Back
Intermediate

The Root System (Shoresh)

Three-letter roots

Words are built on 3-letter roots

A root (shoresh) carries the core meaning.

📊 Words from כ-ת-ב
Word Meaning Translit
כתב he wrote katav
כותב writing kotev
מכתב letter michtav
כתובת address ktovet
💬 Examples
כ-ת-ב
k-t-v
root: writing
📝 Shared by many words
ל-מ-ד
l-m-d
root: learning
📝 Core meaning of study
Roots are poured into patterns

Fixed vowel/consonant patterns added to a root make words.

💬 Examples
מכתב
michtav
a letter
📝 Root כתב in a noun pattern
כתובת
ktovet
an address
📝 Same root, different pattern and meaning
Recognizing roots helps you guess meaning

Spotting the root links related words.

💬 Examples
ספר / ספרייה / סופר
sefer / sifriya / sofer
book / library / author
📝 All from the root ס-פ-ר
אוכל / מאכל
ochel / ma'achal
food / dish
📝 Root א-כ-ל (eating)