how to say “to prefer” in Hebrew

[audioclip url=”https://archive.ulpan.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/05/להעדיף-1.m4a” /]לְהַעֲדִיף

The Hebrew word for to prefer is the active-causative להעדיף[audioclip url=”https://archive.ulpan.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/05/להעדיף-1.m4a” /]. It comes from the root ע.ד.פ[audioclip url=”https://archive.ulpan.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/05/להעדיף-2.m4a” /] meaning surplus: something we prefer has sort of a surplus in our minds over something else.

For example:

[audioclip url=”https://archive.ulpan.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/05/להעדיף-3.m4a” /]מה את מעדיפה, מרק ירקות או מרק כתום?

What do you prefer, vegetable soup or orange soup?

A preference is העדפה[audioclip url=”https://archive.ulpan.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/05/להעדיף-4.m4a” /], while a priority is עדיפות[audioclip url=”https://archive.ulpan.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/05/להעדיף-5.m4a” /].