Smichut (Construct State)

Lesson 25 · סמיכות

Smichut (סְמִיכוּת) is one of Hebrew's most distinctive features, a way to combine two nouns into a single concept by linking them. Like English compounds: "house door" = "front door" without "of". בֵּית סֵפֶר (beit sefer) literally "house [of] book" = school.

How it works, The first noun (nismach) often shortens. The second noun (somech) keeps its form. בַּיִת + סֵפֶר → בֵּית סֵפֶר. The whole pair is treated as one compound word.

Definite article rule, In smichut, only the SECOND word takes ה (the article). בֵּית הַסֵּפֶר (beit ha-sefer) "the school", not "ha-beit ha-sefer".

Common Compounds with בַּיִת (house)

Smichut (Construct State)

Common Compounds with בַּיִת (house)

Common Compounds with עוֹרֵךְ (editor / arranger)

Food & Drink Smichuts

Person + Role / Profession Smichuts

Time-based Smichuts

Place Smichuts (Israeli geography)

Example Sentences