Q&A for How to Tell the Difference Between Borrow and Lend

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What would be some common mistakes to avoid for someone that is lending money to a friend?

Jonathan DeYoe, CPWA®, AIF®
Financial Advisor
Jonathan DeYoe is a Financial Advisor and the CEO of Mindful Money, a comprehensive financial planning and retirement income planning service based in Berkeley, California. With over 25 years of financial advising experience, Jonathan is a speaker and the best-selling author of "Mindful Money: Simple Practices for Reaching Your Financial Goals and Increasing Your Happiness Dividend." Jonathan holds a BA in Philosophy and Religious Studies from Montana State University-Bozeman. He studied Financial Analysis at the CFA Institute and earned his Certified Private Wealth Advisor (CPWA®) designation from The Investments & Wealth Institute. He also earned his Accredited Investment Fiduciary (AIF®) credential from Fi360. Jonathan has been featured in the New York Times, the Wall Street Journal, Money Tips, Mindful Magazine, and Business Insider among others.

Jonathan DeYoe, CPWA®, AIF®

Financial Advisor

Expert Answer

So I think the fundamental thing, and I've got a couple friends, through the years, we've lend money to each other back and forth. I think the best recommendation I can make is go in with the best intention that everyone is going to pay everyone back, but don't be surprised if someone doesn't. It's really a gift, it's either a gift, or you really risk the friendship.

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Is "Will you borrow me a pencil?" correct?

Community Answer

The correct form would be lend because the person you are talking to is going to give you something. The sentence you would say is "Will you lend me a pencil?" or, you can also say, "Will you let me borrow a pencil?"

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I thought that borrow and lend are synonyms.

Blu

Community Answer

Actually, borrow and lend are sort of antonyms. Borrow means to take and use someone else's belongings with the intention of returning it. Lend means to allow someone else to borrow your belongings.

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Question

How can I explain the difference between borrowing and lending to others?

Community Answer

Borrowing means to ask for something and return it; lend means to give something and get it back.

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If in a library, for example, would I say "I want to lend a book" or "I want to borrow a book"?

Donagan

Top Answerer

Borrow. "Borrow" means to take temporarily. "Lend" means to give temporarily.

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What's the difference between, e.g. "Could I borrow your dictionary?" ( borrow = take ) and "Could you lend me your dictionary?" ( lend = give )?

J R

Community Answer

The difference is connotative. Borrow implies a shorter duration and is usually free with no strings attached. For example, borrowing a dictionary will only take a few seconds and doesn't cost anything. Lending implies repayment of some kind and might be more permanent.

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Question

What is the right way to say this: " Allowed the patient to lend the walking stick" or "Allowed the patient to borrow the walking stick"?

Iris8989

Community Answer

"Allowed the patient to borrow the walking stick" is the correct way to say it. Borrowing something means to temporarily take something and to give it back later. Lending something is the opposite, giving something to someone and taking it back later. "Lend" is a synonym for give. "Borrow" is a synonym for take. So, substitute the word "borrow" for the word "take", and you will see that "Allowed patient to take/borrow the walking stick" is correct. If you substitute the word "lend" for "give", the sentence, "Allowed the patient to give/lend the walking stick" sounds weird, unless the patient is giving their walking stick to someone else.

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Is this correct?: "Ama could you lend me your book?"

Iris8989

Community Answer

Yes, that is correct. Borrowing something means to temporarily take something and to give it back later. Lending something is the opposite, giving something to someone and taking it back later. "Lend" is a synonym for give. "Borrow" is a synonym for take.

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Is it correct to say, "Did you lend me the money?"

Iris8989

Community Answer

Yes, that is correct. Borrowing something means to temporarily take something and to give it back later. Lending something is the opposite, giving something to someone and taking it back later. "Lend" is a synonym for give. "Borrow" is a synonym for take. "Did you take me the money" doesn't make sense, and since "take" is a synonym of "borrow", you will see that "lend" is the right word.

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