הדפוס עוזר לנו לפענח את הצופן.

Because ה־ is the Hebrew definite article, meaning the.

So:

• דפוס = pattern, print, or format depending on context
• הדפוס = the pattern

In this sentence, it is understood as the pattern.

Yes — דפוס has several related meanings, including print, printing, pattern, or format.

In this sentence, the context is what tells you the right meaning. Since the sentence is about helping decode something, הדפוס is most naturally understood as the pattern.

So this is a good example of a Hebrew word whose exact meaning depends on context.

עוזר is the masculine singular present-tense form of the verb לעזור (to help).

It matches the subject:

• הדפוס = masculine singular
• so the verb is עוזר

Hebrew present-tense verbs agree with the subject in gender and number.

For comparison:

• הדפוס עוזר = the pattern helps
• המפה עוזרת = the map helps
• הדפוסים עוזרים = the patterns help

It can mean either, depending on context.

Hebrew present tense often covers both:

• helps
• is helping

So הדפוס עוזר לנו can mean:

• the pattern helps us
• or the pattern is helping us

English usually forces you to choose one, but Hebrew often leaves that to context.

Because the verb לעזור normally takes ל־ for the person receiving the help.

So Hebrew thinks of it as:

• עוזר לנו
• literally: helps to us
• natural English: helps us

Here:

• ל = to
• נו = us
• לנו = to us

This is very important: with לעזור, Hebrew uses ל־, not a direct object.

Because לעזור does not usually take a direct object in standard Hebrew.

So:

• correct: הוא עוזר לנו
• not standard here: הוא עוזר אותנו

That is one of the common patterns English speakers need to learn: some Hebrew verbs use prepositions where English does not.

לפענח is the infinitive, meaning to decipher, to decode, or to work out.

So the structure is:

• עוזר לנו לפענח
• helps us decipher

The verb is לפענח, and its root is פ־ע־נ־ח.

This is a useful verb for things like:

• codes
• ciphers
• clues
• hidden meanings

In Hebrew, infinitives usually begin with ל־, which often corresponds to English to.

So:

• לפענח = to decipher
• לכתוב = to write
• ללמוד = to study

That means:

• עוזר לנו לפענח את הצופן
• literally: helps us to decipher the cipher/code
• natural English: helps us decipher the cipher/code

את marks a definite direct object.

It does not mean the, and it usually is not translated into English.

Here:

• הצופן = the cipher / the code
• because it is definite, Hebrew puts את before it
• so: את הצופן

Compare:

• לפענח צופן = to decipher a cipher / code
• לפענח את הצופן = to decipher the cipher / code

This is one of the most important grammar points in Hebrew.

For the same reason as הדפוס: ה־ means the.

So:

• צופן = cipher / code
• הצופן = the cipher / the code

Since the sentence refers to a specific cipher/code, Hebrew uses the definite article.

They can overlap, but they are not always the same.

• צופן often means cipher, encoded system, or secret code
• קוד can mean code more generally, including things like:
  • a code number
  • a password/PIN
  • computer code
  • a code of rules

So in a sentence about deciphering something, צופן is especially fitting because it suggests something encoded or encrypted.

The sentence breaks down like this:

• הדפוס = the pattern
• עוזר = helps
• לנו = us / to us
• לפענח = to decipher
• את הצופן = the cipher / the code

So the structure is:

subject + verb + indirect object + infinitive + direct object

That is a very normal Hebrew pattern.

A simple transliteration is:

ha-dfus ozer lanu lefa'ane'ach et ha-tsofen

A few pronunciation notes:

• צ sounds like ts
• ח at the end of לפענח is the throaty Hebrew kh/ch sound
• את here is usually just pronounced et

So the full sentence sounds roughly like:

ha-dfus o-ZER la-NU le-fa-a-NE-akh et ha-TSO-fen