אינשאללה
inshála/inˈʃala/
The English phrase "inshallah" can be expressed in Hebrew as אינשאללה (inshála). Wiktionary also lists אִם יִרְצֶה הַשֵּׁם (im yirtseh hashem).
Meaning: Islam: if God has willed it (intj)
Ways to say it
| Hebrew | Romanization (Wiktionary) | IPA |
|---|---|---|
| אינשאללה | inshála | /inˈʃala/ (Modern Israeli) /inʃaˈʔala/ (Modern Israeli) |
| אִם יִרְצֶה הַשֵּׁם | im yirtseh hashem |
אינשאללה is used colloquially to express hope or uncertainty about a future event. It carries the meaning of "if God has willed it."
Which one should you use?
אִם יִרְצֶה הַשֵּׁם is the formal Hebrew equivalent of the Arabic-derived אינשאללה, meaning "if God wills it".
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
אינשאללה is a colloquial term, whereas אִם יִרְצֶה הַשֵּׁם is a formal way to express the same sentiment. For a formal context, you may also use בְּעֶזְרַת הַשֵׁם, which means "With God's help" or "With the help of the Lord".
How do you pronounce it?
The romanization is inshála.
Did you know?
- In colloquial Israeli Hebrew, אינשאללה is often used as a polite way to say 'no' or to signal that something is unlikely to actually happen.
- The word השם used in אִם יִרְצֶה הַשֵּׁם literally means 'the name', serving as a euphemism for God.
- While אינשאללה is an Arabic loanword, it is used frequently by Hebrew speakers of all faiths, including Jews and atheists, as a general marker of hope.
Examples in context
- האירוע יתקיים ביום חמישי, בְּעֶזְרַת הַשֵׁם.The event will take place on Thursday, God willing.
- אינשאללה, נשתמע בערב.inshallah, nishtame ba'erev.Inshallah, we will talk in the evening.
- הכול יהיה בסדר, אינשאללה.hakol yihiye beseder, inshallah.Everything will be okay, inshallah.
- נסיים את זה מחר, אינשאללה.nesayem et ze machar, inshallah.We will finish this tomorrow, inshallah.
Example conversation
Noam and Maya are discussing their travel plans.
- מאיה Mayaאתה חושב שנצליח להגיע בזמן?ata choshev shenatzliach lehagia bazman?Do you think we will manage to arrive on time?
- נועם Noamכן, אינשאללה, נהיה שם בשש.ken, inshallah, nihye sham beshesh.Yes, God willing, we will be there at six.
- מאיה Mayaמקווה שלא יהיה פקק בכביש.mekava shelo yihye pkeck bakvish.I hope there won't be a traffic jam on the road.
- נועם Noamאל תדאגי, הכל יעבוד.al tidagi, hakol yaavod.Don't worry, everything will work out.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “inshallah” translations and entries אינשאללה, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
