English

The little she-: what follows feelings and thoughts

The "that" which stands after glad, hope, afraid is not a word but a prefix she- on the next one. Ani sameach she-bata — I am glad you came: she-bata is "that-you-came" in one piece, the way ha- sticks to a word. For example: “אני שמח שבאת.” — I am glad you came. A rule from the Hebrew course: worked out on examples, not memorized as a wording.

Updated September 1, 2026 · Lingofly

How it works

The "that" which stands after glad, hope, afraid is not a word but a prefix she- on the next one. Ani sameach she-bata — I am glad you came: she-bata is "that-you-came" in one piece, the way ha- sticks to a word.

If an article follows, the prefixes line up one after another: she-hakol — "that everything". It is written together and read in one breath.

Do not mix she- up with shel. Shel marks belonging: hasakin shel ima — mother's knife. She- introduces a whole thought: ani sameach she-ima babait — I am glad that mother is home.

After she- the tense does not shift. "I hope everything is fine" is mekave she-hakol beseder, in the present, as in English.

Table

The little she-: what follows feelings and thoughts
feelingHebrewHow it readsTranslation
gladשמח ש-sameach she-glad that…
hopeמקווה ש-mekave she-hope that…
sadעצוב ש-atzuv she-sad that…
surprisedמתפלא ש-mitpale she-surprised that…
afraidפוחד ש-pached she-afraid that…

By example

  • אני שמח שבאת.
    ани самэах шэ-бата.
    I am glad you came.
  • מקווה שהכל בסדר.
    мкавэ шэ-ха-коль бэсэдер.
    I hope everything is fine.
  • אני מקווה שהרכבת בזמן.
    ани мкавэ шэ-ха-ракевет ба-зман.
    I hope the train is on time.

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

How to say that after a verb in Hebrew?

The "that" which stands after glad, hope, afraid is not a word but a prefix she- on the next one. Ani sameach she-bata — I am glad you came: she-bata is "that-you-came" in one piece, the way ha- sticks to a word.

The she prefix in Hebrew?

The "that" which stands after glad, hope, afraid is not a word but a prefix she- on the next one. Ani sameach she-bata — I am glad you came: she-bata is "that-you-came" in one piece, the way ha- sticks to a word.

Difference between she and shel?

If an article follows, the prefixes line up one after another: she-hakol — "that everything". It is written together and read in one breath.

How to say I am glad that in Hebrew?

The "that" which stands after glad, hope, afraid is not a word but a prefix she- on the next one. Ani sameach she-bata — I am glad you came: she-bata is "that-you-came" in one piece, the way ha- sticks to a word.

What does it look like in a Hebrew example sentence?

“אני שמח שבאת.” (ани самэах шэ-бата.) — I am glad you came. A rule is easier to test on sentences like this than to memorize as a wording: what surfaces in conversation is the sentence.

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Test the rule on examplesPractice