הרצועה ארוכה.

The leash is long.

Breakdown of הרצועה ארוכה.

• ארוך: long
• רצועה: leash; strap

Questions & Answers about הרצועה ארוכה.

Why is there no separate word for is in this sentence?

In Hebrew, the verb to be is usually left out in the present tense.

So:

• הרצועה ארוכה = The strap is long
• literally, it is more like the strap long

But in the past or future, Hebrew does use forms of to be:

• הרצועה הייתה ארוכה = The strap was long
• הרצועה תהיה ארוכה = The strap will be long

So the missing is is completely normal.

What does the ה at the beginning of הרצועה mean?

The prefix ה־ means the.

So:

• רצועה = a strap / strap
• הרצועה = the strap

This prefix is called the definite article in Hebrew.

When attached, it is usually pronounced ha-, so הרצועה is roughly ha-r'tzu-a.

Why is ארוכה in the feminine form?