שלום עליכם
shalom aleichem
The Hebrew phrase for "peace be with you" is שלום עליכם (shalom aleichem).
שלום עליכם is a traditional greeting used to wish someone peace. It is often used as a formal or traditional greeting in Jewish liturgical or communal contexts.
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase literally means "peace upon you".
How do you pronounce it?
shalom aleichem
When do people say it?
In traditional settings, a common response to שלום עליכם is עליכם השלום (upon you be peace). Another related phrase is וְשָׁלוֹם לְךָ, which means "and peace to you."
Did you know?
- The phrase שלום עליכם is the title of a famous 19th-century novel by Shalom Aleichem, who is often called the 'Jewish Mark Twain'.
- In Jewish tradition, שלום עליכם is the opening line of a song sung to welcome the angels on Friday night before the Sabbath begins.
- The Hebrew שלום עליכם is a direct linguistic cousin to the Arabic greeting as-salāmu ʕalaykum.
Examples in context
- שלום עליכם.Peace be with you.This sentence shows the use of שלום עליכם as a standalone greeting.Tatoeba #4214057 by shanghainese, translation #2306854 by MethodGT
- שָׁבוּעַ טוֹב, רַבִּי. שָׁלוֹם עֲלֵיכֶם!Good week, rabbi. Peace be with you!
- שלום עליכם, חברים.shalom aleichem, chaverim.Peace be with you, friends.
- אומרים שלום עליכם כשמברכים אנשים.omrim shalom aleichem kshe-mevarechim anashim.One says peace be with you when blessing people.
Example conversation
Rotem and Ido meet at a community event.
- רוטם Rotemשלום עליכם, עידו.Shalom aleichem, Ido.Peace be with you, Ido.
- עידו Idoשלום עליכם, רוטם.Shalom aleichem, Rotem.Peace be with you, Rotem.
- רוטם Rotemאיך הולך לך היום?Eich holech lecha hayom?How is it going for you today?
- עידו Idoהכל מצוין, תודה.Hakol metzuyan, toda.Everything is great, thanks.
Sources
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries שלום, שלום עליכם, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
