Learn Hebrew: Basic Hebrew Verbs (Infinitives)

Verbs are the core of any language, and in Hebrew, the infinitive form serves as your primary building block for expressing actions and intentions. This lesson introduces thirty essential Hebrew infinitives that cover daily routines, communication, and cognitive processes. Mastering these words allows you to express fundamental needs, such as לִרְצוֹת (lirtsot), which means to want, or physical actions like לָלֶכֶת (lalekhet), meaning to walk or to go. Understanding these verbs is vital because they provide the roots used in all other tenses, making them the starting point for any serious learner.

One of the most helpful patterns to notice is that Hebrew infinitives almost always begin with the letter Lamed (ל), which functions similarly to the English word to. You can see this prefix in לְדַבֵּר (ledaber), meaning to speak, and לִשְׁמֹעַ (lishmo'a), meaning to hear. Additionally, you may notice a recurring "ot" ending in several common verbs, such as לִשְׁתּוֹת (lishtot) for to drink and לַעֲשׂוֹת (la'asot) for to do or make. This indicates a specific group of verbs that often share similar conjugation rules. By focusing on these linguistic patterns, you will find it easier to memorize important vocabulary like לַעֲבוֹד (la'avod) for to work and לָדַעַת (lada'at) for to know, eventually allowing you to construct clear, functional sentences in a variety of social and professional contexts.

Vocabulary list

English	Hebrew
To eat	לֶאֱכוֹל le'ekhol
To drink	לִשְׁתּוֹת lishtot
To speak	לְדַבֵּר ledaber
To walk / go	לָלֶכֶת lalekhet
To see	לִרְאוֹת lir'ot
To hear	לִשְׁמֹעַ lishmo'a
To do / make	לַעֲשׂוֹת la'asot
To write	לִכְתּוֹב likhtov
To read	לִקְרוֹא likro
To sit	לָשֶׁבֶת lashevet
To stand	לַעֲמוֹד la'amod
To sleep	לִישׁוֹן lishon
To give	לָתֵת latet
To take	לָקַחַת lakachat
To love	לֶאֱהוֹב le'ehov
To want	לִרְצוֹת lirtsot
To say	לוֹמַר lomar
To know	לָדַעַת lada'at
To work	לַעֲבוֹד la'avod
To buy	לִקְנוֹת liknot
To run	לָרוּץ laruts
To travel	לִנְסוֹעַ linsoa
To come	לָבוֹא lavo
To dwell / live	לָגוּר lagur
To ask	לִשְׁאוֹל lish'ol
To answer	לַעֲנוֹת la'anot
To understand	לְהָבִין lehavin
To think	לַחְשׁוֹב lachshov
To meet	לִפְגּוֹשׁ lifgosh
To help	לַעֲזוֹר la'azor

Practice this lesson with spaced repetition, multiple study modes, and daily streaks.

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