Alquiler vs Alquilar

Question

In the dictionary on this site, it says alquiler is a noun, but gives the definition as to rent. This kind of implies the act of renting, which in my mind, would be a verb (action) using alquilar. I'm not saying anything is wrong, I'm just having trouble understanding the difference between these two words, one being a verb and the other a noun.

If alquilar is "to rent something" how can alquiler be the act of renting? From the dictionary on this site:

alquiler masculine noun 1. renting (acción) (de vivienda, televisión, oficina); hiring (de vehículo)

Or, is alquiler close to the English equivalent rental, as in this sentence:

Tengo que ir a la compañía de alquiler de coches.

Thanks for your thoughts.

Answer 1

Hi Jako, well the dictionary is right but it should give you more examples, i will give you a few to help you understand better.

First, the conjugation.

Alquilar: Yo alquilo Tu alquilas El alquila Nosotros alquilamos Ustedes Alquilan Ellos alquilan

Yo le alquilo la casa a mi hermano. (I rent the house to my brother.) Mi papá les alquila la casa a mis amigos.(My father rents the house to my friends.) La mujer me alquila su casa.( The woman rents me her house.)

And in the other case:

Tengo que pagar el alquiler antes de la quincena.( I have to pay the rental before the fortnight.)

Tengo que ir a la compañía de alquiler de coches.(I have to go to the car rental company.)

And the participle:

Mi casa está alquilada. (Mi house is rented)

As you see, you were right in your assumptions, the verb "alquilar" y "rentar" (Which I think comes from English.) are used the same way "Yo rento" "Yo alquilo", and yes "alquiler" =.rental. I think that the difference may be that Alquilar is more properly or formal.

Hope to help you

Answer 2

Well, Hi Jack, you are right, it's difficult to understand. But maybe you can forget about all these things and only think about this:

Alquilar : to rent

Alquiler : the rent

I'm not a native speaker (neither English nor Spanish) but that's the only way that I can pull this through.

Answer 3

In my understanding, and from talking to two native speakers, it is:

1) Alquiler = the rent (a noun)

2) Alquilar = to rent (the verb)