sholom: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples

Low
UK/ʃəˈlɒm/US/ʃəˈlɑːm/

Formal, religious, or cultural

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Quick answer

What does “sholom” mean?

A Hebrew word meaning peace, used as a greeting or farewell.

Audio

Pronunciation

Definition

Meaning and Definition

A Hebrew word meaning peace, used as a greeting or farewell.

Signifies a state of completeness, harmony, and well-being; often employed in Jewish and interfaith contexts.

Dialectal Variation

British vs American Usage

Differences

No significant differences in meaning or usage.

Connotations

Associated with peace, Jewish culture, and religious greetings.

Frequency

Rare in general English; slightly more common in American English due to larger Jewish population.

Grammar

How to Use “sholom” in a Sentence

Used as a greeting: 'Sholom!'As a noun: 'the sholom of the community'

Vocabulary

Collocations

strong
say sholomsholom aleichem
medium
offer sholomexpress sholom
weak
deep sholomsholom message

Usage

Meaning in Context

Business

Virtually never used; irrelevant in most business contexts.

Academic

Found in religious studies, theology, or cultural anthropology.

Everyday

Used within Jewish communities or in interfaith settings; not common in general conversation.

Technical

No technical usage.

Vocabulary

Synonyms of “sholom”

Vocabulary

Antonyms of “sholom”

Watch out

Common Mistakes When Using “sholom”

  • Misspelling as 'shalom'
  • Using it as a verb or adjective in standard English.
  • Overusing in non-Jewish contexts.

FAQ

Frequently Asked Questions

Sholom is a borrowed word from Hebrew, used in English primarily in cultural or religious contexts.

It is pronounced /ʃəˈlɒm/ in British English and /ʃəˈlɑːm/ in American English.

No, in standard English, sholom is not used as a verb; it is primarily a noun or interjection.

Sholom is an alternative spelling of shalom; both refer to the same concept of peace.

A Hebrew word meaning peace, used as a greeting or farewell.

Sholom is usually formal, religious, or cultural in register.

Phrases

Idioms & Phrases

  • Sholom aleichem
  • Sholom bayit

Learning

Memory Aids

Mnemonic

Think of 'sho' as in 'show' and 'lom' as in 'calm' – showing calm leads to peace.

Conceptual Metaphor

Peace as a salutation and a state of wholeness.

Practice

Quiz

Fill in the gap
During the ceremony, the leader offered a message of to all attendees.
Multiple Choice

What is 'sholom' most commonly associated with?