Learning Hebrew verbs is one of the fastest ways to improve your speaking, listening, reading, and writing skills. While Hebrew grammar may seem intimidating at first, mastering the most common verbs will allow you to build hundreds of everyday sentences with ease.
Whether you're learning Hebrew for travel, work, religious studies, or simply for fun, these 100 essential verbs appear constantly in conversations, books, movies, news articles, and everyday life.
This guide is designed as a study reference for beginner to intermediate learners. You'll find:
- 100 of the most useful Hebrew verbs
- English translations
- Easy transliterations
- Example sentences
- Organized tables by category
- Tips for learning Hebrew verbs more effectively
Let's begin!
Everyday Essential Verbs
| Hebrew | Transliteration | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| לִהְיוֹת | lihyot | to be |
| לַעֲשׂוֹת | la'asot | to do / make |
| לָלֶכֶת | lalechet | to go |
| לָבוֹא | lavo | to come |
| לָתֵת | latet | to give |
| לָקַחַת | lakachat | to take |
| לִמְצוֹא | limtzo | to find |
| לָדַעַת | lada'at | to know |
| לַחְשׁוֹב | lachshov | to think |
| לִרְצוֹת | lirtzot | to want |
Example Sentences
Communication Verbs
| Hebrew | Transliteration | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| לְדַבֵּר | ledaber | to speak |
| לוֹמַר | lomar | to say |
| לְהַגִּיד | lehagid | to tell / say |
| לִשְׁאוֹל | lish'ol | to ask |
| לַעֲנוֹת | la'anot | to answer |
| לִקְרוֹא | likro | to read / call |
| לִכְתּוֹב | lichtov | to write |
| לִשְׁמוֹעַ | lishmoa | to hear |
| לִרְאוֹת | lir'ot | to see |
| לְהַסְבִּיר | lehasbir | to explain |
Example Sentences
Eating & Drinking
| Hebrew | Transliteration | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| לֶאֱכוֹל | le'echol | to eat |
| לִשְׁתּוֹת | lishtot | to drink |
| לְבַשֵּׁל | levashel | to cook |
| לֶאֱפוֹת | le'efot | to bake |
| לְהַזְמִין | lehazmin | to order |
| לִטְעוֹם | lit'om | to taste |
| לְהַגִּישׁ | lehagish | to serve |
| לַחְתּוֹךְ | lachtokh | to cut |
| לְעַרְבֵּב | le'arbev | to mix |
| לִשְׁטוֹף | lishtof | to wash |
Home & Daily Life
| Hebrew | Transliteration | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| לִפְתּוֹחַ | liftoach | to open |
| לִסְגּוֹר | lisgor | to close |
| לְנַקּוֹת | lenakot | to clean |
| לְסַדֵּר | lesader | to organize |
| לִבְנוֹת | livnot | to build |
| לְתַקֵּן | letaken | to repair |
| לִשְׁבּוֹר | lishbor | to break |
| לְהַדְלִיק | lehadlik | to turn on |
| לְכַבּוֹת | lechabot | to turn off |
| לַעֲזוֹר | la'azor | to help |
Learning & Work
| Hebrew | Transliteration | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| לִלְמוֹד | lilmod | to learn |
| לְלַמֵּד | lelamed | to teach |
| לַעֲבוֹד | la'avod | to work |
| לְהִתְאַמֵּן | lehit'amen | to practice |
| לְהַצְלִיחַ | lehatzliach | to succeed |
| לְהִכָּשֵׁל | lehikashel | to fail |
| לְהַתְחִיל | lehatchil | to begin |
| לְסַיֵּם | lesayem | to finish |
| לְהִשְׁתַּמֵּשׁ | lehishtamesh | to use |
| לִזְכּוֹר | lizkor | to remember |
Travel & Movement
| Hebrew | Transliteration | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| לִנְסוֹעַ | linsoa | to travel |
| לָרוּץ | larutz | to run |
| לִשְׂחוֹת | lischot | to swim |
| לָעוּף | la'uf | to fly |
| לַעֲצוֹר | la'atzor | to stop |
| לְהִכָּנֵס | lehikanes | to enter |
| לָצֵאת | latzet | to leave |
| לַעֲלוֹת | la'alot | to go up |
| לָרֶדֶת | laredet | to go down |
| לַחֲזוֹר | lachzor | to return |
Shopping & Money
| Hebrew | Transliteration | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| לִקְנוֹת | liknot | to buy |
| לִמְכּוֹר | limkor | to sell |
| לְשַׁלֵּם | leshalem | to pay |
| לְהַרְוִיחַ | leharviach | to earn |
| לַחְסוֹךְ | lachsokh | to save |
| לְבַקֵּשׁ | levakesh | to request |
| לִבְחוֹר | livchor | to choose |
| לְהַזְמִין | lehazmin | to order |
| לְהַחְלִיף | lehachlif | to exchange |
| לְקַבֵּל | lekabel | to receive |
Feelings & Thoughts
| Hebrew | Transliteration | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| לֶאֱהוֹב | le'ehov | to love |
| לִשְׂנוֹא | lisno | to hate |
| לְפַחֵד | lefached | to fear |
| לִשְׂמוֹחַ | lismoach | to be happy |
| לִכְעוֹס | lich'os | to be angry |
| לִדְאוֹג | lid'og | to worry |
| לְקַוּוֹת | lekavot | to hope |
| לְהַאֲמִין | leha'amin | to believe |
| לַחֲלוֹם | lachalom | to dream |
| לִצְחוֹק | litzchok | to laugh |
Health
| Hebrew | Transliteration | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| לִישׁוֹן | lishon | to sleep |
| לָקוּם | lakum | to get up |
| לָשֶׁבֶת | lashevet | to sit |
| לַעֲמוֹד | la'amod | to stand |
| לָנוּחַ | lanuach | to rest |
| לְהַרְגִּישׁ | lehargish | to feel |
| לִנְשׁוֹם | linshom | to breathe |
| לִחְיוֹת | lichyot | to live |
| לָמוּת | lamut | to die |
| לְהִתְעַמֵּל | lehit'amel | to exercise |
Technology & Modern Life
| Hebrew | Transliteration | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| לִשְׁלוֹחַ | lishloach | to send |
| לְקַבֵּל | lekabel | to receive |
| לְהוֹרִיד | lehorid | to download |
| לְהַעֲלוֹת | leha'alot | to upload |
| לְהַקְלִיד | lehaklid | to type |
| לִלְחוֹץ | lilchotz | to click / press |
| לִשְׁמוֹר | lishmor | to save |
| לִמְחוֹק | limchok | to delete |
| לְהִתְקַשֵּׁר | lehitkasher | to call |
| לַעֲנוֹת | la'anot | to answer |
Useful Action Verbs
| Hebrew | Transliteration | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| לְהַחְזִיק | lehachzik | to hold |
| לִלְבּוֹשׁ | lilbosh | to wear |
| לִפְתּוֹר | liftor | to solve |
| לִיצוֹר | litzor | to create |
| לְשַׁנּוֹת | leshanot | to change |
| לְהַתְחִיל | lehatchil | to start |
| לְסַיֵּם | lesayem | to finish |
| לְהוֹסִיף | lehosif | to add |
| לְהוֹרִיד | lehorid | to lower / remove |
| לְהַעֲלוֹת | leha'alot | to raise |
The Final 20 Essential Verbs
| Hebrew | Transliteration | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| לְחַפֵּשׂ | lechapes | to search |
| לִמְצוֹא | limtzo | to find |
| לְהַזְכִּיר | lehazkir | to remind |
| לִשְׁכּוֹחַ | lishkoach | to forget |
| לִסְפּוֹר | lispor | to count |
| לְחַכּוֹת | lechakot | to wait |
| לַעֲנוֹד | la'anod | to wear (jewelry) |
| לְנַגֵּן | lenagen | to play (music) |
| לְצַיֵּר | letzayer | to draw |
| לָשִׁיר | lashir | to sing |
| לִרְקוֹד | lirkod | to dance |
| לִצְפּוֹת | litzpot | to watch |
| לְהַקְשִׁיב | lehakshiv | to listen |
| לְהַכִּיר | lehair | to know / become acquainted |
| לִפְגּוֹשׁ | lifgosh | to meet |
| לְהַזְמִין | lehazmin | to invite |
| לְבָרֵךְ | levarech | to bless / congratulate |
| לְהִתְחַתֵּן | lehitchaten | to get married |
| לְהִוָּלֵד | lehivaled | to be born |
| לַחֲגוֹג | lachagog | to celebrate |
Common Present Tense Forms
Most dictionaries list Hebrew verbs in the infinitive (starting with ל־ "to"). Here are a few common present tense forms you'll encounter in everyday conversation:
| Infinitive | Masculine Singular | Feminine Singular |
|---|---|---|
| לְדַבֵּר | מְדַבֵּר | מְדַבֶּרֶת |
| לֶאֱכוֹל | אוֹכֵל | אוֹכֶלֶת |
| לִלְמוֹד | לוֹמֵד | לוֹמֶדֶת |
| לַעֲבוֹד | עוֹבֵד | עוֹבֶדֶת |
| לִכְתּוֹב | כּוֹתֵב | כּוֹתֶבֶת |
| לִרְאוֹת | רוֹאֶה | רוֹאָה |
| לָלֶכֶת | הוֹלֵךְ | הוֹלֶכֶת |
| לָבוֹא | בָּא | בָּאָה |
| לִשְׁתּוֹת | שׁוֹתֶה | שׁוֹתָה |
| לִקְנוֹת | קוֹנֶה | קוֹנָה |
Learning these present-tense forms early will help you recognize verbs in everyday conversations.
Tips for Memorizing Hebrew Verbs
1. Learn by Theme
Instead of memorizing random verbs, group them by topic — food, travel, work, school, family, shopping. This makes recall much easier.
2. Learn Complete Sentences
Instead of memorizing לֶאֱכוֹל = to eat, learn אֲנִי אוֹכֵל תַּפּוּחַ (Ani ochel tapuach — I am eating an apple). Context helps your brain remember both vocabulary and grammar.
3. Practice Daily
Learning just 5 new verbs per day means you'll master this entire list in less than a month.
4. Focus on High-Frequency Verbs
You'll hear verbs like לִהְיוֹת (to be), לַעֲשׂוֹת (to do), לָלֶכֶת (to go), לָבוֹא (to come), לָדַעַת (to know), לִרְאוֹת (to see), and לְדַבֵּר (to speak) every day. Prioritize these before less common vocabulary.
5. Review Regularly
Spaced repetition is one of the most effective ways to retain new vocabulary. Review yesterday's verbs before learning new ones, and revisit older lists every few weeks.
Final Thoughts
Learning Hebrew doesn't require memorizing thousands of words overnight. In fact, a relatively small set of common verbs forms the backbone of everyday communication. By mastering these 100 essential verbs, you'll be able to describe actions, ask questions, express thoughts and feelings, navigate daily situations, and understand spoken Hebrew much more easily.
Don't try to learn all 100 verbs in one sitting. Instead, study 10–15 verbs at a time, read the example sentences aloud, and create your own sentences using the vocabulary. The more you use these verbs in context, the more naturally they'll become part of your active Hebrew vocabulary.
Keep this guide as a reference, return to it often, and you'll build a solid foundation for reaching conversational fluency in Modern Hebrew. בְּהַצְלָחָה! (Good luck!)