The Roots of Words in Hebrew

Grammatical structure of word formation

מִשְׁקָל / mishqal / constructed form

Prefix, suffix, infix

Hebrew words are formed around roots by adding particles at the beginning, middle and end of the root.

Prefixes and suffixes are attached to a root to create words, and infixes can be inserted within a root to modify its meaning.

Prefix :A group of letters (mini word) added at the beginning of a word, in front of the root, to specify its meaning.

Suffix :A group of letters (mini word) added at the end of a word, after the root, to specify its meaning.

Infix :A letter or group of letters (mini word) inserted within a word to modify its meaning.

Example with the root « ה-ל-ך »

The root ה-ל-ך (H-L-K) is that of the verb “to go”.
It covers concepts related to walking, movement, process and law.

Walking and Movement

לָלֶכֶת (lalékhèt) : Verb « to go, to walk » from PAAL group.

לְהַלֵךְ (léhalèkh) : Verb « to wander, to wander » from PIEL group.

לְהִתְהַלֵךְ (léhithalèkh) : Verb « to walk, to walk » from HITPAEL group.

לֶכֶת (lékhèt) : Noun (f) « walk » (in expressions).

הֲלִיכָה (halikhah) : Noun (f) « walk, pace », « death, disappearance ».

Other Concepts Associated with Movement

הִילּוּךְ (hiloukh) : Noun (m) « gear » (automobiles), « gait ».

Movement and Development Process

תַּהֲלוּכָה (tahaloukha) : Noun (f) « procession, parade ».

מַהֲלָךְ (mahalakh) : Noun (m) « process, course », « movement, development ».

Law and Rule

הֲלָכָה (halakhah) : Noun (f) « law, rule », « Halakhah » (Jewish law).

Example with the root « ס-ד-ר »

The root ס-ד-ר (S-D-R) is that of the verb “to put away”. It mainly concerns concepts related to organization, arrangement, order, regularity, coordination, sequence and systematization.

Organization and Arrangement

סֵדֶר (sédèr) : Noun (m) « order, arrangement ».

לְסַדֵּר (léssadèr) : Verb « to organize, tidy up » from PIEL group.

לְהַסְדִּיר (léhasdir) : Verb « organize, regulate, regularize, resolve, plan » of the HIFIL group..

לְהִסְתַּדֵּר (léhistadèr) : Verb « to organize, to arrange » from HITPAEL group.

הֶסְדֵּר (hèsdèr) : Noun (m) « agreement, arrangement, regulation, regularization ».

סִידּוּר (sidour) : Noun (m) «order, arrangement, organization »,also a « prayer book » used in Judaism.

סָדִיר (sadir) : Adjective « regular, systematic ».

Order and Sequence

סְדָר (sdar) : Noun (m) « typographic composition, typeset ».

סִידּוּרִי (sidouri) : adjective « ordinal ». Describes a number that indicates position in a sequence..

Typography and Professions

סִדְרָה (sidrah) : Noun (f) « sequence, series ».

סַדָּר (sadar) : Noun (m) « composer, typographer ».

Management and Coordination

סַדְרָן (sadran) : Noun (m) « steward, bailiff, sender ».

הִסְתַּדְּרוּת (histadrout) : Noun (f) « union, organization », « storage ».

Others

מִסְדְּרוֹן (misdéron) : Noun (m) « corridor ».