לך לשלום
lekh le-shalom
To say "go in peace" in Hebrew, use לך לשלום (lekh le-shalom).
The phrase לך לשלום is used to wish someone a safe and peaceful departure. It is frequently found in religious or literary contexts and serves as a formal or poetic way to bid farewell.
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase is composed of the verb לך (go) and the prepositional phrase לשלום, which means "to peace" or "in peace".
How does it change in a sentence?
The verb changes depending on who you are addressing: use לכי לשלום when speaking to a female, and use לכו לשלום when addressing a group of people.
How do you pronounce it?
lekh le-shalom
Did you know?
- In some traditional contexts, לך לשלום can be used as a euphemism for death, implying that a person has departed this world in peace. It transforms a physical journey into a spiritual one.
- The root of the word שלום (shalom) is the same as the word for 'completion' or 'wholeness' (שלם). To go in peace is literally to go in a state of being whole and unbroken.
- The verb לך is the imperative form of 'to go', which in Hebrew carries a sense of direct command, making the phrase a literal command to 'depart towards peace'.
Examples in context
- לך לשלום, אחי.lekh lashalom, achi.Go in peace, my brother.
- הגיע הזמן להיפרד, לך לשלום.higia hazman lehipared, lekh lashalom.It is time to part, go in peace.
Example conversation
Maya is seeing Itay off at the train station.
- מאיה Mayaאיתי, הגיע הזמן ללכת.Itay, higia hazman lakhet.Itay, it is time to go.
- איתי Itayאת צודקת, אני הולך.at tzodeket, ani holekh.You are right, I am leaving.
- מאיה Mayaלך לשלום, תעדכן כשתגיע.lekh lashalom, ta'adken keshetagi'a.Go in peace, update me when you arrive.
- איתי Itayתודה, מאיה. להתראות!toda, Maya. lehitra'ot!Thanks, Maya. Goodbye!
