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Hebrew has no indefinite article (a, an, some), a bare noun is indefinite by default. The definite article (the) is a prefix: the letter ה (he) glued to the start of the word. Common prepositions (in, to, from, with, on) are also often prefixes.
Definite Article: ה־ (ha-)
To turn "a book" into "the book", glue ה (ha-) to the start of the word.
Inseparable Prepositions (Prefixes)
4 attached prepositions, בְּ (be, in/at) · לְ (le, to/toward/for) · מִ (mi, from/since) · כְּ (ke, like/as).
Separate Prepositions (Standalone Words)
Preposition + Article = Contraction
When preposition meets article, בְּ + הַ = בַּ (ba) · לְ + הַ = לַ (la) · כְּ + הַ = כַּ (ka). The ה of the article disappears, its vowel stays under the preposition.
Possessive: שֶׁל (shel: "of")
Example Sentences