Ways to say it
| Yiddish | Romanization (Wiktionary) | IPA |
|---|---|---|
| ברוך השם | borekh hashem | /bɔˈʁʊx haʃˌεjm/ |
| גאָט צו דאַנקן | got tsu dankn |
Both forms are used to express gratitude or relief. ברוך השם is a very common idiomatic exclamation used when hearing good news or describing a positive outcome. גאָט צו דאַנקן is a more descriptive way to say 'to thank God'.
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase ברוך השם literally means 'Blessed be the Name' (referring to God's name), while גאָט צו דאַנקן literally translates to 'God to thank'.
Which one should you use?
ברוך השם is a traditional, religious and more common idiomatic expression. In contrast, גאָט צו דאַנקן is a more literal and descriptive way to express the sentiment.
Is it said differently in some regions?
In Poylish Yiddish, the phrase G-t lobn un dankn is used to mean 'Praise and thank God'.
How do you pronounce it?
borekh hashem (IPA: /bɔˈʁʊx haʃˌεjm/)
When do people say it?
In Yiddish-speaking and Jewish communities, ברוך השם is often used as a habitual response to questions about one's well-being or life circumstances.
Did you know?
- In many Jewish communities, saying ברוך השם is a way to deflect potential bad luck that might follow bragging about success.
- Because many Yiddish speakers are observant Jews, they often avoid writing the full name of God in text. You may see the phrase written with a hyphen, such as ברוך ה־שם, to prevent the name from being erased or defaced.
- Even secular Yiddish speakers who do not believe in a deity frequently use ברוך השם as a cultural idiom for 'luckily'.
Examples in context
- ברוך השם, איך בין נישט קרוק.baruch hashem, ik bin nisht kruk.Thank God, I am not sick.
Example conversation
Isaac and Miriam are talking about a difficult exam.
- יצחק Yitzchakהאסטו שוין באקומען דיין רעזולטאט, מרים?Hastu shoyn bakumen dayn rezultat, Miriam?Did you already get your result, Miriam?
- מרים Miriamיאָ, איך האב באשטימט פאסירט, ברוך השם!Yo, ikh hob bashtimt pasirt, Barukh hashem!Yes, I definitely passed, thank God!
- יצחק Yitzchakאיך בין זייער פֿרויילעך פֿאַר דיר.Ikh bin zeyer fraylekh far dir.I am very happy for you.
- מרים Miriamאַ דאַנק, יצחק.A dank, Yitzkhok.Thank you, Isaac.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “thank God” translations and entries ברוך השם, גאָט צו דאַנקן, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
