how to say “to volunteer” in Hebrew
Perhaps you know Israeli men or boys with the name נָדָב (nah-DAHV). One of the star instructors on the Ulpan La-Inyan staff bears that name. The root נ.ד.ב (n.d.b) is the concept of giving and contributing.
To volunteer oneself, as in cleaning up a beach or spending quality time with underprivileged children, is לְהִתְנַדֵּב (le-heet-nah-DEV). This is the התפעל (heet-pah-EL) usage of the root נ.ד.ב. You can find out more about the התפעל, Hebrew’s reflexive form, and how to use it by visiting our page about it on ulpan.com.
But to volunteer something, such as a piece of information, is לְנַדֵּב (le-nah-DEV). For example, הִיא תְּנַדֵּב אֶת הַמֵּידַע (hee te-nah-DEV et hah-may-DAH) – She will volunteer the information. This is the פִּעֵל (pee-EL) usage of נ.ד.ב. You can find out about פיעל here.
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