In Hebrew, instead of using separate words like “his,” “her,” or “their,” pronouns are often attached directly to nouns as suffixes. These are called pronominal suffixes, and they indicate possession or association.
What Is a Pronominal Suffix?
A pronominal suffix is a short ending added to a noun to show who owns or relates to it. For example:
- סֵפֶר – book
- סִפְרוֹ – his book
- סִפְרָהּ – her book
- סִפְרִי – my book
The base noun stays mostly the same, but the ending changes to reflect the pronoun.
Common Suffixes (Singular Nouns)
| Person | Suffix | Example | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| I (1st person) | י | סִפְרִי | my book |
| You (m. sg.) | ךָ | סִפְרְךָ | your book |
| You (f. sg.) | ךְ | סִפְרֵךְ | your book |
| He | וֹ | סִפְרוֹ | his book |
| She | ָהּ | סִפְרָהּ | her book |
Plural suffixes follow similar patterns, with endings like נוּ (our), כֶם (your, m. pl.), and הֶם (their, m.).
Notes on Spelling and Vowel Changes
- The noun may undergo slight vowel shifts when the suffix is added.
- Feminine nouns ending in -ה often drop the final letter before attaching the suffix:
- תּוֹרָה → תּוֹרָתוֹ (his Torah)
