שבת שלום
shabát shalóm
The Hebrew phrase for "happy sabbath" is שבת שלום (shabát shalóm).
שבת שלום is a greeting used to wish someone a peaceful and happy Sabbath. You can use this phrase both when arriving at a destination or meeting someone and when departing or saying goodbye on Friday or Saturday.
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase is composed of the word for Sabbath (שבת) and the word for peace (שלום).
How do you pronounce it?
shabát shalóm
When do people say it?
The standard response to being greeted with שבת שלום is to repeat the same phrase back to the person.
Did you know?
- The word שבת may actually refer to the 'middle day' of a lunar month, a concept borrowed from the ancient Akkadian word šapattum.
- Although שלום means peace, in the context of שבת שלום, it refers to a state of wholeness and completeness rather than just the absence of war.
- The Hebrew שלום shares the same linguistic DNA as the Arabic word سلام (salām), making them close relatives.
Examples in context
- שבת שלום לכולם.Shabbat Shalom le'kulam.Happy Sabbath to everyone.
- שבת שלום, חברים!Shabbat Shalom, chaverim!Happy Sabbath, friends!
Example conversation
Maya and Itai meet in the hallway on Friday afternoon.
- מאיה Mayaהיי איתי, שבת שלום!Hai Itai, Shabbat Shalom!Hi Itai, happy Sabbath!
- איתי Itayשבת שלום, מאיה!Shabbat Shalom, Maya!Happy Sabbath, Maya!
- מאיה Mayaיש לך תוכניות לסוף השבוע?Yesh lekha tochniyot לסוף hashavu'a?Do you have plans for the weekend?
- איתי Itayכן, אני הולך לבקר את המשפחה.Ken, ani holekh levaker et hamishpacha.Yes, I am going to visit the family.
Sources
- Pronunciation: Wiktionary entry שבת שלום, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries שבת, שלום, CC BY-SA 4.0.
