Adoshem

Definitions

• God

Languages of Origin

Textual Hebrew

Etymology

Contraction of the word for God, אדני Adonai, and השם Hashem.

Who Uses This

Orthodox: Jews who identify as Orthodox and observe halacha (Jewish law)

Dictionaries

The New Joys of Yiddish, by Leo Rosten and Lawrence Bush (New York, 2003[1968]).
Dictionary of Jewish Usage: A Guide to the Use of Jewish Terms, by Sol Steinmetz (Lanham, MD, 2005).
The JPS Dictionary of Jewish Words, by Joyce Eisenberg and Ellen Scolnic, (Philadelphia, 2001)

Notes

Use of Hashem to mean God "comes from the belief that the name of God [Adonai] should only be said in prayer and with reverence" (Eisenberg). However, where the same number of syllables as Adonai are needed, such as in liturgical musical pieces, Adoshem is sometimes used.