Smichut (סמיכות, "construct state") is how Hebrew builds a "noun of noun" phrase, like bet sefer ("house of book" = school), without a separate word for "of".

Where does "the" go in a smichut phrase?

On the second noun only: bet ha-sefer ("the school"), never ha-bet sefer. The first noun (in its construct form) never takes the article directly.

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Hebrew smichut builder

Enter two nouns and get the construct-state phrase, with the rule named, and a reminder that the definite article always lands on the second noun.

First nounSecond noun

Make it definite (“the”)

Smichut phrase

בית ספר

Unchanged in the construct state

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