The binyan (plural: binyanim) system is the backbone of Hebrew grammar. Every Hebrew verb belongs to one of seven patterns (binyanim), each of which adds a layer of meaning to a three-letter root. Understanding binyanim lets you decode and generate thousands of Hebrew words.
The Root System: Hebrew verbs are built on three-letter roots (שֹׁרֶשׁ, shoresh). The root carries the core meaning; the binyan pattern shapes how it's used.
Example root: כ-ת-ב (k-t-v) — core meaning: writing
Example root: כ-ת-ב (k-t-v) — core meaning: writing
All 7 Binyanim
| # | Binyan Name | Transliteration | Function | Example (root כ-ת-ב) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | פָּעַל (קַל) | Pa'al (Kal) | Simple active action — the most common | כָּתַב — katav — he wrote |
| 2 | נִפְעַל | Nif'al | Passive of Pa'al / Reflexive | נִכְתַּב — nichtav — it was written |
| 3 | פִּיעֵל | Pi'el | Intensive or causative active | כִּתֵּב — kitav — he dictated / inscribed |
| 4 | פֻּעַל | Pu'al | Passive of Pi'el | כֻּתַּב — kutav — it was dictated (passive) |
| 5 | הִתְפַּעֵל | Hitpa'el | Reflexive or reciprocal | הִתְכַּתֵּב — hitkitev — to correspond (by letter) |
| 6 | הִפְעִיל | Hif'il | Causative active — makes something happen | הִכְתִּיב — hichtiv — he dictated (caused writing) |
| 7 | הֻפְעַל | Huf'al | Passive of Hif'il | הֻכְתַּב — huchtav — it was dictated (passive) |
Real-World Example — Root ל-מ-ד (learning)
| Binyan | Hebrew | English |
|---|---|---|
| Pa'al | לָמַד | he studied / learned |
| Pi'el | לִמֵּד | he taught (caused learning in others) |
| Hitpa'el | הִתְלַמֵּד | he trained / apprenticed |
| Hif'il | הֶלְמִיד | he caused to learn (archaic) |
Where to start: You don't need to master all seven binyanim immediately. Start with Pa'al — it covers the vast majority of everyday verbs. Pi'el and Hif'il come next as they are very common in modern speech.