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Intermediate

Negation

לא, אין, אל

לא negates verbs

לא before the verb.

📊 Negation words
Word Use Example
לא (lo) negates verbs לא יודע
אין (eyn) there is no / have not אין לי
אל (al) negative command אל תלך
אף (af) none / any אף אחד
💬 Examples
אני לא יודע
ani lo yodea
I don't know
📝 לא + verb
לא רוצה
lo rotze
(I) don't want
📝 Simple negation
אין negates existence and possession

'There is no' and 'do not have'.

💬 Examples
אין כסף
eyn kesef
There's no money
📝 אין = there is no
אין לו זמן
eyn lo zman
He has no time
📝 אין ל- = doesn't have
אל for negative commands

Use אל (not לא) to tell someone not to do something.

💬 Examples
אל תלך!
al telech!
Don't go!
📝 אל + future = a prohibition
אל תדאג
al tid'ag
Don't worry
📝 Negative command