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Intermediate

Demonstratives & Definiteness

this, these, agreement

זה / זאת / אלה = this / these

Demonstratives agree in gender and number.

📊 Demonstratives
Meaning Masculine Feminine Plural
this / these זה (ze) זאת (zot) אלה (ele)
💬 Examples
זה ספר
ze sefer
This is a book
📝 זה (m) = this
זאת מורה
zot mora
This is a teacher (f)
📝 זאת (f) = this
Demonstrative + a definite noun

'This book' = the book + this (both with ה).

💬 Examples
הספר הזה
ha-sefer ha-ze
this book
📝 ה on noun and demonstrative
הבחורה הזאת
ha-bachura ha-zot
this young woman
📝 Agreement + definiteness
זה also means 'it is'

As a copula or filler in identity statements.

💬 Examples
זה יפה
ze yafe
It's beautiful / That's beautiful
📝 זה = 'it/that is'
מה זה?
ma ze?
What is it?
📝 זה in a question