong-verb form from the affix tables of § 1. ⟨C1C2C3⟩ is the root.

| Binyan | Past stem (1/2 pers.) | Past stem (3 pers.) | Present | Future stem | Imperative | Infinitive | VN |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| pa'al | C1aC2aC3- | C1aC2aC3 / C1aC2C3- | C1oC2eC3 | -C1C2oC3 / -C1C2aC3 | C1C2oC3 | liC1C2oC3 | C1C2iC3a |
| nif'al | niC1C2aC3- | niC1C2aC3 / niC1C2eC3- | niC1C2aC3 | -iC1aC2eC3 | hiC1aC2eC3 | lehiC1aC2eC3 | hiC1aC2C3ut |
| pi'el | C1iC2aC3- | C1iC2eC3 | meC1aC2eC3 | -eC1aC2eC3 | C1aC2eC3 | leC1aC2eC3 | C1iC2uC3 |
| pu'al | C1uC2aC3- | C1uC2aC3 | meC1uC2aC3 | -eC1uC2aC3 | — | — | — |
| hif'il | hiC1C2aC3- | hiC1C2iC3 | maC1C2iC3 | -aC1C2iC3 | haC1C2eC3 | lehaC1C2iC3 | haC1C2aC3a |
| huf'al | huC1C2aC3- | huC1C2aC3 | muC1C2aC3 | -uC1C2aC3 | — | — | — |
| hitpa'el | hitC1aC2aC3- | hitC1aC2eC3 | mitC1aC2eC3 | -itC1aC2eC3 | hitC1aC2eC3 | lehitC1aC2eC3 | hitC1aC2C3ut |

This table is the shape that a rule-based generator (as in Finkel and Stump 2002's default-inheritance model of Hebrew verb morphology, or Hspell's generator) encodes; the weak classes of § 3 are then overrides on particular cells.

---

## References

- Finkel, Raphael; Stump, Gregory. 2002. Generating Hebrew verb morphology by default inheritance hierarchies. *Proceedings of the ACL-02 Workshop on Computational Approaches to Semitic Languages.* Local: [`onto-2002-finkel-generating-hebrew-verb-morphology-default`](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/docs/papers/onto-2002-finkel-generating-hebrew-verb-morphology-default/). URL: [aclanthology.org/W02-0502](https://aclanthology.org/W02-0502/) [our card](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/docs/papers/onto-2002-finkel-generating-hebrew-verb-morphology-default/)
- Goldman, Omer (annotator). UniMorph Hebrew (`heb`, `heb_voc`, `from_UD_unvoc`), UniMorph 4.0, from Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 3.0. Local: unimorph-heb. URL: [github.com/unimorph/heb](https://github.com/unimorph/heb). Used to check the cells; not copied.
- Har'El, Nadav; Kenigsberg, Dan. Hspell 1.4, AGPL-3.0. Local: hspell. URL: [hspell.ivrix.org.il](http://hspell.ivrix.org.il/)
- Kaikki.org. English Wiktionary extract, Hebrew (`kaikki.org-dictionary-Hebrew.jsonl`), CC BY-SA. Local: kaikki-enwiktionary-hebrew-aramaic. URL: [kaikki.org/dictionary/Hebrew](https://kaikki.org/dictionary/Hebrew/)
- Ravid, Dorit. 1995. *Language Change in Child and Adult Hebrew: A Psycholinguistic Perspective.* Oxford University Press. (Not held.)
- Wikipedia. "Modern Hebrew verb conjugation." [en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Modern Hebrew verb conjugation](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Modern_Hebrew_verb_conjugation) (consulted 2026-10-17).
- See also the references of [05. The verb: system, binyanim, tense and use](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/docs/languages/he/05-verbs/).
- [← previous 05. The verb: system, binyanim, tense and use](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/docs/languages/he/05-verbs/)
- [next → Prepositions, prefixes, conjunctions and particles](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/docs/languages/he/06-prepositions-particles/)
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