This lesson covers the most frequently used verbs in Modern Hebrew. Each verb is given in its infinitive form (beginning with לְ). Present-tense conjugations are shown for each verb — remember they change based on gender.
Present tense pattern for most verbs:
I / you (m) / he → base form (e.g. אוֹכֵל ochel)
I / you (f) / she → add ת- (e.g. אוֹכֶלֶת ochelet)
we / you (pl.m) / they (m) → add ים- (e.g. אוֹכְלִים ochlim)
we / you (pl.f) / they (f) → add וֹת- (e.g. אוֹכְלוֹת ochlot)
I / you (m) / he → base form (e.g. אוֹכֵל ochel)
I / you (f) / she → add ת- (e.g. אוֹכֶלֶת ochelet)
we / you (pl.m) / they (m) → add ים- (e.g. אוֹכְלִים ochlim)
we / you (pl.f) / they (f) → add וֹת- (e.g. אוֹכְלוֹת ochlot)
Common Verbs — Infinitive and Present Tense
| Infinitive | He (m.sg) | She (f.sg) | English |
|---|---|---|---|
| לֶאֱכֹל | אוֹכֵל | אוֹכֶלֶת | to eat / eating |
| לִשְׁתּוֹת | שׁוֹתֶה | שׁוֹתָה | to drink / drinking |
| לִישׁוֹן | יָשֵׁן | יְשֵׁנָה | to sleep / sleeping |
| לְדַבֵּר | מְדַבֵּר | מְדַבֶּרֶת | to speak / speaking |
| לִשְׁמֹעַ | שׁוֹמֵעַ | שׁוֹמַעַת | to hear / to listen / hearing |
| לִרְאוֹת | רוֹאֶה | רוֹאָה | to see / seeing |
| לַחְשֹׁב | חוֹשֵׁב | חוֹשֶׁבֶת | to think / thinking |
| לִכְתֹּב | כּוֹתֵב | כּוֹתֶבֶת | to write / writing |
| לִקְרֹא | קוֹרֵא | קוֹרֵאת | to read / to call / reading |
| לִשְׁאֹל | שׁוֹאֵל | שׁוֹאֶלֶת | to ask / asking |
| לַעֲנוֹת | עוֹנֶה | עוֹנָה | to answer / answering |
| לַעֲבֹד | עוֹבֵד | עוֹבֶדֶת | to work / working |
| לֶאֱהֹב | אוֹהֵב | אוֹהֶבֶת | to love / to like / loving |
| לֵידַע | יוֹדֵעַ | יוֹדַעַת | to know / knowing |
| לְהָבִין | מֵבִין | מְבִינָה | to understand / understanding |
| לַעֲזֹר | עוֹזֵר | עוֹזֶרֶת | to help / helping |
Example Sentences
| Hebrew | Transliteration | English |
|---|---|---|
| אֲנִי אוֹכֵל פִּיצָּה | Ani ochel pizza | I'm eating pizza (m) |
| הִיא שׁוֹתָה קָפֶה | Hi shota kafe | She's drinking coffee |
| אַתָּה מְדַבֵּר עִבְרִית? | Ata medaber Ivrit? | Do you speak Hebrew? |
| אֲנִי לֹא מֵבִין | Ani lo mevin | I don't understand (m) |