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Hebrew → Grammar → 0 to A1 Course → Adjectives

In this lesson, we will explore the fascinating world of Hebrew adjectives. Adjectives are essential in any language because they help us describe nouns, adding color, texture, and emotion to our communication. In Hebrew, adjectives are not just simple modifiers; they reflect the gender and number of the nouns they describe, which can be a bit tricky but also quite fun to learn!

This lesson is structured to guide you through the basics of Hebrew adjectives, including their forms, how to use them in sentences, and some common examples. By the end of this lesson, you will feel more confident in using adjectives to express yourself in Hebrew.

We’ll cover the following topics:

What are Adjectives?

Gender and Number in Hebrew Adjectives

Placement of Adjectives in Sentences

Common Hebrew Adjectives

Practice Exercises

What are Adjectives?[edit | edit source]

Adjectives are words that describe or modify nouns. In Hebrew, adjectives can indicate qualities, quantities, and characteristics. For instance, when you want to say "the big house" or "the beautiful girl," the words "big" and "beautiful" are adjectives.

In Hebrew, adjectives must agree with the nouns they describe in both gender (masculine or feminine) and number (singular or plural). This is one of the unique features of Hebrew grammar that sets it apart from English.

Gender and Number in Hebrew Adjectives[edit | edit source]

In Hebrew, every noun has a gender, either masculine or feminine. Adjectives must match the gender of the noun they modify. Additionally, adjectives change form based on whether the noun is singular or plural.

Here’s a simple breakdown:

Masculine Singular: Adjectives usually end in a consonant (e.g., "טוב" - "tov" meaning "good").

Feminine Singular: Often, adjectives end with the letter "ה" (e.g., "טובה" - "tovah" meaning "good").

Masculine Plural: Usually, adjectives end with "ים" (e.g., "טובים" - "tovim" meaning "good").

Feminine Plural: Adjectives typically end with "ות" (e.g., "טובות" - "tovot" meaning "good").

Let’s look at some examples:

Hebrew	Pronunciation	English
טוב	tov	good (masculine singular)
טובה	tovah	good (feminine singular)
טובים	tovim	good (masculine plural)
טובות	tovot	good (feminine plural)

Placement of Adjectives in Sentences[edit | edit source]

In Hebrew, adjectives generally come after the noun they describe. This is different from English, where adjectives typically precede nouns.

Here are some examples to illustrate this:

Hebrew	Pronunciation	English
הבית הגדול	habayit hagadol	the big house
הילדה היפה	hayalda hayafa	the beautiful girl
הספרים החדשים	hasfarim hadashim	the new books
המכוניות היפות	hamechoniyot hayafot	the beautiful cars

Common Hebrew Adjectives[edit | edit source]

Now, let’s explore some common Hebrew adjectives that you can use in everyday conversation. Here are 20 useful adjectives, their pronunciations, and English translations:

Hebrew	Pronunciation	English
גדול	gadol	big
קטן	katan	small
יפה	yafe	beautiful
מכוער	mechoar	ugly
טוב	tov	good
רע	ra	bad
חדש	chadash	new
ישן	yashan	old
מהיר	ma'ir	fast
איטי	iti	slow
חם	cham	hot
קר	kar	cold
רחוק	rachok	far
קרוב	karov	close
חכם	chacham	smart
טיפש	tipesh	silly
עשיר	ashir	rich
עני	ani	poor
כואב	ko'ev	painful
נעים	na'im	pleasant
קשה	kashe	hard

Practice Exercises[edit | edit source]

Now that you have a basic understanding of Hebrew adjectives, it’s time to put your knowledge into practice! Here are some exercises to help you solidify what you’ve learned.

Exercise 1: Fill in the Blanks[edit | edit source]

Complete the sentences with the correct form of the adjective in parentheses.

1. הילד _______ (גדול) משחק בחצר.

2. הילדה _______ (יפה) רוקדת.

3. המכוניות _______ (מהירות) נוסעות על הכביש.

4. הספר _______ (ישן) נמצא על השולחן.

5. התפוחים _______ (חמוצים) טעימים.

Solutions for Exercise 1[edit | edit source]

1. הילד הגדול משחק בחצר. (The big boy is playing in the yard.)

2. הילדה היפה רוקדת. (The beautiful girl is dancing.)

3. המכוניות המהירות נוסעות על הכביש. (The fast cars are driving on the road.)

4. הספר הישן נמצא על השולחן. (The old book is on the table.)

5. התפוחים החמוצים טעימים. (The sour apples are delicious.)

Exercise 2: Matching Adjectives[edit | edit source]

Match the Hebrew adjectives with their English translations.

1. טוב

2. קטן

3. ישן

4. חדש

5. חם

A. New

B. Good

C. Hot

D. Small

E. Old

Solutions for Exercise 2[edit | edit source]

1 - B (טוב - Good)

2 - D (קטן - Small)

3 - E (ישן - Old)

4 - A (חדש - New)

5 - C (חם - Hot)

Exercise 3: Translate the Sentences[edit | edit source]

Translate the following sentences into Hebrew.

1. The small cat is cute.

2. The old man is wise.

3. The fast train arrives at noon.

4. The cold water is refreshing.

5. The beautiful flowers bloom in spring.

Solutions for Exercise 3[edit | edit source]

1. החתול הקטן חמוד. (Ha'chatul hakatan chamud.)

2. האיש הזקן חכם. (Ha'ish hazaken chacham.)

3. הרכבת המהירה מגיעה בצהריים. (Ha'rekevet hamahirah magi'ah b'tzohorayim.)

4. המים הקרים מרעננים. (Ha'mayim hakrim me'aranenim.)

5. הפרחים היפים פורחים באביב. (Ha'prichim hayafim porchim b'aviv.)

Exercise 4: Create Sentences[edit | edit source]

Create your own sentences using the adjectives from the list below. Use each adjective at least once.

יפה (beautiful)

גדול (big)

חדש (new)

חם (hot)

רחוק (far)

Example Solutions for Exercise 4[edit | edit source]

1. התמונה היפה על הקיר. (The beautiful picture is on the wall.)

2. הבית הגדול נמצא ברחוב. (The big house is on the street.)

3. הספר החדש מעניין. (The new book is interesting.)

4. הקיץ חם מאוד. (The summer is very hot.)

5. העיר רחוקה מהכפר. (The city is far from the village.)

Exercise 5: Gender Agreement[edit | edit source]

Choose the correct form of the adjective in parentheses to match the noun.

1. הילדה _______ (חכם) מאוד.

2. הילד _______ (טיפש) בבית הספר.

3. המכוניות _______ (גדול) חונות ברחוב.

4. התפוח _______ (קר) טעים.

5. הפרחים _______ (יפה) פורחים.

Solutions for Exercise 5[edit | edit source]

1. הילדה חכמה מאוד. (The girl is very smart.)

2. הילד טיפש בבית הספר. (The boy is silly at school.)

3. המכוניות הגדולות חונות ברחוב. (The big cars are parked on the street.)

4. התפוח הקר טעים. (The cold apple is tasty.)

5. הפרחים היפים פורחים. (The beautiful flowers are blooming.)

As you can see, Hebrew adjectives add richness and depth to your sentences, allowing you to express yourself more fully. With practice, you'll become more comfortable using them in your conversations. Remember, the key is to keep practicing!

Table of Contents - Hebrew Course - 0 to A1[edit source]

Course Presentation

Introduction to Hebrew Alphabet

Everyday Hebrew Vocabulary

Hebrew Grammar

Israeli Culture

Hebrew Expressions

Hebrew Numbers

Hebrew Geography and Landmarks

Hebrew Literature and Language

Grammar Review

Videos[edit | edit source]

Biblical Hebrew Grammar 3: Adjectives & Participles - YouTube[edit | edit source]

Ask a Hebrew Teacher - How Do Some Hebrew Adjectives Change ...[edit | edit source]

Biblical Hebrew Grammar 27: Superlative Adjectives, Double ...[edit | edit source]

Sources[edit | edit source]

Other Lessons[edit | edit source]

◀️ Pronouns — Previous Lesson	Next Lesson — Verbs ▶️

@@ Line 1: / Line 1: @@
+<span pgnav>
+{| class="wikitable pg_template_nav"
+|[[Language/Hebrew/Grammar/Pronouns|◀️ Pronouns — Previous Lesson]]
+|[[Language/Hebrew/Grammar/Verbs|Next Lesson — Verbs ▶️]]
+|}
+</span>
 {{Hebrew-Page-Top}}
+<div class="pg_page_title">[[Language/Hebrew|Hebrew]]  → [[Language/Hebrew/Grammar|Grammar]] → [[Language/Hebrew/Grammar/0-to-A1-Course|0 to A1 Course]] → Adjectives</div>
+In this lesson, we will explore the fascinating world of Hebrew adjectives. Adjectives are essential in any language because they help us describe nouns, adding color, texture, and emotion to our communication. In Hebrew, adjectives are not just simple modifiers; they reflect the gender and number of the nouns they describe, which can be a bit tricky but also quite fun to learn!
+This lesson is structured to guide you through the basics of Hebrew adjectives, including their forms, how to use them in sentences, and some common examples. By the end of this lesson, you will feel more confident in using adjectives to express yourself in Hebrew.
+We’ll cover the following topics:
+* What are Adjectives?
+* Gender and Number in Hebrew Adjectives
+* Placement of Adjectives in Sentences
+* Common Hebrew Adjectives
+* Practice Exercises
+__TOC__
+=== What are Adjectives? ===
+Adjectives are words that describe or modify nouns. In Hebrew, adjectives can indicate qualities, quantities, and characteristics. For instance, when you want to say "the big house" or "the beautiful girl," the words "big" and "beautiful" are adjectives.
+In Hebrew, adjectives must agree with the nouns they describe in both gender (masculine or feminine) and number (singular or plural). This is one of the unique features of Hebrew grammar that sets it apart from English.
+=== Gender and Number in Hebrew Adjectives ===
+In Hebrew, every noun has a gender, either masculine or feminine. Adjectives must match the gender of the noun they modify. Additionally, adjectives change form based on whether the noun is singular or plural.
+Here’s a simple breakdown:
+* '''Masculine Singular''': Adjectives usually end in a consonant (e.g., "טוב" - "tov" meaning "good").
+* '''Feminine Singular''': Often, adjectives end with the letter "ה" (e.g., "טובה" - "tovah" meaning "good").
+* '''Masculine Plural''': Usually, adjectives end with "ים" (e.g., "טובים" - "tovim" meaning "good").
+* '''Feminine Plural''': Adjectives typically end with "ות" (e.g., "טובות" - "tovot" meaning "good").
+Let’s look at some examples:
+{| class="wikitable"
+! Hebrew !! Pronunciation !! English
+|-
+| טוב || tov || good (masculine singular)
+|-
+| טובה || tovah || good (feminine singular)
+|-
+| טובים || tovim || good (masculine plural)
+|-
+| טובות || tovot || good (feminine plural)
+|}
+=== Placement of Adjectives in Sentences ===
+In Hebrew, adjectives generally come '''after''' the noun they describe. This is different from English, where adjectives typically precede nouns.
+Here are some examples to illustrate this:
+{| class="wikitable"
+! Hebrew !! Pronunciation !! English
+|-
+| הבית הגדול || habayit hagadol || the big house
+|-
+| הילדה היפה || hayalda hayafa || the beautiful girl
+|-
+| הספרים החדשים || hasfarim hadashim || the new books
+|-
+| המכוניות היפות || hamechoniyot hayafot || the beautiful cars
+|}
+=== Common Hebrew Adjectives ===
+Now, let’s explore some common Hebrew adjectives that you can use in everyday conversation. Here are 20 useful adjectives, their pronunciations, and English translations:
+{| class="wikitable"
+! Hebrew !! Pronunciation !! English
+|-
+| גדול || gadol || big
+|-
+| קטן || katan || small
+|-
+| יפה || yafe || beautiful
+|-
+| מכוער || mechoar || ugly
+|-
+| טוב || tov || good
+|-
+| רע || ra || bad
+|-
+| חדש || chadash || new
+|-
+| ישן || yashan || old
+|-
+| מהיר || ma'ir || fast
+|-
+| איטי || iti || slow
+|-
+| חם || cham || hot
+|-
+| קר || kar || cold
+|-
+| רחוק || rachok || far
+|-
+| קרוב || karov || close
+|-
+| חכם || chacham || smart
+|-
+| טיפש || tipesh || silly
+|-
+| עשיר || ashir || rich
+|-
+| עני || ani || poor
+|-
+| כואב || ko'ev || painful
+|-
+| נעים || na'im || pleasant
+|-
+| קשה || kashe || hard
+|}
+=== Practice Exercises ===
+Now that you have a basic understanding of Hebrew adjectives, it’s time to put your knowledge into practice! Here are some exercises to help you solidify what you’ve learned.
+==== Exercise 1: Fill in the Blanks ====
+Complete the sentences with the correct form of the adjective in parentheses.
+. הילד _______ (גדול) משחק בחצר.
+. הילדה _______ (יפה) רוקדת.
+. המכוניות _______ (מהירות) נוסעות על הכביש.
+. הספר _______ (ישן) נמצא על השולחן.
+. התפוחים _______ (חמוצים) טעימים.
+==== Solutions for Exercise 1 ====
+. הילד הגדול משחק בחצר. (The big boy is playing in the yard.)
+. הילדה היפה רוקדת. (The beautiful girl is dancing.)
+. המכוניות המהירות נוסעות על הכביש. (The fast cars are driving on the road.)
+. הספר הישן נמצא על השולחן. (The old book is on the table.)
+. התפוחים החמוצים טעימים. (The sour apples are delicious.)
+==== Exercise 2: Matching Adjectives ====
+Match the Hebrew adjectives with their English translations.
+* 1. טוב
+* 2. קטן
+* 3. ישן
+* 4. חדש
+* 5. חם
+A. New
+B. Good
+C. Hot
+D. Small
+E. Old
+==== Solutions for Exercise 2 ====
+- B (טוב - Good)
+- D (קטן - Small)
-<div class="pg_page_title">Hebrew Grammar - Adjectives</div>
+- E (ישן - Old)
-In today's lesson, we will be discussing Hebrew adjectives. We will look at the different types of adjectives, how they are used in sentences, and how to form them. By the end of this lesson, you should have a better understanding of Hebrew adjectives. __TOC__
-== Types of Adjectives ==
+- A (חדש - New)
-There are two main types of adjectives in Hebrew: attributive and predicative.
+- C (חם - Hot)
-=== Attributive Adjectives ===
+==== Exercise 3: Translate the Sentences ====
-Attributive adjectives are used to describe nouns. They usually come before the noun they are describing. For example:
-* הכלב החזק (the strong dog)
+Translate the following sentences into Hebrew.
-* העץ הגבוה (the tall tree)
-=== Predicative Adjectives ===
+. The small cat is cute.
-Predicative adjectives are used to describe the subject of a sentence. They usually come after the verb. For example:
-* הכלב חזק (the dog is strong)
+. The old man is wise.
-* העץ גבוה (the tree is tall)
-== Formation of Adjectives ==
+. The fast train arrives at noon.
-Adjectives in Hebrew are formed by adding suffixes to the root of the word. The suffixes depend on the gender and number of the noun being described.
+. The cold water is refreshing.
-For example, the root for "strong" is חזק. To form the masculine singular form, we add the suffix -י. To form the feminine singular form, we add the suffix -ה. To form the masculine plural form, we add the suffix -ים. To form the feminine plural form, we add the suffix -ות.
+. The beautiful flowers bloom in spring.
-So, the forms of "strong" are:
+==== Solutions for Exercise 3 ====
-* Masculine singular: חזקי
+. החתול הקטן חמוד. (Ha'chatul hakatan chamud.)
-* Feminine singular: חזקה
-* Masculine plural: חזקים
+. האיש הזקן חכם. (Ha'ish hazaken chacham.)
-* Feminine plural: חזקות
+. הרכבת המהירה מגיעה בצהריים. (Ha'rekevet hamahirah magi'ah b'tzohorayim.)
+. המים הקרים מרעננים. (Ha'mayim hakrim me'aranenim.)
+. הפרחים היפים פורחים באביב. (Ha'prichim hayafim porchim b'aviv.)
+==== Exercise 4: Create Sentences ====
+Create your own sentences using the adjectives from the list below. Use each adjective at least once.
+* יפה (beautiful)
+* גדול (big)
+* חדש (new)
+* חם (hot)
+* רחוק (far)
+==== Example Solutions for Exercise 4 ====
+. התמונה היפה על הקיר. (The beautiful picture is on the wall.)
+. הבית הגדול נמצא ברחוב. (The big house is on the street.)
+. הספר החדש מעניין. (The new book is interesting.)
+. הקיץ חם מאוד. (The summer is very hot.)
+. העיר רחוקה מהכפר. (The city is far from the village.)
+==== Exercise 5: Gender Agreement ====
+Choose the correct form of the adjective in parentheses to match the noun.
+. הילדה _______ (חכם) מאוד.
+. הילד _______ (טיפש) בבית הספר.
+. המכוניות _______ (גדול) חונות ברחוב.
+. התפוח _______ (קר) טעים.
+. הפרחים _______ (יפה) פורחים.
+==== Solutions for Exercise 5 ====
+. הילדה חכמה מאוד. (The girl is very smart.)
+. הילד טיפש בבית הספר. (The boy is silly at school.)
+. המכוניות הגדולות חונות ברחוב. (The big cars are parked on the street.)
+. התפוח הקר טעים. (The cold apple is tasty.)
+. הפרחים היפים פורחים. (The beautiful flowers are blooming.)
+As you can see, Hebrew adjectives add richness and depth to your sentences, allowing you to express yourself more fully. With practice, you'll become more comfortable using them in your conversations. Remember, the key is to keep practicing!
+{{#seo:
+|title=Hebrew Grammar: Adjectives for Beginners
+|keywords=Hebrew adjectives, learning Hebrew, Hebrew grammar, adjectives in Hebrew, beginner Hebrew
+|description=In this lesson, you will learn about Hebrew adjectives, their gender and number agreements, placement in sentences, and practical exercises to enhance your understanding.
+}}
+{{Template:Hebrew-0-to-A1-Course-TOC}}
+[[Category:Course]]
+[[Category:Hebrew-Course]]
+[[Category:0-to-A1-Course]]
+[[Category:Hebrew-0-to-A1-Course]]
+<span openai_correct_model></span> <span gpt></span> <span model=gpt-4o-mini></span> <span temperature=0.7></span>
+==Videos==
+===Biblical Hebrew Grammar 3: Adjectives & Participles - YouTube===
+<youtube>https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ooN0s1XmxDw</youtube>
+===Ask a Hebrew Teacher - How Do Some Hebrew Adjectives Change ...===
+<youtube>https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hDo14dZbyDk</youtube>
+===Biblical Hebrew Grammar 27: Superlative Adjectives, Double ...===
+<youtube>https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Fh8-jrEdt_8</youtube>
+==Sources==
+* [https://uhg.readthedocs.io/en/latest/adjective.html Adjective — unfoldingWord® Hebrew Grammar 1 documentation]
+* [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Modern_Hebrew_grammar Modern Hebrew grammar - Wikipedia]
+* [https://en.wikisource.org/wiki/Gesenius%27_Hebrew_Grammar/133._The_Comparison_of_Adjectives._(Periphrastic_Expression_of_the_Comparative_and_Superlative) Gesenius' Hebrew Grammar/133. The Comparison of Adjectives ...]
+==Other Lessons==
+* [[Language/Hebrew/Grammar/Verb-to-Have|Verb to Have]]
+* [[Language/Hebrew/Grammar/Pronouns|Pronouns]]
+* [[Language/Hebrew/Grammar/Conditional-Mood|Conditional Mood]]
+* [[Language/Hebrew/Grammar/How-to-Use-Have|How to Use Have]]
+* [[Language/Hebrew/Grammar/Give-your-Opinion|Give your Opinion]]
+* [[Language/Hebrew/Grammar/Nouns|Nouns]]
+* [[Language/Hebrew/Grammar/Questions|Questions]]
+* [[Language/Hebrew/Grammar/Personal-pronouns|Personal pronouns]]
+* [[Language/Hebrew/Grammar/Future-Tense|Future Tense]]
-== Conclusion ==
-We have now looked at the different types of adjectives in Hebrew, how they are used in sentences, and how to form them. Please feel free to edit this wiki page if you think it can be improved. 😎
 {{Hebrew-Page-Bottom}}
+<span pgnav>
+{| class="wikitable pg_template_nav"
+|[[Language/Hebrew/Grammar/Pronouns|◀️ Pronouns — Previous Lesson]]
+|[[Language/Hebrew/Grammar/Verbs|Next Lesson — Verbs ▶️]]
+|}
+</span>