English

Liskor and lehaskir: one root, two directions

From one root two verbs are made: one for doing the action yourself, the other for passing it on to someone else. Liskor (לשכור) — to rent, lehaskir (להשכיר) — to rent out: you rent the apartment from the one who rents it out. The vowels around the root moved, and the meaning turned around. For example: “הוא משכיר דירה לשנה.” — He rents out the apartment for a year. A rule from the Hebrew course: worked out on…

Updated September 1, 2026 · Lingofly

How it works

From one root two verbs are made: one for doing the action yourself, the other for passing it on to someone else. Liskor (לשכור (лишкор)) — to rent, lehaskir (להשכיר (леашкир)) — to rent out: you rent the apartment from the one who rents it out. The vowels around the root moved, and the meaning turned around.

The pair lehikanes — to enter, and lehachnis — to let in: you enter, someone lets you in. Lilbosh — to put on, lehalbish — to dress a child. Wear and dress trip up English speakers; here the pattern settles it.

This is a whole system of verb patterns, the binyanim. For now remember one sign: leha- at the front of the verb means the action is done to someone else.

Table

Liskor and lehaskir: one root, two directions
oneselfon anotherTranslation
לשכורלהשכירrent — rent out
להיכנסלהכניסenter — let in
ללבושלהלבישget dressed — dress
לגדוללהגדילgrow — enlarge
לשתותלהשקותdrink — water

By example

  • הוא משכיר דירה לשנה.
    ху машкир дира ле-шана.
    He rents out the apartment for a year.
  • אמא מלבישה את התינוק.
    има малбиша эт ха-тинок.
    Mother dresses the little one.
  • אתה יכול להכניס את האורחים?
    ата яхоль лехахнис эт ха-орахим?
    Can you let the guests in?

How the rule settles in your head

A rule is not memorized from an explanation. It is memorized from an attempt to use it and a mistake — that is why the app delivers it mixed in with words, not as a separate lesson: it resurfaces exactly where you forgot it.

Frequently asked

Difference between lischkor and lehaskir?

From one root two verbs are made: one for doing the action yourself, the other for passing it on to someone else. Liskor (לשכור) — to rent, lehaskir (להשכיר) — to rent out: you rent the apartment from the one who rents it out. The vowels around the root moved, and the meaning turned around.

The hifil binyan in Hebrew?

The pair lehikanes — to enter, and lehachnis — to let in: you enter, someone lets you in. Lilbosh — to put on, lehalbish — to dress a child. Wear and dress trip up English speakers; here the pattern settles it.

How to say to rent out an apartment in Hebrew?

From one root two verbs are made: one for doing the action yourself, the other for passing it on to someone else. Liskor (לשכור) — to rent, lehaskir (להשכיר) — to rent out: you rent the apartment from the one who rents it out. The vowels around the root moved, and the meaning turned around.

How to make two verbs from one root in Hebrew?

From one root two verbs are made: one for doing the action yourself, the other for passing it on to someone else. Liskor (לשכור) — to rent, lehaskir (להשכיר) — to rent out: you rent the apartment from the one who rents it out. The vowels around the root moved, and the meaning turned around.

What does it look like in a Hebrew example sentence?

“הוא משכיר דירה לשנה.” (ху машкир дира ле-шана.) — He rents out the apartment for a year. A rule is easier to test on sentences like this than to memorize as a wording: what surfaces in conversation is the sentence.

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