Pi'el in the Present

Level 2

Common Pi’el present forms start with מ and use a pattern such as מדבר, מדברת, מדברים and מדברות.

How It Works

Four Forms

Learn מדבר, מדברת, מדברים and מדברות. In pointed spelling the pattern has important internal vowels; an unpointed מ at the start by itself does not prove that a word is a Pi’el verb.

Meaning Is Vocabulary

Pi’el contains ordinary verbs such as speak and teach. It is sometimes described as intensive, but that label cannot reliably tell you a new verb’s meaning. ללמוד, to study, and ללמד, to teach, differ in pattern and meaning.

Root-Specific Forms

Other common stems include מסדר, arranges, and מספר, tells or cuts hair depending on context. Both senses of מספר have the same pronunciation, mesaper. The shared pattern helps recognition; learn the actual pronunciation and meaning of the whole verb.

Examples (4)

  1. אני מדבר עברית.

    I speak Hebrew.

    The speaker uses masculine singular.

  2. היא מדברת עם דנה.

    She is talking with Dana.

    The conversation partner follows עם.

  3. הם מלמדים בבית הספר.

    They teach at the school.

    מלמדים is a Pi’el present plural.

  4. אנחנו מסדרות את החדר.

    We are tidying the room.

    The female group uses feminine plural.

How It Connects

Tap a pattern to see what it builds on and what it leads to.

Pi'el in the PresentLevel 2

Learn This First

Learn the actual Pi'el stems within the present agreement framework.

Learn Next

Patterns that build on this one.