Hebrew Word Analyzer
Look up any Hebrew word and get a complete English explanation
About the Hebrew Word Analyzer for English Speakers
This tool helps English speakers understand Hebrew words in depth. Enter a Hebrew word (with or without nikud) or a romanized transliteration like "shalom" or "torah" and get a full breakdown in plain English.
Each analysis covers the part of speech, meaning, root letters, verb binyan (conjugation class), noun pattern (mishkal), etymology, and an example sentence with an English translation.
Use it to deepen your understanding of Biblical Hebrew, Modern Hebrew, or Jewish vocabulary. To add nikud to a whole sentence or text, not just one word, use the Hebrew nikud tool.
Results are estimates for informational purposes only. Not professional advice. We recommend verifying with a qualified expert.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is a Hebrew root?+
Most Hebrew words are built from a 3-letter root (shoresh). These three consonants carry the core meaning. For example, the root sh-l-m underlies shalom (peace), shalem (complete), and mashlim (completing).
What is a binyan?+
A binyan (plural: binyanim) is a verb conjugation pattern in Hebrew. There are 7 major binyanim, each expressing a different relationship to the action: active, passive, reflexive, and causative. For example, Paal is the basic active form, while Hifil is causative.
What is nikud?+
Nikud are the small vowel marks written below or above Hebrew letters. Modern everyday Hebrew is written without nikud. Biblical and poetry texts include it. This tool shows each word with its nikud, and spells it in English letters right under it (like "shalom"), so you can see how to say it.
Can I enter transliterations like shalom or Torah?+
Yes. Type the word in English letters (e.g. shalom, tzaddik, chai, mazel tov) and the analyzer will resolve it to the Hebrew word and provide the full analysis.
Is there a version that explains words in Hebrew?+
Yes. Our Hebrew site has a word analyzer that explains each word in simple Hebrew, for people who already read some Hebrew. This page gives the same kind of breakdown in English, for English speakers learning Hebrew.
What is etymology?+
Etymology is the origin and history of a word. Hebrew has an unusually rich etymology: many words trace back to the Biblical period (1200 BCE or earlier), while others entered through Aramaic, Arabic, Greek, or Yiddish contact. This tool traces the journey.
Are the analyses accurate?+
Yes, for the vast majority of words. Very rare words and brand-new slang can be less precise.
Can I look up multi-word phrases?+
You can enter compound nouns and fixed idiomatic phrases (e.g. mazel tov, tikkun olam). Open-ended free sentences are not supported.