As a Hebrew student, you might have noticed that the prepositions ל (to, for) and אל (to, towards), can sometimes be interchangeble, and sometimes you have to use one over the other. It can be very confusing, but after this unit you will have a much better understanding on this topic. Yalla, let’s start!
In Hebrew we have two cases you need to pay attention to.
Cases in which you can use both ל and אל without any difference in meaning. For example:
- אני הולך לים = אל הים
- בקורונה אי אפשר לטוס למדינות אדומות = אל מדינות אדומות
In this case it’s more common to use ל in speaking, and אל in writing.
BUT! When the preposition (in this case) is conjugated, we can only use אל.
- אני הולך ל/אל הים –> אני הולך אליו
(לו) - בקורונה אי אפשר לטוס ל/אל מדינות אדומות –> אי אפשר לטוס אליהן
(להן)
- אני הולך ל/אל הים –> אני הולך אליו
2. The other case is a case in which we can only use ל, both conjugated or not!
- דני קנה לדנה (
אל דנה) מתנה –> הוא קנה לה (אליה) מתנה - אל תגיד לאולגה (
אל אולגה) מה לעשות! –> אל תגיד לה (אליה) מה לעשות!
So what is the difference between the two cases? Why we have to use אל (when conjugated) in the first case, but we have to always use ל in the second case? We will get to it in a second, but at least now you know one thing for sure – if it’s not conjugated, you can always use ל, and you’re safe. The problem is when there’s a pronoun, and we need to conjugate the preposition. Then we will have to choose which one to use.
Before going there, let’s see if you can already guess or get the sense of it. Which preposition should you use in the next cases (choose the one you think is right):
So now all we have to learn is when to use אל and when to use ל when conjugated (when there’s a pronoun after it). Remember! If it is not conjugated, you can always use ל safely (it’s even recommended).
USING אל
We will use אל when talking about motion or destination. In the two examples above we used אל because we were moving towards the destenation (the sea/beach or the “red” countries).
For this reason we will use אל with verbs of motion like ללכת (to go), לנסוע (to drive), לרוץ (to run) etc.
But remember that this motion, or destination can also be metaphorical. For this reason we use אל also with verbs like להתגעגע (to miss someone). This feeling of yerning is aimed to a metaphorical person, who is the metaphorical destination of this feeling.
We also use אל with verbs of communication (for the same reason), like להתקשר (to call), להתחבר (to connect) etc.
Do you think we should use אל also with להתייחס (to pay attention to someone or to treat them)? If you said yes, you were right, because this person is the destination of the attention. Our attentoin is “going towards” them.
USING ל
We use ל for everything that is the receiver of the verb. Meaning, not just the destination, but the actual receiver. If this person or thing doesn’t receive anything, we will use אל.
When we go to the sea, the sea doesn’t receive us, it is only our destination. When we miss someone, this person doesn’t get our feelings, and their are only “going” towards them. This is why we should use אל in these cases. Towards is a key word to understand אל. If there’s no movement, but recieving, we should use ל instead.
In the two other sentences above, in which we used ל, there’s always a “reciever”. Dani bought Dana (לדנה) a gift (she is the reciever, even if she hasn’t got it yet). When someone tells you: “Don’t tell Olga (לאולגה) what to do!”, Olga is the reciever (metaphorical) of the things you tell her.
Generally speaking it is safe to say that ל is much more common than אל. Especially because ל is also used with a wider range of verbs like לאחל (to wish), לקוות (to hope) and לסלוח (to forgive), to name a few. The reson is that in all of these verbs, the person is the reciever of what I wish (I wish you a happy birthday, meaning I want you to have a happy birthday). So, as long as there’s no motion in the verb (physical or metaphorical) we can’t use אל, and we’ll always use ל.
And a friendly reminder, in case you already forgot, we can always use ל, as long as the preposition is not conjugated.
Conjugation of these prepositions
Let’s see if you got it. Choose the correct answer. All answers are conjugated, so only one answer can be correct.
Fill the blanks with the correct form of the preposition conjugated (conjugate the preposition according to the pronoun in the parentheses).
Great lesson and review 🙂
Dear Alex,
since I’m not sure if I understood everything, I would like to ask you if the ל can be used instead of של. Example: King of Israel מלך לישראל
Or is it wrong?
Best regards and many thanks in advance for your reply.
David
Hello David, מלך לישראל is correct, but it is understood more as “a king FOR Iseral” than “king OF Israel”. Hope it helps! 🙂