Free guide · Intermediate

The 7 Hebrew Binyanim Explained (with Examples)

By Elisahar, native Hebrew speaker 7 min readUpdated November 4, 2026

Quick answer

Almost every Hebrew verb is built from a root of (usually) three consonants placed into one of 7 verb patterns called binyanim. The root carries the core meaning, and the binyan adds a nuance such as simple, intensive, causative, passive or reflexive. Once you know the 7 patterns, you can conjugate and often guess the meaning of verbs you have never seen.

Tap the speaker next to a Hebrew word to hear it. Words without a native recording yet use your device’s Hebrew voice.

Roots: the heart of every Hebrew verb

A root (shoresh) is a group of usually three consonants that carries a basic idea. For example, the root כ-ת-ב (k-t-v) is about writing. It appears in כָּתַב katav (he wrote), מִכְתָּב mikhtav (a letter), כְּתוֹבֶת ktovet (an address) and הִכְתִּיב hikhtiv (he dictated). Learning to spot the root is the single most useful Hebrew skill after the alphabet.

The 7 binyanim at a glance

Binyan	Typical meaning	Example (past, he)
Pa’al (פָּעַל)	Simple, basic action	כָּתַב katav – he wrote
Nif’al (נִפְעַל)	Passive or "happening to" (of Pa’al)	נִכְתַּב nikhtav – it was written
Pi’el (פִּעֵל)	Intensive or active	דִּבֵּר diber – he spoke
Pu’al (פֻּעַל)	Passive of Pi’el	סֻפַּר supar – it was told
Hif’il (הִפְעִיל)	Causative (make someone do)	הִזְמִין hizmin – he invited / ordered
Huf’al (הֻפְעַל)	Passive of Hif’il	הֻזְמַן huzman – he was invited
Hitpa’el (הִתְפַּעֵל)	Reflexive or mutual	הִתְלַבֵּשׁ hitlabesh – he got dressed

How the patterns change meaning

The same root in different binyanim gives related meanings. With the root ל-ב-שׁ (clothing): לָבַשׁ lavash (he wore, Pa’al), הִלְבִּישׁ hilbish (he dressed someone, Hif’il) and הִתְלַבֵּשׁ hitlabesh (he got dressed, Hitpa’el). Not every root appears in every binyan, and meanings are not always predictable, but the pattern gives you a strong clue.

Which binyanim to learn first

Start with Pa’al, the most common binyan for everyday verbs (to eat, to write, to go).
Then learn Pi’el and Hif’il, which cover many very common verbs (to speak, to invite, to understand).
Add Hitpa’el and Nif’al next. They are common in daily speech.
Pu’al and Huf’al are passive and appear mostly in writing, so learn them last.

In the present tense, learn the four forms of each binyan (masculine and feminine, singular and plural) first. You will use them constantly, and they are the easiest way to "feel" each pattern.