English

Oved, mocher, kone: the participle names the doer

The present-tense form also works as a noun: oved (עובד) — works and a worker, mocher (מוכר) — sells and a seller, kone (קונה) — buys and a buyer. One word is both the action and the one who does it. Only its place in the sentence tells them apart. For example: “הרופאה טובה מאוד.” — The doctor (a woman) is very good. A rule from the Hebrew course: worked out on examples, not memorized as a wording.

Updated September 1, 2026 · Lingofly

How it works

The present-tense form also works as a noun: oved (עובד (овед)) — works and a worker, mocher (מוכר (мохер)) — sells and a seller, kone (קונה (коне)) — buys and a buyer. One word is both the action and the one who does it. Only its place in the sentence tells them apart.

The woman takes -et: ovedet — a worker (f), mocheret — a saleswoman. The plural is like the adjective's: ovdim — workers, ovdot — workers (f).

Many professions are made this way: rofe — heals and a doctor, menahel — manages and a manager, metapel — cares for and a carer. Learn the verb and the profession comes free.

Table

Oved, mocher, kone: the participle names the doer
verbheshewho it is
לעבודעובדעובדתa worker
למכורמוכרמוכרתa seller
לקנותקונהקונהa buyer
לנהלמנהלמנהלתa manager
לרפארופארופאהa doctor

By example

  • הרופאה טובה מאוד.
    ха-рофэа това меод.
    The doctor (a woman) is very good.
  • המנהל מדבר עם העובד.
    ха-менагель медабэр им ха-овэд.
    The manager is talking to an employee.
  • הקונה רוצה הנחה.
    ха-коне роце ханаха.
    The buyer wants a discount.

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 seller in Hebrew?

The present-tense form also works as a noun: oved (עובד) — works and a worker, mocher (מוכר) — sells and a seller, kone (קונה) — buys and a buyer. One word is both the action and the one who does it. Only its place in the sentence tells them apart.

Professions from verbs in Hebrew?

The present-tense form also works as a noun: oved (עובד) — works and a worker, mocher (מוכר) — sells and a seller, kone (קונה) — buys and a buyer. One word is both the action and the one who does it. Only its place in the sentence tells them apart.

What is a beinoni in Hebrew?

The present-tense form also works as a noun: oved (עובד) — works and a worker, mocher (מוכר) — sells and a seller, kone (קונה) — buys and a buyer. One word is both the action and the one who does it. Only its place in the sentence tells them apart.

How to say worker and worker feminine in Hebrew?

The present-tense form also works as a noun: oved (עובד) — works and a worker, mocher (מוכר) — sells and a seller, kone (קונה) — buys and a buyer. One word is both the action and the one who does it. Only its place in the sentence tells them apart.

What does it look like in a Hebrew example sentence?

“הרופאה טובה מאוד.” (ха-рофэа това меод.) — The doctor (a woman) is very good. 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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