pnei

Pnei, a Hebrew term written in Hebrew as פני, is a noun that broadly means "face" or "front." In both biblical and modern Hebrew, the word functions as a standalone noun and as a component in phrases and place names. The form is widely used in toponymy; when prefixed to a place name, Pnei- (often transliterated as Pnei-) conveys a relational sense such as "in front of," "facing," or "the front of" a landmark or area.

One well-known example of a toponym beginning with Pnei- is Pnei Brak, a city in central Israel near Tel Aviv. The prefix thus serves to indicate orientation or proximity relative to another location or feature, rather than describing the place's intrinsic attribute. Beyond geography, the word appears in religious and liturgical contexts, such as phrases like penei Hashem, meaning "before the face of the Lord" or "in the presence of God." In biblical Hebrew, paneh often denotes front, presence, or appearance, and it appears in various idioms and legal or ceremonial expressions.

In modern usage, Pnei- remains a productive element in place names and in literary or historical descriptions, preserving its core sense of orientation, presence, and visibility. The term exemplifies how a simple noun for "face" can influence naming conventions and semiotics within the Hebrew language and Israeli geography.