הכלב ברח מהחצר.

In Hebrew, the definite article ה־ is usually attached directly to the noun.

So:

• כלב = dog
• הכלב = the dog

This is very common in Hebrew. Instead of writing a separate word for the, Hebrew usually adds ה־ to the beginning of the noun.

ברח is a past tense verb, specifically:

• 3rd person
• masculine
• singular

So it means he ran away / he escaped / he fled.

It matches הכלב, which is grammatically masculine singular.

Related forms:

• ברחה = she ran away
• ברחו = they ran away
• בורח = running away / escapes
• יברח = he will run away

Because ברח specifically has the sense of fleeing, escaping, or running away.

If you just want to say ran in the sense of physical running, Hebrew more often uses the verb רץ.

So:

• הכלב רץ = the dog ran / was running
• הכלב ברח = the dog ran away / escaped

That is why this sentence feels more like the dog got out or escaped from somewhere, not just that it was running.

Because Hebrew often combines prepositions with the definite article.

Here the underlying parts are:

• מ־ / מן = from
• החצר = the yard / the courtyard

Together they become:

• מהחצר = from the yard

So this is basically a fused form meaning from + the yard.

In Hebrew, this kind of combination is very normal:

• בבית = in the house
• לילד = to the boy
• מהחצר = from the yard

חצר can mean:

• yard
• courtyard
• sometimes an enclosed outdoor area around a house or building

So depending on context, English might translate it as yard or courtyard.

It usually does not mean a grassy garden in the same way English garden can. For that, Hebrew often uses other words depending on the meaning, such as גן.

A good modern Israeli pronunciation is approximately:

ha-KE-lev ba-RAKH me-ha-kha-TSER

A few notes:

• הכלב = ha-KE-lev
• ברח = ba-RAKH
• מהחצר = me-ha-kha-TSER

The letter ח is pronounced like a throaty kh/ch sound, similar to the sound in German Bach or Scottish loch.

So both ברח and חצר contain that kind of sound.

It actually does have the there, but it is attached inside the word.

• חצר = yard
• החצר = the yard
• מהחצר = from the yard

So the sentence does include the yard; it is just packed into one word because Hebrew combines elements that English keeps separate.

Yes. Hebrew word order is more flexible than English word order.

You can say:

• הכלב ברח מהחצר
• ברח הכלב מהחצר

Both are possible.

The version with הכלב first is very natural and straightforward, especially for learners: The dog ran away from the yard.

The version starting with the verb can sound a little more narrative or literary depending on context, though it is also normal Hebrew.

Hebrew verbs in the past tense change according to person, number, and sometimes gender.

Here:

• הכלב is masculine singular
• so the verb is ברח = masculine singular past

If the subject changed, the verb would change too:

• הכלבה ברחה מהחצר = the female dog ran away from the yard
• הכלבים ברחו מהחצר = the dogs ran away from the yard
• הכלבות ברחו מהחצר = the female dogs ran away from the yard

So agreement is an important part of Hebrew grammar.

No. There is no direct object here.

The sentence has:

• a subject: הכלב
• a verb: ברח
• a prepositional phrase: מהחצר

So מהחצר is not an object; it tells you from where the dog ran away.

That is why you do not see the direct object marker את in this sentence. Hebrew uses את only before a definite direct object, and there is no direct object here.