adar sheni
Low/Very LowFormal (Religious/Calendrical/Jewish Context)
Definition
Meaning
The intercalary or 'leap' month added to the Hebrew calendar in certain years to align the lunar calendar with the solar year.
The thirteenth month in the Hebrew calendar, known as Adar II, inserted seven times in a 19-year cycle to ensure that Passover occurs in the spring. It is the month in which the festival of Purim is celebrated when it occurs.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
This is a technical term specific to the Hebrew calendar. It is used only in discussions of Judaism, Jewish holidays, or comparative calendrical systems. 'Sheni' means 'second' in Hebrew. In a common year, there is only one month of Adar.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant difference in usage between British and American English. The term is used identically within Jewish communities and academic contexts in both regions.
Connotations
Purely descriptive and technical. Connotes religious observance, calendar calculation, and Jewish tradition.
Frequency
Extremely low frequency in general English. Its use is confined to specific religious, cultural, or academic discussions.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
[Year] has/contains/includes Adar Sheni.Purim is celebrated in Adar Sheni.The holiday falls in Adar Sheni this year.Vocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “None specific to this term in English.”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
Virtually never used.
Academic
Used in religious studies, theology, history, and comparative calendar studies.
Everyday
Used only within observant Jewish communities when planning for holidays like Purim and Passover.
Technical
Used in the precise calculation and description of the Hebrew lunisolar calendar.
Examples
By Part of Speech
verb
British English
- The calendar intercalates Adar Sheni.
- They will observe Purim in the upcoming Adar Sheni.
American English
- The Hebrew calendar adds Adar Sheni seven times in a metonic cycle.
- We celebrate Purim during Adar Sheni.
adverb
British English
- The festival occurs Adar Sheni.
- Not applicable in standard usage.
American English
- The megillah is read Adar Sheni.
- Not applicable in standard usage.
adjective
British English
- The Adar Sheni month is full of joy.
- Adar Sheni readings are prescribed.
American English
- The Adar Sheni Purim celebration was lively.
- He gave an Adar Sheni lecture.
Examples
By CEFR Level
- This year, there is an extra month called Adar Sheni.
- Purim is in Adar Sheni.
- In the Hebrew calendar, a leap year has thirteen months, including Adar Sheni.
- When there is an Adar Sheni, the holiday of Purim is celebrated then.
- The insertion of Adar Sheni ensures that the festival of Passover always falls in the spring season.
- According to tradition, the laws for a leap year and Adar Sheni were established by Hillel II.
- The complex calculation governing the insertion of Adar Sheni is based on a 19-year metonic cycle designed to reconcile lunar and solar timekeeping.
- Halakhic discussions detail which religious observances are duplicated or shifted between Adar Rishon and Adar Sheni.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think: 'A door' to a 'shiny' new extra month. 'Adar Sheni' is the shiny (second) door to spring, added to keep the calendar in sync.
Conceptual Metaphor
CALENDAR ALIGNMENT IS BALANCE; THE YEAR IS A CONTAINER (with an extra compartment added periodically).
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Do not translate 'Sheni' as a Russian name or word. It is Hebrew for 'second'.
- Avoid confusing it with the regular month of 'Adar' (Адар). The key distinction is 'Sheni' (второй).
Common Mistakes
- Misspelling as 'Adar Shenai' or 'Adar Shenni'.
- Using it to refer to any leap month (e.g., the Gregorian February 29th).
- Pronouncing 'Sheni' with a hard 'sh' as in 'she', rather than the softer Hebrew pronunciation.
Practice
Quiz
What is the primary purpose of Adar Sheni in the Hebrew calendar?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No, it is only added in 7 out of 19 years in the Hebrew calendar's leap year cycle.
In a common year, there is only one month of Adar. In a leap year, Adar is split into Adar I (Rishon) and Adar II (Sheni). Purim is celebrated in Adar Sheni.
Yes, 'Bet' is the second letter of the Hebrew alphabet, so 'Adar Bet' is a synonymous, informal way of saying 'Adar II' or 'Adar Sheni'.
A key principle is 'maschilim b'mitzvah' - we do not postpone positive commandments. To ensure Purim is celebrated as close as possible to its original time and to link the redemption of Purim to that of Passover, it is placed in the final Adar (Sheni).