Hire vs Rent
Though people seem to use hire and rent alternatively, there actually exists a difference between hire and rent. It is interesting to note that both the words have two different meanings, namely, ‘to pay for the use of something’ and ‘to sell the use of something’. When we consider the words, hire and rent, both of them are used as verbs as well as nouns in the English language. The word hire has its origin in the Old English word hȳrian. On the other hand, rent has its origins in the Middle English. Even phrases such as for hire and for rent are used in the English language.
What does Rent mean?
These two words are used with difference in the sense that the word rent is normally used in situations involving a longer period of time as in the expressions ‘renting a house’, ‘rent a flat’, ‘rent a TV’ and the like. All these expressions involve a long period. Look at the two sentences given below.
How much would it cost me to rent a two-bedroom house?
How much would I need to rent an apartment in the city?
In the first sentence, you can see that the word rent is used in a situation that needs a long duration of time. In the second sentence also the word rent is used in a situation that needs a long duration of time. You do not rent an apartment or a two-bedroom house just for a few hours.
It is interesting to note that in American English the two words are interchanged. In short, it can be said that the word rent is used in situations that need both long and short duration of time. You often hear of the expression ‘rent a car’ in American English.
What does Hire mean?
On the other hand, the word hire is used in situations that need a shorter period as in the expressions such as ‘hiring a bike’, ‘hire a cycle’ and the like. These expressions involve a short period. You normally hire a bicycle for a few hours only. Observe the sentences given below as examples.
He hires a bicycle daily to go to his office.
She hired a car to go her friend’s funeral.
In the first sentence, you can see that the word hire is used in a situation that needs a short duration of time. In the second sentence also you can see that the word hire is used in a situation that needs a short duration of time. One does not hire a bicycle or a car for a long period like an apartment.
What is the difference between Hire and Rent?
• Both the words, hire and rent, have two different meanings, namely, ‘to pay for the use of something’ and ‘to sell the use of something’.
• The word rent is normally used in situations involving a longer period.
• On the other hand, the word hire is used in situations that need a shorter period. This is the major difference between the two words, namely, hire and rent.
• It is interesting to note that in American English the two words are interchanged.
These are the differences between rent and hire.
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