אני כותבת לעצמי פתק, כדי לא לשכוח.

I write myself a note so I won’t forget.

Breakdown of אני כותבת לעצמי פתק, כדי לא לשכוח.

• אני: I
• לא: not
• לשכוח: to forget
• לכתוב: to write

Questions & Answers about אני כותבת לעצמי פתק, כדי לא לשכוח.

Why is it כותבת and not כותב?

Because the speaker is feminine singular.

With אני in the present tense, Hebrew usually shows the speaker’s gender in the verb:

• אני כותב = a man/boy is speaking
• אני כותבת = a woman/girl is speaking

So this sentence is being said by a female speaker.

Does אני כותבת mean I write or I am writing?

It can mean either one, depending on context.

Hebrew present tense often covers both:

• simple present: I write
• present progressive: I am writing

So אני כותבת לעצמי פתק could mean:

• I write myself a note
• I’m writing myself a note

Context tells you which is more natural.

Why is there no separate word for am in אני כותבת?

Because Hebrew does not use a separate present-tense form of to be in normal sentences like this.

In English, you say I am writing.
In Hebrew, the present-tense verb form כותבת already does the job.

So:

• אני כותבת = I write / I am writing

There is no extra word for am here.

What does לעצמי mean exactly?