Peh‑Nun Roots in Hif’il
In the Hif’il binyan, verbs whose root begins with the letter nun (נ) undergo a special change in the present tense. The initial nun disappears, and the following consonant is doubled with a dagesh (a dot that strengthens the sound).
The general pattern looks like this:
מַ– + (second root letter with dagesh) + ִי + ending
Examples
- נ.צ.ל → להציל (to save)
Present tense: מַצִּיל, מַצִּילָה, מַצִּילִים, מַצִּילוֹת - נ.ג.ש → להגיש (to serve, to present)
Present tense: מַגִּיש, מַגִּישָה, מַגִּישִים, מַגִּישוֹת - נ.ס.ע → להסיע (to transport, to drive someone)
Present tense: מַסִּיעַ, מַסִּיעָה, מַסִּיעִים, מַסִּיעוֹת
Why This Matters
Recognizing Peh‑Nun roots helps learners avoid confusion when the nun “disappears.” Instead of searching for it, focus on the doubled consonant that follows. This assimilation is consistent across Hif’il verbs with nun as the first root letter, making it easier to predict and use correctly.
Quick Summary for Learners
- In Hif’il present tense, nun disappears.
- The second root letter doubles with a dagesh.
- Pattern: מַ– + doubled consonant + ִי + ending.
- Examples: מַצִּיל, מַגִּיש, מַסִּיעַ.