Movement verbs are among the most useful verbs in any language. In Hebrew, verbs appear in infinitive form (like English "to go") and conjugate for gender and person. This lesson focuses on the infinitive forms — conjugation comes later.
Infinitive pattern: Hebrew infinitives begin with לְ (le-) and are the form used after רוֹצֶה (want) and צָרִיךְ (need).
Movement Verbs — Infinitive Forms
| Hebrew | Transliteration | English | Example |
|---|---|---|---|
| לָלֶכֶת | lalechet | to go / to walk | אֲנִי רוֹצֶה לָלֶכֶת — I want to go |
| לָרוּץ | larutz | to run | הוּא אוֹהֵב לָרוּץ — He loves to run |
| לִנְסֹעַ | linso'a | to travel / to drive | אֲנַחְנוּ נוֹסְעִים לְתֵל אָבִיב — We're going to Tel Aviv (by vehicle) |
| לָעוּף | la'uf | to fly | הַמָּטוֹס עָף — The plane flies |
| לִשְׂחוֹת | lischot | to swim | אֲנִי אוֹהֵב לִשְׂחוֹת — I love to swim |
| לְטַפֵּס | letapes | to climb | קָשֶׁה לְטַפֵּס לְשָׁם — It's hard to climb there |
| לַעֲלוֹת | la'alot | to go up / ascend | לַעֲלוֹת בְּמַדְרֵגוֹת — to go up the stairs |
| לָרֶדֶת | laredet | to go down / descend | לָרֶדֶת לַמָּרְתֵּף — to go down to the basement |
| לָבוֹא | lavo | to come | בֹּא הֵנָּה! — Come here! |
| לַחֲזוֹר | lachazor | to return / go back | מָתַי אַתָּה חוֹזֵר? — When are you coming back? |
| לִקְפֹּץ | likpotz | to jump | הַיֶּלֶד קוֹפֵץ — The boy is jumping |
| לִנְהֹג | linhog | to drive (a vehicle) | אַתָּה יוֹדֵעַ לִנְהֹג? — Do you know how to drive? |
| לִרְכֹּב | lirkov | to ride (bike / horse) | אֲנִי רוֹכֵב אוֹפַנַּיִם — I ride a bicycle |
| לְהִסְתּוֹבֵב | lehistavev | to wander / walk around | אֲנִי אוֹהֵב לְהִסְתּוֹבֵב בָּעִיר — I love wandering around the city |