The word binyan (בִּנְיָן) means "building." The binyanim are seven verb-building patterns, each applying a different template to any root. Take the root קדשׁ (holiness) — in Qal it means "be holy," in Piel it means "sanctify (someone)," in Hitpael it means "consecrate yourself." Same root, seven buildings.

Each binyan is identified by its characteristic vowel pattern and sometimes a prefix. The three-letter root slots into the template like letters in blanks. Grammarians use the root פ-ע-ל as the placeholder — that is why the binyanim are called Qal (פָּעַל), Niphal (נִפְעַל), Piel (פִּעֵּל), etc.