אדוני
adonáy/ʔa.doːˈnaːj/
The English phrase "my lord" is translated into Hebrew as אדוני (adonáy).
אדוני is used as an address towards a lord. In modern Hebrew, it is frequently used as a polite way to say "sir" when addressing a man.
Meaning: address towards a lord (noun)
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
אדוני is a formal term used to show utmost respect, and it serves as a polite way to address a man.
How do you pronounce it?
The word is pronounced /ʔa.doːˈnaːj/. It has 3 syllables, with the stress on the 3rd syllable.
Did you know?
- Hebrew has a dedicated gender-flipped version, גבירתי, to address a woman as 'my lady' or 'ma'am' in similar formal contexts.
- In modern Israeli slang, if a waiter uses אדוני with a slightly exaggerated emphasis, they might actually be signaling that they are annoyed or impatient with a customer.
- While אדוני is used for 'sir' today, in ancient Hebrew it was often used as a title for a husband or a master of a household.
Examples in context
- מה תעשה, אדוני, בנוגע לגופה?What will you do with the body, my lord?This sentence is useful for seeing how to use אדוני when asking a question about a body.Tatoeba #3934790 by fekundulo, translation #3973230 by AlanF_US
- הכל מוכן, אדוני.Hakol mukhan, adoni.Everything is ready, my lord.
Example conversation
Maya is attending to Noam in a royal court.
- מאיה Mayaאדוני, המכתב הגיע מהממלכה השכנה.Adoni, hamichtav higia mehamamlaka hashechena.My lord, the letter has arrived from the neighboring kingdom.
- נועם Noamהניחי אותו על השולחן, מאיה.Hanichi oto al hashulchan, Maya.Place it on the table, Maya.
- מאיה Mayaכמובה, אדוני.Kemo-vah, adoni.As you wish, my lord.
- נועם Noamתודה לך.Toda lach.Thank you.
Sources
- Pronunciation: Wiktionary entry אדוני, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
