English has one "you". Hebrew has four, and the verb next to it usually changes too. It sounds like a lot, but it follows a simple pattern, and once you hear it a few times it starts to feel natural.
The four words for "you"
- Ata (אַתָּה): you, talking to one man.
- At (אַתְּ): you, talking to one woman.
- Atem (אַתֶּם): you, talking to a group of men or a mixed group.
- Aten (אַתֶּן): you, talking to a group of women.
In everyday speech, many Israelis use atem for any group, including groups of women. You'll hear aten too, and it's never a mistake to use it for a group of women.
The verb changes with it
In the present tense, the verb agrees with the person you're talking to:
- Ata medaber ivrit? (אתה מדבר עברית?): Do you speak Hebrew? (to a man)
- At medaberet ivrit? (את מדברת עברית?): Do you speak Hebrew? (to a woman)
- Atem medabrim ivrit? (אתם מדברים עברית?): Do you speak Hebrew? (to a group)
Adjectives follow the same idea: ata ayef? (are you tired?, to a man) and at ayefa? (to a woman).
"I" changes too
Present-tense verbs also change with the speaker. A man says ani lomed ivrit (אני לומד עברית), I'm learning Hebrew. A woman says ani lomedet ivrit (אני לומדת עברית).
The past tense is kinder here. "I learned" is lamadeti (למדתי) for everyone. The gender comes back with "you": lamadeta to a man and lamadet to a woman.
When you aren't sure
Sometimes you don't know which form fits, or someone prefers not to be addressed as male or female. Two everyday options help:
- Talk to the group. The plural atem works naturally when you're addressing more than one person.
- Use the impersonal plural. Waiters ask ma shotim? (מה שותים?), literally "what's being drunk?", meaning "what are we drinking?" It skips "you" altogether.
And if you mix up the forms, people will understand you. It's a very common slip for learners, and getting it right comes from hearing and saying it, not from memorizing tables.
How Verbalta handles it
Your coach asks you once which form you'd like for "you": masculine, feminine, or rather not say. It never guesses from your name or your voice. If you'd rather not say, your coach uses natural phrasings like the plural and impersonal forms above, and accepts either form when you speak.