י.ד.ע
יָדַע (yada, "to know / understand / be aware") is one of the most fundamental roots in Hebrew — it expresses knowledge, understanding, awareness, acquaintance, and even intimacy (both intellectual and emotional).
🧱 The Root: י.ד.ע
Core meaning: to know, to be aware of, to be acquainted with, to understand
Frequency: Extremely high — used across all contexts: knowledge, relationships, emotions, spirituality, and everyday conversation.
🔤 Base Verb Forms (Binyanim)
| Binyan | Verb | Translation | Usage / Nuance |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pa'al (פעל) | יָדַע – yada | he knew / was aware | base meaning "to know" |
| Infinitive | לָדַעַת – lada'at | to know | general infinitive |
| Participle | יוֹדֵעַ – yodea / yoda'at | knows / knowing | present state of awareness |
| Future | יֵדַע – yeda / תֵּדַע – teda | he/she will know | used in everyday speech |
| Imperative | דַּע! – da! / דְּעִי! – di! | know! | rarely used except in idioms or poetry |
Note: Biblical use includes intimate knowledge ("וַיֵּדַע אָדָם אֶת־אִשְׁתּוֹ" – "Adam knew his wife") — showing that in Hebrew, "knowing" carries both intellectual and relational depth.
🧩 Noun & Adjective Derivations
| Word | Transliteration | Part of Speech | Meaning | Example |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| דֵּעָה | dea | noun | opinion / knowledge / view | יש לו דעה חזקה — he has a strong opinion |
| יְדִיעָה | yedi'a | noun | information / piece of knowledge / awareness | ידיעה בעיתון — a news report |
| הוֹדָעָה | hoda'a | noun | announcement / notification | קיבלתי הודעה — I got a message |
| מוּדָעוּת | muda'ut | noun | consciousness / awareness | מודעות עצמית — self-awareness |
| יָדוּעַ | yadua | adjective | known / famous / well-known | שחקן ידוע — a famous actor |
🗣️ Common Expressions and Idioms
| Hebrew | Transliteration | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| אני לא יודע / יודעת | ani lo yodea / yoda'at | I don't know |
| איך אני יודע? | ekh ani yodea? | How would I know? |
| כולם יודעים את זה | kulam yod'im et ze | Everyone knows that |
| ידוע ש... | yadua she... | It's known that... |
| הודעת וואטסאפ | hoda'at WhatsApp | WhatsApp message |
| מודעות לפרטים | muda'ut lepratim | attention to detail |
| לידיעתך | leyedi'atkha / leyedi'atekha | for your information (formal) |
| הוא אדם יודע ספר | hu adam yodea sefer | literally "a man who knows book" → an educated person |
🧠 Semantic Network (Concept Map)
Used in:
- Learning: לדעת עברית (to know Hebrew)
- Awareness: הוא לא ידע על זה (he didn't know about it)
- Relationships: אני מכיר אותה / אני יודע עליה (I know her / about her)
- Information: הודעה, ידיעה, מידע
🧍♀️ Conjugation Summary (Pa'al)
| Person | Past | Present | Future | Imperative |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| אני | ידעתי (yadati) | יודע / יודעת (yodea / yoda'at) | אדע (eda) | — |
| אתה | ידעת (yada'ta) | יודע (yodea) | תדע (teda) | דע (da!) |
| את | ידעת (yada't) | יודעת (yoda'at) | תדעי (ted'i) | דעי (di!) |
| הוא | ידע (yada) | יודע (yodea) | ידע (yeda) | — |
| היא | ידעה (yad'a) | יודעת (yoda'at) | תדע (teda) | — |
| אנחנו | ידענו (yadanu) | יודעים / יודעות | נדע (neda) | — |
| הם/הן | ידעו (yad'u) | יודעים / יודעות | ידעו (yid'u) | — |
💬 Real-Life Examples
- אני לא יודע. – I don't know.
- הוא יודע עברית מצוין. – He knows Hebrew excellently.
- היא לא ידעה על זה בכלל. – She didn't know about it at all.
- זה ידוע שצריך ללמוד כל יום. – It's known that you have to study every day.
- קיבלתי הודעה ממנו. – I got a message from him.
- אני יודע מתי הוא יבוא. – I know when he will come.
- הוא לא ידע מה לומר. – He didn't know what to say.
🔁 Related or Collocated Roots
| Related Concept | Common Roots | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Understanding / learning | למד, הבין | להבין (to understand), ללמוד (to learn) |
| Remembering | זכר | לזכור (to remember) |
| Awareness / recognition | הכיר | להכיר (to know personally, recognize) |
| Announcement / communication | הודיע, שמע | להודיע (to inform), לשמוע (to hear) |
📝 Summary
י.ד.ע is one of the most fundamental roots in Hebrew, expressing knowledge, understanding, awareness, and acquaintance. It appears across all contexts from everyday conversation to spiritual and emotional intimacy, making it essential for mastering Hebrew communication.