Learn Hardcore Hebrew: היום היא מכבסת את הכביסה בבית, ומחר היא תייבש אותה ליד החלון. - Today she does the laundry at home, and tomorrow she will dry it by the window.

Breakdown of היום היא מכבסת את הכביסה בבית, ומחר היא תייבש אותה ליד החלון.

Why is there no Hebrew word for is in היום היא מכבסת את הכביסה בבית?

In Hebrew, the verb to be is usually not used in the present tense.

So English she is washing the laundry at home becomes simply:

Literally, this is more like she washing the laundry at home, but in normal Hebrew that is the correct way to say she is washing...

Hebrew does use forms of to be in the past and future, but normally not in the present.

Why is מכבסת used for is washing? Is that really a present tense verb?

Yes. מכבסת is the present-tense feminine singular form of the verb לכבס = to wash clothes / do laundry.

Because the subject is היא = she, the verb must match feminine singular:

Compare:

So yes, Hebrew uses this form both for simple present and present progressive, depending on context.

What is the difference between מכבסת and כביסה? They look very similar.