Lavash, hilbish, hitlabesh: the root and the patterns
A verb has three root consonants: sh-b-r (break), k-t-v (write), l-b-sh (dress). The root is the meaning, and the pattern (binyan) is the role. For example: “הוא לבש מעיל והלביש את הילד.” — He put on the coat and dressed the child. A rule from the Hebrew course: worked out on examples, not memorized as a wording.
How it works
A verb has three root consonants: sh-b-r (break), k-t-v (write), l-b-sh (dress). The root is the meaning, and the pattern (binyan) is the role.
The simple pattern is the action itself: lavash — he put on; katav — he wrote. The hifil pattern makes another do it: hilbish — he dressed someone else; hichtiv — he dictated. The hitpael pattern is on oneself: hitlabesh — he got dressed; hitkatev — he corresponded.
From the same root nouns grow: michtav — a letter, lvush — clothing, ktiva — writing. Recognize the root and you recognize the whole family.
Table
| root | the action | on another | on oneself |
|---|---|---|---|
| ל-ב-ש | לבש — put on | הלביש — dressed | התלבש — got dressed |
| כ-ת-ב | כתב — wrote | הכתיב — dictated | התכתב — corresponded |
| ש-ב-ר | שבר — broke | — | נשבר — broke by itself (nifal) |
By example
- הוא לבש מעיל והלביש את הילד.ху лаваш меиль ве-хелбиш эт ха-йелед.He put on the coat and dressed the child.
- כתבתי מכתב והתכתבתי עם המשרד.кативти михтав ве-хиткативти им ха-мисрад.I wrote a letter and corresponded with the office.
- הוא שבר את הכוס, והכוס נשברה.ху шавар эт ха-кос, ве-ха-кос нишбера.He broke the cup, and the cup broke.
How the rule settles in your head
A rule is not memorized from an explanation. It is memorized from an attempt to use it and a mistake — that is why the app delivers it mixed in with words, not as a separate lesson: it resurfaces exactly where you forgot it.
Frequently asked
What is a binyan in Hebrew?
A verb has three root consonants: sh-b-r (break), k-t-v (write), l-b-sh (dress). The root is the meaning, and the pattern (binyan) is the role.
How are Hebrew verbs formed?
A verb has three root consonants: sh-b-r (break), k-t-v (write), l-b-sh (dress). The root is the meaning, and the pattern (binyan) is the role.
Lavash and hilbish difference in Hebrew?
The simple pattern is the action itself: lavash — he put on; katav — he wrote. The hifil pattern makes another do it: hilbish — he dressed someone else; hichtiv — he dictated. The hitpael pattern is on oneself: hitlabesh — he got dressed; hitkatev — he corresponded.
What does it look like in a Hebrew example sentence?
“הוא לבש מעיל והלביש את הילד.” (ху лаваш меиль ве-хелбиш эт ха-йелед.) — He put on the coat and dressed the child. A rule is easier to test on sentences like this than to memorize as a wording: what surfaces in conversation is the sentence.