אל
el/ʔɛl/
The Hebrew word for "to" can be expressed as אל (el) or the prefix ל־.
Meaning: in the direction of, and arriving at (prep)
Ways to say it
| Hebrew | Romanization (Wiktionary) | IPA |
|---|---|---|
| אל | el | /ʔɛl/ /ʔal/ |
| ל־ | le- | /lə/ (Modern Israeli) /li/ (Modern Israeli) |
Both forms are used to indicate movement in the direction of or arriving at a specific destination.
Which one should you use?
אל is used as a standalone preposition to indicate movement toward a destination, whereas ל־ is a prefix that must be attached directly to the following word. אל is the more formal or literary choice.
Related words
How does it change in a sentence?
In everyday speech, the form ל־ functions as a prefix that attaches to the word it precedes. In contrast, אל is a separate word.
How do you pronounce it?
The pronunciation of אל is /ʔɛl/ (el).
What mistakes should you avoid?
To say "to me", use the specific word אלי (elai).
Did you know?
- The word אל is a homonym that can also mean 'god' when it is read with different vowels, as אֵל (el).
- While אל indicates direction, the prefix ל־ is often used to denote ownership, similar to the English word 'for' or 'belonging to'.
- The formal preposition אל shares its ancient roots with the Arabic word إِلَى (ila), which also means 'to' or 'towards'.
Examples in context
- אל מי תום מדבר?Who's Tom talking to?This example shows the use of אל when asking whom someone is talking to.Tatoeba #2136423 by fekundulo, translation #1886549 by CK
- הילד רץ אל אמו.The child ran to his mother.This sentence demonstrates אל indicating movement toward a person.Tatoeba #3280258 by fekundulo, translation #3022412 by sharptoothed
- זה בסדר אם אלך?Is it all right to go?This example shows how אל can appear in a sentence related to an infinitive.Tatoeba #4654537 by fekundulo, translation #3428598 by CK
- אני הולך לעיר.I am going to the city.
- הם שולחים מכתב לאמא.They are sending a letter to Mom.
- אני הולך ללכת לסופרמרקט.I am going to go to the supermarket.
- אני שמח לומר לך תודה.I am happy to say thank you to you.
- 746 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Maya and Noam are talking about where to go for a walk.
- מאיה Mayaבוא נלך אל החוף.bo nilech el hachof.Let's go to the beach.
- נועם Noamזה רעיון מצוין, מאיה.ze ra'ayon metzuyan, Maya.That is a great idea, Maya.
- מאיה Mayaהדרך אל החוף קצרה.haderech el hachof ktzara.The way to the beach is short.
- נועם Noamאז נצא עכשיו, נועם.az netsae achshav, Noam.Then we'll leave now, Noam.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “to” translations and entries אל, ל־, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries אל, ל־, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
