The first occurrence.

And God created the man in His own image, in the image of God He created him; male and female He created them. Gen 1:27

The primitive root.

Strong’s H2145 זכר zakar; an adjective, from Strong’s H2142 זכר zakar, a primitive root meaning, “to remember.”

zayin ז = mattock, thus tool, food, cut, nourish
kaph כ ך = open palm, thus bend, open, allow, tame
resh ר = head of man, thus head, first, top, beginning, man

The story: Recalling the covenant cut (zayin) wherein the open palm (kaph) of blessing was laid upon the head of the man (resh). Gesenius’ Hebrew Lexicon adds concerning “male,” H2145,

A male, as being he through whom the memorial of parents is continued.

INDEX OF HEBREW ROOTS

The first occurrence.

And God said: “Let Us make man in Our image, after Our likeness; and let them have dominion over the fish of the seas, and over the winged creatures of the heavens, and over the cattle, and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creeps upon the earth.” Gen 1:26

The primitive root.

Strong’s H1710 רדה dagah; feminine of Strong’s H1709 דג dag; a concrete noun meaning “fish;” from Strong’s H1711 דגה dagah; a primitive root meaning, “to spawn, to rapidly increase.”

dalet ד = door, thus enter, move, hang
gimel ג = foot, thus foot, walk, gather
hey ה = man w/raised arms, thus look, reveal, wonder, worship, breath

The story: The back and forth (dalet) movement of the foot (gimel) which, on a fish, is his tail, propels him rapidly through the water. Fish spawn most typically by broadcasting (hey, in the sense of revealing) eggs and sperm through the water. Our English word “dog” is from this root, as his tail moves rapidly back and forth.

INDEX OF HEBREW ROOTS