ל־

Definition from Wiktionary, a free dictionary

[edit] Hebrew

[edit] Preposition

לְ־ (l'-)

1. To, for.

[edit] Usage notes

• Like all one-letter words in Hebrew, ל־ functions as a clitic, attaching to the word that follows it. Since it is a preposition, this means it attaches to the first word of its object.
• In traditional grammar, ל־ undergoes some vowel changes, depending on the word it attaches to:
  • The default form, used when none of the below rules applies, is לְ־ (l'-). It is also the only form in ordinary use in colloquial Modern Hebrew, except in various fixed expressions that always use the traditional pronunciation.
  • When the vowel in the first syllable of the word is a sh'va na`, the form לִ־ (li-) is used; hence, when ל־ is attached to the noun פְּעָמִים (p'`amím), “‘times’”), we obtain the adverb לִפְעָמִים (lif'`amím), “‘sometimes’”). Further, when the word starts with the syllable יְ־ (y'-), it loses its sh'va; hence, in traditional grammar, when ל־ is attached to יְרוּשָׁלַיִם (y'rushaláyim), “‘Jerusalem’”) , we obtain לִירוּשָׁלַיִם (lirushaláyim), “‘to Jerusalem’”).
  • When it is combined with the clitic הַ־ (ha-) “the”, the two clitics fuse into one syllable, with the consonant being ל and the vowel being that of the הַ־ (ha-) (i.e., a pataḥ, a qamatz, or a segol, depending on the first syllable of the word); hence, when ל־ and ה־ are attached to יֶלֶד (yéled) “boy”, we obtain לַיֶּלֶד (layéled) “to the boy”, and when they're attached to אִמָּא ('íma') “mother”, we obtain לָאִמָּא (la'íma') “to the mother”.
  • The same modifications occur with כְּ־ (k'-) and בְּ־ (b'-).
• Since the attachment of ל־ means that the following letter now follows an open syllable, that letter loses any dagesh qal; hence the above example, where פְּעָמִים (p'`amím) becomes לִפְעָמִים (lif'`amím) rather than *לִפְּעָמִים (lip'`amím).