View source for ל־

{{also|ל|־ל|Appendix:Variations of "l"}}
==Aramaic==

===Etymology===
From {{inh|arc|sem-pro|*lV-}}.

===Pronunciation===
* {{IPA|arc|/l-/}}

===Preposition===
{{arc-prep|tr=l-}}

# [[to]], [[for]]
# {{lb|arc|Babylonian Talmudic}} {{non-gloss|Forms the direct object}}.

====Inflection====
{{he-prep-inflection
|base={{l|arc|ל־|לְ־, ל־, לִ־, לַ־, לֶ־, לָ־|tr=lə-, l-, li-, la-, le-, lo-|t=to}} 
|1s={{l|arc|לִי|tr=lī|t=to me}} 
|2ms={{l|arc|לְךָ|tr=lāḵ|t=to you}} 
|2fs={{l|arc|לָךְ|tr=lāḵ|t=to you}} 
|3ms={{l|arc|לֵהּ|tr=lēh|t=to him}} 
|3fs={{l|arc|לַהּ|tr=lah|t=to her}} 
|1p={{l|arc|לַנָא|tr=lánā|t=to us}} 
|2mp={{l|arc|לְכוֹן|tr=ləḵōn|t=to ye}} 
|2fp={{l|arc|לְכֵין|tr=ləḵēn|t=to ye}} 
|3mp={{l|arc|לְהוֹן|tr=ləhōn|t=to them}} 
|3fp={{l|arc|לְהֵין|tr=ləhēn|t=to them}} 
}}

==Hebrew==

===Etymology===
From {{inh|he|sem-pro|*lV-}}.

===Pronunciation===
* {{IPA|he|/lə/|/li/|/la/|/le/|a=IL}} {{qualifier|see usage notes}}

===Particle===
{{he-part|head=לְ־, לִ־, לַ־, לֶ־, לָ־, לֵ־, לוֹ־|tr=l'-, li-, la-, le-, la-, le-, lo-}}

# [[to|To]]; {{non-gloss|the first part of a to-infinitive.}}
#: {{m|he|סָגוֹר||close|tr=sagór}} → {{m|he||'''לִ'''סְגּוֹר|'''to''' close|tr='''li'''sgór}}

====Usage notes====
* In most verbs of the ''pa'ál'' construction, the vowel is ''khirík'' (as in {{m|he||'''לִ'''סְגּוֹר}}), but in others it may be ''patákh'' (as in {{m|he||'''לַ'''עֲזוֹב}} or {{m|he||'''לַ'''חְזוֹר}}), ''segól'' (as in {{m|he||'''לֶ'''אֱכוֹל}}), ''kamáts'' (as in {{m|he||'''לָ'''קוּם}} or {{m|he||'''לָ'''רֶדֶת}}), or, very rarely, ''tseré'' (as in {{m|he||'''לֵ'''אמוֹר}}) or ''kholám malé'' (as in {{m|he||'''לוֹ'''מַר}}).
* In verbs of the ''pi'él'', ''hitpa'él'', ''hitpu'al'', and ''hif'íl'' constructions (including variations such as ''polél'', ''hitpolél'', and ''nitpa'él''), the vowel is ''shva ná''.
* Verbs of the ''pu'ál'' and ''huf'ál'' constructions do not have infinitives.

===Preposition===
{{he-prep|head=לְ־, ל־, לִ־, לַ־, לֶ־, לָ־|tr=l'-, l-, li-, la-, le-, la-}}

# [[to|To]]; {{non-gloss|indicating a destination or end-point.}}
## {{non-gloss|Indicating the destination of movement.}}
##: {{ux|he|בשבוע שעבר נסעתי '''ל'''ירושלים.|tr=bashavúa she'avár nasá'ti '''li'''rushaláyim.|Last week I went '''to''' Jerusalem.|inline=1}}
##: {{ux|he|באיזו שעה נגיע '''ל'''עיר?|tr=b'ézo sha'á nagía '''l'''a'ír?|What time will we get '''to''' the city?|inline=1}}
## {{non-gloss|Indicating the second end-point of a range or interval.}}
##: {{ux|he|יש כביש ישר מפה '''ל'''שם.|tr=yesh k'vísh yashár mipó '''l&#39;'''shám.|There's a straight road from here '''to''' there.|inline=1}}
##: {{ux|he|לא יצלצלו בין שש '''ל'''שמונה.|tr=lo y'tsalts'lú ben shésh '''li'''sh'móne.|They won't call between six '''and''' eight.|inline=1}}
# [[to|To]], [[for]]; {{non-gloss|corresponding to an English indirect object or a Latin dative.}}
## {{non-gloss|Indicating the recipient of a transfer.}}
##: {{ux|he|נתתי '''לה''' מתנה.|tr=natáti '''la''' mataná.|I gave '''her''' a gift.|inline=1}}
## {{non-gloss|Indicating the addressee of an utterance.}}
##: {{ux|he|אמרו '''לנו''' מה קרה.|tr=amrú '''lánu''' ma kará.|They told '''us''' what happened.|inline=1}}
## {{non-gloss|Indicating the beneficiary of an action.}}
##: {{ux|he|תפתח '''לי''' בבקשה את הדלת?|tr=tiftákh '''li''' b'vakashá ét hadélet?|Could you open the door '''for me'''?|inline=1}}
## {{non-gloss|Indicating the person or thing affected by an action.}}
##: {{ux|he|מה עושים '''ל'''אוכל?|tr=má osím '''l'''a'ókhel?|What are we/you/they doing '''to''' the food?|inline=1}}
## {{non-gloss|Introducing an [[ethical dative]], especially after a verb of motion.}}
##: {{ux|he|אנחנו הולכים '''לנו''' ברחוב.|tr=anákhnu hol'khím '''lánu''' barekhóv.|We're walking down [''literally'' walking '''us''' in] the street.|inline=1}}
# [[of|Of]]; {{non-gloss|indicating a possessor.}}
## {{non-gloss|1=Used with a form of {{m|he|הָיָה|tr=hayá}}.}}
##: {{ux|he|היתה '''להם''' בעייה.|tr=haytá '''lahém''' b'ayá.|'''They''' had [''literally'' '''To them''' was] a problem.|inline=1}}
## {{non-gloss|1=Used with {{m|he|יֵשׁ|tr=yesh}} or (for non-possession) {{m|he|אֵין|tr=en}}.}}
##: {{ux|he|'''ל'''רופאה יש עינים כחולות.|tr='''l'''arof'á yésh enáyim k'khulót.|The doctor has [''literally'' '''To''' the doctor there are] blue eyes.|inline=1}}
##: {{ux|he|אין '''לך''' כסף?|tr=en '''l'khá/lákh''' késef?|Don't '''you''' have [''literally'' Isn't there '''to you'''] money?|inline=1}}
## {{lb|he|now|_|rare}} {{non-gloss|1=Used as a bare predicate, with no copula.}}
##* {{RQ:Tanach|30|6|3|tsrc=KJV
|passage=אֲנִי '''לְ'''דוֹדִי וְדוֹדִי '''לִי''' הָרֹעֶה בַּשּׁוֹשַׁנִּים׃
|translation=I am my beloved'''&#39;s''', and my beloved is '''mine''': he feedeth among the lilies.
|transliteration=aní '''l&#39;'''dodí v'dodí '''li''' haro'é bashoshaním.}}
## {{non-gloss|1=Used with another verb, indicating the possessor of another object of the verb.}}
##: {{ux|he|הוא יושב '''לי''' על הכובע.|tr=hu yoshév '''li''' al hakóva.|He is sitting on '''my''' hat [''literally'' '''to me''' on the hat].|inline=1}}
##: {{ux|he|היא נגעה '''לו''' במרפק.|tr=hi nag'á '''lo''' bamarpék.|She touched '''him''' on the elbow.|inline=1}}
# [[to|To]], [[into]]; {{non-gloss|indicating a result.}}
#: {{ux|he|מה גרם '''ל'''זה?|tr=má garám '''l&#39;'''zé?|What caused this? [''literally'' What caused '''to''' this?]|inline=1}}
## {{non-gloss|Indicating the result of a transformation.}}
##: {{ux|he|הספה הופכת '''ל'''מיטה.|tr=hasapá hofékhet '''l&#39;'''mitá.|The sofa turns '''into''' a bed.|inline=1}}
# [[for|For]], [[according to]], in the [[opinion]] of; {{non-gloss|indicating the holder of a viewpoint, or the source of a claim.}}
#: {{ux|he|'''ל'''דעתי, אין ברירה.|tr='''l&#39;'''da'atí, en b'rerá.|'''In''' my opinion, there's no choice.|inline=1}}
#: {{ux|he|'''ל'''דבריו, האירוע נגמר בחצות.|tr='''li'''d'varáv, ha'erúa nigmár b'khatsót.|He said that [''literally'' '''To''' his words] the event ended at midnight.|inline=1}}
# {{non-gloss|Indicating the [[theme]] of an impersonal verb or other impersonal predicate.}}
#: {{ux|he|נראה '''לי''' שגבוה מדי.|tr=nir'é '''li''' shegavóa miday.|'''I''' think [''literally'' It seems '''to me'''] that it's too high.|inline=1}}
#: {{ux|he|קר '''לכם'''?|tr=kár '''lakhém'''?|Are '''you''' cold? [''literally'' Cold '''to you'''?]|inline=1}}
#: {{ux|he|לא מגיע '''להם'''.|tr=ló magí&#39;a '''lahém'''.|'''They''' don't deserve it. [''literally'' Not arrives '''to them'''.]|inline=1}}
# [[of|Of]]; {{non-gloss|indicating the reference-point relative to which a direction may be specified.}}
#: {{ux|he|צפונה '''ל־'''|tr=tsafóna '''l'-'''|north '''of'''|inline=1}}
#: {{ux|he|מתחת '''ל־'''|tr=mitákhat '''l'-'''|under, underneath [''literally'' from bottom '''to''']|inline=1}}
#: {{ux|he|חוץ '''ל'''ארץ|tr=khúts '''l'''a'árets|abroad [''literally'' outside '''to''' the land]|inline=1}}
# {{rfdef|he}}
#: {{ux|he|אל תדאג '''ל'''י.|tr=ál tid'ág '''l'''i.|Don't worry '''about''' me [literally "'''to''' me"].|inline=1}}
# [[of|Of]], [[to]], [[before]]: {{non-gloss|indicating the [[hour]] before which a number of minutes or fraction of an hour is specified.}}
#: {{ux|he|רבע ל־10|tr=réva '''l'<nowiki/>'''éser|a quarter '''to''' ten|inline=1}}
#: {{ux|he|עשרה לחמש|tr=asará '''l'<nowiki/>'''chamésh|ten '''to''' five|inline=1}}
# {{lb|he|by extension|slang}} [[before|Before]]: {{non-gloss|indicating the [[number]] of [[year]]s before which a fraction of a year is specified.}}
#: {{ux|he|רבע ל־10|tr=réva '''l'<nowiki/>'''éser|a quarter [of a year] '''less than''' ten [years]|inline=1}}

====Usage notes====
* The above list of uses is not exhaustive; many verbs and compound prepositions use {{m|he||ל־}} to construe their objects, and in general, this is an idiosyncratic property of the verb or preposition. Conversely, above-listed uses are not definitive; in many cases, there are other prepositions that may be used similarly (or even somewhat interchangeably). Finally, the above-listed uses are not mutually exclusive; a single instance of {{m|he||ל־}} may serve more than one of them.
* Like all one-letter words in Hebrew, {{m|he||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, {{m|he||ל־}} undergoes some vowel changes, depending on the word it attaches to:
** The default form, used when none of the below rules applies, is {{m|he||לְ־|tr=l'-}}. It is also the only form in ordinary use in colloquial Modern Hebrew, except for the forms that merge with the definite article (see below) and in various fixed expressions that always use the traditional pronunciation.
** When the first syllable of the word has a ''shva ná'', the form {{m|he||לִ־|tr=li-}} is used; hence, when {{m|he||ל־}} is attached to the noun {{m|he|פְּעָמִים||times|tr=p'amím}}, we obtain the adverb {{m|he|לִפְעָמִים||sometimes|tr=lif'amím}}. Further, when the word starts with the syllable {{m|he||יְ־|tr=y'-}}, it loses its ''shva''; hence, in traditional grammar, when {{m|he||ל־}} is attached to {{m|he|יְרוּשָׁלַיִם||Jerusalem|tr=y'rushaláyim}}, we obtain {{m|he||לִירוּשָׁלַיִם|to Jerusalem|tr=lirushaláyim}}.
** When the first syllable of the word has a ''khataf'' vowel, {{m|he||ל־}} takes the corresponding non-''khataf'' vowel.
** When it is combined with the clitic {{m|he|הַ־||the|tr=ha-}}, the two clitics fuse into one syllable, with the onset being {{m|he||ל}} and the vowel being that of the {{m|he||ה־}} (i.e., a ''pataḥ'', a ''qamats'', or a ''segol'', depending on the first syllable of the word); for example, when {{m|he||ל־}} and {{m|he||ה־}} are attached to {{m|he|יֶלֶד||boy|tr=yéled}}, we obtain {{m|he||לַיֶּלֶד|to the boy|tr=layéled}} (note the ''dagesh forte'' in the {{m|he||יּ}}), and when they're attached to {{m|he|אִמָּא||mother|tr=íma}}, we obtain {{m|he||לָאִמָּא|to the mother|tr=la'íma}}.
** The same modifications occur with {{m|he|כְּ־|tr=k'-}} and {{m|he|בְּ־|tr=b'-}}.
* Since the attachment of {{m|he||ל־}} means that the following letter now follows an open syllable or ''shva'', that letter loses any ''dagesh lene''; hence the above example, where {{m|he|פְּעָמִים|tr=p'amím}} becomes {{m|he|לִפְעָמִים|tr=lif'amím}} rather than *{{m|he||לִפְּעָמִים|tr=lip'amím}}.
* {{sense|before the hour}} As in English ("it's ten to"), the complement of this preposition is often omitted in informal registers.

====Inflection====
* In older forms of Hebrew, and still in formal Modern Hebrew, {{m|he||ל־|tr=l'-}} has been distinguished from the similar preposition {{m|he|אל|tr=el}}. In everyday Modern Hebrew, however, this distinction is preserved only in the inflected forms, with the effect that {{m|he||ל־|tr=l'-}} essentially has two different sets of inflected forms: its own original forms, which are used in most circumstances, and the forms originally belonging to {{m|he||אל|tr=él}}, which are used with words of motion, words of connection, words of relation, and so on.

{{he-prep-inflection|heading=Original, usual forms
|base={{he-l|ל־|wv=לְ־, ל־, לִ־, לַ־, לֶ־, לָ־|tr=l'-, l-, li-, la-, le-, la-}}
|1s={{he-l|לי|wv=לִי|tr=li}}
|2ms={{he-l|לך|wv=לְךָ|tr=l'kha}}
|2fs={{he-l|לך|wv=לָךְ|tr=lakh}}
|3ms={{he-l|לו|wv=לוֹ|tr=lo}}
|3fs={{he-l|לה|wv=לָהּ|tr=la}}
|1p={{he-l|לנו|wv=לָנוּ|tr=lánu}}
|2mp={{he-l|לכם|wv=לָכֶם|tr=lakhém}}
|2fp={{he-l|לכן|wv=לָכֶן|tr=lakhén}}
|3mp={{he-l|להם|wv=לָהֶם|tr=lahém}}
|3fp={{he-l|להן|wv=לָהֶן|tr=lahén}}
}}

{{he-prep-inflection|heading=Forms borrowed from {{m|he||אל|tr=el}}
|base={{he-l|ל־|wv=לְ־, ל־|tr=l'-, l-}}
|1s={{he-l|אליי|dwv=אֵלַי|tr=eláy}}
|2ms={{he-l|אליך|wv=אֵלֶיךָ|tr=elékha}}
|2fs={{he-l|אלייך|dwv=אֵלַיִךְ|tr=eláyikh}}
|3ms={{he-l|אליו|wv=אֵלָיו|tr=eláv}}
|3fs={{he-l|אליה|wv=אֵלֶיהָ|tr=eléha}}
|1p={{he-l|אלינו|wv=אֵלֵינוּ|tr=elénu}}
|2mp={{he-l|אליכם|wv=אֲלֵיכֶם|tr=alekhém}}<sup>1</sup>
|2fp={{he-l|אליכן|wv=אֲלֵיכֶן|tr=alekhén}}<sup>1</sup>
|3mp={{he-l|אליהם|wv=אֲלֵיהֶם|tr=alehém}}<sup>1</sup>
|3fp={{he-l|אליהן|wv=אֲלֵיהֶן|tr=alehén}}<sup>1</sup>
|notes=# In Modern Hebrew, the second- and third-person plural forms are usually pronounced with leading /e/ rather than /a/.
}}

====Derived terms====
* {{l|he|שֶׁלְּ־|tr=shel'-}}, {{l|he|שֶׁל|tr=shel}}

====See also====
* {{l|he|שֶׁל|tr=shel}}
* {{l|he|אֶל|tr=el}}

{{cln|he|clitics}}