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The Seven Binyanim

Verb patterns overview

Verbs come in seven patterns (binyanim)

Each binyan adds a layer of meaning to the root.

📊 The seven binyanim
Binyan Sense Example
Pa'al simple active כתב (katav, wrote)
Nif'al passive of Pa'al נכתב (nikhtav, was written)
Pi'el intensive/active דיבר (diber, spoke)
Pu'al passive of Pi'el דובר (dubar, was spoken)
Hif'il causative הדליק (hidlik, lit)
Huf'al passive of Hif'il הודלק (hudlak, was lit)
Hitpa'el reflexive/reciprocal התלבש (hitlabesh, got dressed)
💬 Examples
פעל / פיעל / הפעיל
pa'al / pi'el / hif'il
Pa'al / Pi'el / Hif'il
📝 Three of the active binyanim
נפעל / התפעל
nif'al / hitpa'el
Nif'al / Hitpa'el
📝 Passive/reflexive binyanim
Same root, different binyanim, different meanings

One root spreads across the binyanim.

💬 Examples
לבש / הלביש
lavash / hilbish
he wore / he dressed (someone)
📝 Pa'al vs Hif'il (causative)
למד / לימד
lamad / limed
he learned / he taught
📝 Pa'al vs Pi'el
The binyan tells you the voice and nuance

Recognizing the pattern reveals active/passive/causative.

💬 Examples
כתב / נכתב
katav / nikhtav
he wrote / it was written
📝 Pa'al active vs Nif'al passive
שבר / נשבר
shavar / nishbar
he broke / it broke
📝 Active vs passive/inchoative