The imperative in Hitpa’el is used to give commands or requests that are reflexive or reciprocal – telling someone to do something involving themselves or mutual action. It’s typically directed at the second person (you).
Let’s use the root ק־ש־ר (K–Sh–R), which in Hitpa’el means “to contact” or “to call” (as in “get in touch”).
Structure
- No prefix (unlike infinitives)
- Begins with הִתְ־
- Middle root letter is usually doubled (marked by a dagesh)
Imperative Forms of הִתְקַשֵּׁר – “to call/contact”
| Person | Form | Pronunciation | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| You (m. sg.) | הִתְקַשֵּׁר! | hitkasher! | Call! / Get in touch! |
| You (f. sg.) | הִתְקַשְּׁרִי! | hitkashrí! | Call! |
| You (m. pl.) | הִתְקַשְּׁרוּ! | hitkashrú! | Call! |
| You (f. pl.) (rare) | הִתְקַשֵּׁרְנָה! | hitkasherná! | Call! |
The feminine plural form (-נה) is rare in Modern Hebrew and mostly appears in Biblical or poetic contexts.