Lesson 153: Word Order and Emphasis
Hebrew word order is flexible. The default is subject–verb–object, but moving a word to the front throws the spotlight on it — a key tool for emphasis. Tap any line to hear it.
Neutral vs. fronted
דָּנָה קָנְתָה אֶת הַסֵּפֶר.
dana kanta et hasefer.
Dana bought the book. (neutral)
אֶת הַסֵּפֶר דָּנָה קָנְתָה.
et hasefer dana kanta.
It was the book that Dana bought. (fronted object)
Fronting for emphasis
דַּוְקָא אוֹתְךָ רָצִיתִי לִפְגֹּשׁ.
davka otcha ratsiti lifgosh.
It’s you I wanted to meet.
אֶתְמוֹל זֶה קָרָה, לֹא הַיּוֹם.
etmol ze kara, lo hayom.
It happened yesterday, not today.
The “it is … that” frame
זֶה מָה שֶׁחָשׁוּב.
ze ma shechashuv.
That’s what matters.
הוּא זֶה שֶׁהִצִּיל אֶת הַמַּצָּב.
hu ze shehitsil et hamatsav.
He’s the one who saved the situation.