Hebrew 101: Lesson 9

Deriving Nouns from Verbs, Shva, Pronouns

Deriving Nouns from Verbs

Hebrew has systematic ways to create nouns from verb roots using specific patterns.

Common Noun Patterns:

  • miCCaC - often indicates tools or places: מִכְתָּב (michtav - letter), מִשְׂרָד (misrad - office)
  • maCCeC - often abstract nouns: מַלְכּוּת (malchut - kingdom)
  • taCCiC - action nouns: תַּכְנִית (tachnit - plan)

More About Shva

Deeper understanding of when shva is pronounced and when it's silent:

  • Shva at the beginning of a word is always pronounced
  • Shva after a long vowel is usually silent
  • Two shvas in a row: first is silent, second is pronounced

Hebrew Pronouns

Hebrew Pronunciation Meaning
אֲנִי ani I
אַתָּה / אַתְּ ata / at you (m/f)
הוּא / הִיא hu / hi he / she
אֲנַחְנוּ anachnu we
אַתֶּם / אַתֶּן atem / aten you (m/f plural)
הֵם / הֵן hem / hen they (m/f)