List of Aramaic acronyms
Encyclopedia
This is a list of Jewish Babylonian Aramaic
and Jewish Palestinian Aramaic
acronyms.
This list is far from complete; you can help by expanding it.
(Hebrew numeronyms), but the number is so closely associated with some noun that it is grammatically used as a noun and is synonymous with it, for example ב"ן, Ban. Other abbreviations contain a variable gematria component alongside other words, like the chapter references פי"א perek yud-alef (chapter 11) or פ"ט perek tet (chapter 9). Rather than list separate entries for every possible gematria, or use only one number for an example, the gematria component is replaced with [x] to produce (for example) [x]"פ.
Many of the abbreviations here are similar or identical to corresponding Hebrew acronyms. In fact, a work written in Aramaic may have Hebrew acronyms interspersed throughout (ex. Talmud
, Midrash
), much as a Hebrew work may borrow from Aramaic (ex. Tanya
).
Jewish Babylonian Aramaic
Jewish Babylonian Aramaic was the form of Middle Aramaic employed by Jewish writers in Babylonia between the 4th century and the 11th century CE. It is most commonly identified with the language of the Babylonian Talmud and of post-Talmudic literature, which are the most important cultural...
and Jewish Palestinian Aramaic
Jewish Palestinian Aramaic
The Jewish Palestinian Aramaic, also called Galilean Aramaic, was a Western Aramaic language spoken by the Jews in Palestine in the early first millennium. Its closest relatives are the Samaritan Aramaic and Christian Palestinian Aramaic...
acronyms.
This list is far from complete; you can help by expanding it.
Sorting Order
The entries in each section are sorted according to the Hebrew alphabet. Prefixes indicating prepositions and articles (such as ב, ד, ה, ש, כ) have been removed, with the following exceptions:- Where the acronym is incomprehensible or meaningless without the prefix
- Where the prefix is so integral to the acronym that variants without it rarely, if ever, occur
Numeronyms
Some abbreviations included here are actually gematriaGematria
Gematria or gimatria is a system of assigning numerical value to a word or phrase, in the belief that words or phrases with identical numerical values bear some relation to each other, or bear some relation to the number itself as it may apply to a person's age, the calendar year, or the like...
(Hebrew numeronyms), but the number is so closely associated with some noun that it is grammatically used as a noun and is synonymous with it, for example ב"ן, Ban. Other abbreviations contain a variable gematria component alongside other words, like the chapter references פי"א perek yud-alef (chapter 11) or פ"ט perek tet (chapter 9). Rather than list separate entries for every possible gematria, or use only one number for an example, the gematria component is replaced with [x] to produce (for example) [x]"פ.
Hebrew Acronyms
Some Hebrew acronyms are not included here; they may be found in the List of Hebrew acronyms.Many of the abbreviations here are similar or identical to corresponding Hebrew acronyms. In fact, a work written in Aramaic may have Hebrew acronyms interspersed throughout (ex. Talmud
Talmud
The Talmud is a central text of mainstream Judaism. It takes the form of a record of rabbinic discussions pertaining to Jewish law, ethics, philosophy, customs and history....
, Midrash
Midrash
The Hebrew term Midrash is a homiletic method of biblical exegesis. The term also refers to the whole compilation of homiletic teachings on the Bible....
), much as a Hebrew work may borrow from Aramaic (ex. Tanya
Tanya
The Tanya is an early work of Hasidic philosophy, by Rabbi Shneur Zalman of Liadi, the founder of Chabad Hasidism, first published in 1797. Its formal title is Likkutei Amarim , but is more commonly known by its opening word, Tanya, which means "it was taught in a beraita"...
).
א
- איו אומרים, א"א (ein omrim) - we cannot say
- אצילות בריאה יצירה עשיה, אבי"ע (Abiya, Atzilut, Beriah, YetzirahYetzirahYetzirah is the third of four worlds in the Kabbalistic Tree of Life, following Atziluth and Briah...
, Asiah) - (KabbalahKabbalahKabbalah/Kabala is a discipline and school of thought concerned with the esoteric aspect of Rabbinic Judaism. It was systematized in 11th-13th century Hachmei Provence and Spain, and again after the Expulsion from Spain, in 16th century Ottoman Palestine...
) the Four WorldsFour WorldsThe Four Worlds , sometimes counted with a prior stage to make Five Worlds, are the comprehensive categories of spiritual realms in Kabbalah in the descending chain of Existence....
. See בי"ע - 'אפילו, אפי (afilu) - even, even if
- 'אצילות, אצי (Atzilut) - (KabbalahKabbalahKabbalah/Kabala is a discipline and school of thought concerned with the esoteric aspect of Rabbinic Judaism. It was systematized in 11th-13th century Hachmei Provence and Spain, and again after the Expulsion from Spain, in 16th century Ottoman Palestine...
) the highest of the Four WorldsFour WorldsThe Four Worlds , sometimes counted with a prior stage to make Five Worlds, are the comprehensive categories of spiritual realms in Kabbalah in the descending chain of Existence....
. See אבי"ע - אדם קדמון, א"ק (Ak, Adam KadmonAdam KadmonIn the religious writings of Kabbalah, Adam Kadmon is a phrase meaning "Primal Man". The oldest rabbinical source for the term "Adam ha-Ḳadmoni" is Num. R. x., where Adam is styled, not as usually, "Ha-Rishon" , "Ha-Kadmoni" ....
) - (KabbalahKabbalahKabbalah/Kabala is a discipline and school of thought concerned with the esoteric aspect of Rabbinic Judaism. It was systematized in 11th-13th century Hachmei Provence and Spain, and again after the Expulsion from Spain, in 16th century Ottoman Palestine...
) Primordial Man, a spiritual level transcending Atzilut - אמרו רז"ל, ארז"ל (amru razal) - the sages said. See also רז"ל
ב
- בבא בתרא, ב"ב (Bava BatraBava BatraBava Batra is the third of the three tractates in the Talmud in the order Nezikin; it deals with a person's responsibilities and rights as the owner of property. It is part of Judaism's oral law...
) - a tractate of the TalmudTalmudThe Talmud is a central text of mainstream Judaism. It takes the form of a record of rabbinic discussions pertaining to Jewish law, ethics, philosophy, customs and history....
, lit. final gate - בית דין, ב"ד (beit din) - Jewish court of three adult men, lit. house of judgement. See also בי"ד
- בית הלל, ב"ה (Beit HillelHouse of HillelThe House of Hillel , also known as the Academy of Hillel, founded by the famed Hillel the Elder, is a school of Jewish law and thought that thrived in 1st century B.C.E.Jerusalem. The House of Hillel is most widely known for its hundreds of disputes with the Beit Shammai, founded by Shammai, a...
) - the academy of HillelHillel the ElderHillel was a famous Jewish religious leader, one of the most important figures in Jewish history. He is associated with the development of the Mishnah and the Talmud...
, lit. the house of Hillel - בית דין, בי"ד (beit din) - Jewish court of three adult men, lit. house of judgement. See also ב"ד
- בריאה יצירה עשיה, בי"ע (Biya, Beriah, YetzirahYetzirahYetzirah is the third of four worlds in the Kabbalistic Tree of Life, following Atziluth and Briah...
, Asiah) - (KabbalahKabbalahKabbalah/Kabala is a discipline and school of thought concerned with the esoteric aspect of Rabbinic Judaism. It was systematized in 11th-13th century Hachmei Provence and Spain, and again after the Expulsion from Spain, in 16th century Ottoman Palestine...
) the three nethermost of the Four WorldsFour WorldsThe Four Worlds , sometimes counted with a prior stage to make Five Worlds, are the comprehensive categories of spiritual realms in Kabbalah in the descending chain of Existence....
, where the denizens thereof are aware of their own existence. See אבי"ע - בבא מציעא, ב"מ (Bava MetziaBava MetziaBava Metzia is the second of the first three Talmudic tractates in the order of Nezikin , the other two being Bava Kamma and Bava Batra. Originally all three formed a single tractate called Nezikin , each Bava being a Part or subdivision...
) - a tractate of the TalmudTalmudThe Talmud is a central text of mainstream Judaism. It takes the form of a record of rabbinic discussions pertaining to Jewish law, ethics, philosophy, customs and history....
, lit. middle gate - ב"ן (Ban) - (KabbalahKabbalahKabbalah/Kabala is a discipline and school of thought concerned with the esoteric aspect of Rabbinic Judaism. It was systematized in 11th-13th century Hachmei Provence and Spain, and again after the Expulsion from Spain, in 16th century Ottoman Palestine...
) a spelling-out of the TetragrammatonTetragrammatonThe term Tetragrammaton refers to the name of the God of Israel YHWH used in the Hebrew Bible.-Hebrew Bible:...
numerically equal to 52, the gematriaGematriaGematria or gimatria is a system of assigning numerical value to a word or phrase, in the belief that words or phrases with identical numerical values bear some relation to each other, or bear some relation to the number itself as it may apply to a person's age, the calendar year, or the like...
of ב"ן. (Usually appears as שם ב"ן) - בסיעטא דשמיא, ב"סד (besiyata dishmaya) - with the help of Heaven. Typically at the top right corner of a printed or written page. See also ב"ה in the List of Hebrew acronyms
- בבא קמא, ב"ק (Bava Kama) - a tractate of the TalmudTalmudThe Talmud is a central text of mainstream Judaism. It takes the form of a record of rabbinic discussions pertaining to Jewish law, ethics, philosophy, customs and history....
, lit. first gate - בית שמאי, ב"ש (Beit ShammaiHouse of ShammaiThe House of Shammai was the school of thought of Judaism founded by Shammai, a Jewish scholar of the 1st century...
) - the academy of ShammaiShammaiShammai was a Jewish scholar of the 1st century, and an important figure in Judaism's core work of rabbinic literature, the Mishnah....
, lit. the house of Shammai
ג
- 'גומר(ה), גו (gomra/gomer) - etcetera
- גם כן, ג"כ (gam kein) - as well, lit. like so also
ה
- הרי הוא, ה"ה (harei hu) - it is, he is
- 'הוי (Havayeh) - (KabbalahKabbalahKabbalah/Kabala is a discipline and school of thought concerned with the esoteric aspect of Rabbinic Judaism. It was systematized in 11th-13th century Hachmei Provence and Spain, and again after the Expulsion from Spain, in 16th century Ottoman Palestine...
) "G‑d," (a rearrangement of the letters indicating) the TetragrammatonTetragrammatonThe term Tetragrammaton refers to the name of the God of Israel YHWH used in the Hebrew Bible.-Hebrew Bible:...
, indicating kindness, mercy and revelation - הרי זה, ה"ז (harei zeh) - this is
- הוה ליה למימר, הול"ל (havah leih lemeimar) - shouldn't he have said
- הני מילי, ה"מ (hanei milei) - this statement, lit. these words
י
- יצר הטוב, יצה"ט (yetzer hatov) - the good inclination. See also יצ"ט
- יצר הרע, יצה"ר (yetzer haraYetzer HaraIn Judaism, yetzer hara , or yetzer ra refers to the inclination to do evil, by violating the will of God. The term is drawn from the phrase "the imagination of the heart of man [is] evil" , which occurs twice in the Hebrew Bible, at Genesis 6:5 and 8:21.The yetzer hara is not a demonic force, but...
) - the evil inclination - יצר טוב, יצ"ט (yetzer tov) - good inclination. See also יצה"ט
כ
- כי אם, כ"א (ki im) - unless
- 'כולו, כו (chulu)- etcetera
- כל שכן, כ"ש (kol shekein) - all the more so. See also ק"ו
ל
- 'לשון, ל (lashon) - relating to, lit. tongue/language (used to indicate etymologyEtymologyEtymology is the study of the history of words, their origins, and how their form and meaning have changed over time.For languages with a long written history, etymologists make use of texts in these languages and texts about the languages to gather knowledge about how words were used during...
or a definition)
מ
- מיין דכורין, מ"ד (mad/mayin dechurin) - (KabbalahKabbalahKabbalah/Kabala is a discipline and school of thought concerned with the esoteric aspect of Rabbinic Judaism. It was systematized in 11th-13th century Hachmei Provence and Spain, and again after the Expulsion from Spain, in 16th century Ottoman Palestine...
) "masculine" waters, i.e. Heavenly action - מ"ה (Mah) - (KabbalahKabbalahKabbalah/Kabala is a discipline and school of thought concerned with the esoteric aspect of Rabbinic Judaism. It was systematized in 11th-13th century Hachmei Provence and Spain, and again after the Expulsion from Spain, in 16th century Ottoman Palestine...
) a spelling-out of the TetragrammatonTetragrammatonThe term Tetragrammaton refers to the name of the God of Israel YHWH used in the Hebrew Bible.-Hebrew Bible:...
numerically equal to 45, the gematriaGematriaGematria or gimatria is a system of assigning numerical value to a word or phrase, in the belief that words or phrases with identical numerical values bear some relation to each other, or bear some relation to the number itself as it may apply to a person's age, the calendar year, or the like...
of מ"ה. (Usually appears as שם מ"ה) - מהדורא קמא, מהדו"ק (mahadura kama) - "first edition," editio princepsEditio princepsIn classical scholarship, editio princeps is a term of art. It means, roughly, the first printed edition of a work that previously had existed only in manuscripts, which could be circulated only after being copied by hand....
- מכל מקום, מ"מ (mikol makom) - in any case, lit. from any place
- ממלא כל עלמין, ממכ"ע (memaleh kol almin) - (KabbalahKabbalahKabbalah/Kabala is a discipline and school of thought concerned with the esoteric aspect of Rabbinic Judaism. It was systematized in 11th-13th century Hachmei Provence and Spain, and again after the Expulsion from Spain, in 16th century Ottoman Palestine...
) immanent in creation, lit. filling all worldsFour WorldsThe Four Worlds , sometimes counted with a prior stage to make Five Worlds, are the comprehensive categories of spiritual realms in Kabbalah in the descending chain of Existence....
. See also סוכ"ע - מיין נוקבין, מ"ן (man/mayin nukvin) - (KabbalahKabbalahKabbalah/Kabala is a discipline and school of thought concerned with the esoteric aspect of Rabbinic Judaism. It was systematized in 11th-13th century Hachmei Provence and Spain, and again after the Expulsion from Spain, in 16th century Ottoman Palestine...
) "feminine" waters, i.e. human action - מצו(ו)ת עשה, מ"ע (mitzvot/mitzvat asei) - positive commandment, lit. commandment [to] do. See also רמ"ח
נ
- נביאים וכתובים, נ"ח (Nach) - the parts of the Tanach aside from the Pentateuch, lit. "Prophets and Writings." See also תנ"ח
- 'נוקבא, נוק (nukva)- female, feminine
- 'נקרא, נק (nikra) - it/he is called
ס
- סובב כל עלמין, סוכ"ע (sovev kol almin) - (KabbalahKabbalahKabbalah/Kabala is a discipline and school of thought concerned with the esoteric aspect of Rabbinic Judaism. It was systematized in 11th-13th century Hachmei Provence and Spain, and again after the Expulsion from Spain, in 16th century Ottoman Palestine...
) transcending all creation, lit. surrounding all the worldsFour WorldsThe Four Worlds , sometimes counted with a prior stage to make Five Worlds, are the comprehensive categories of spiritual realms in Kabbalah in the descending chain of Existence....
. See also ממכ"ע - סטרא אחרא, סט"א (sitra achra) - (KabbalahKabbalahKabbalah/Kabala is a discipline and school of thought concerned with the esoteric aspect of Rabbinic Judaism. It was systematized in 11th-13th century Hachmei Provence and Spain, and again after the Expulsion from Spain, in 16th century Ottoman Palestine...
) the side of unholiness and the Kelipot, lit. the other side - סוף סוף, סו"ס (sof sof) - ultimately, lit. end of end
- ספר תורה, ס"ת (Seifer Torah) - a TorahTorahTorah- A scroll containing the first five books of the BibleThe Torah , is name given by Jews to the first five books of the bible—Genesis , Exodus , Leviticus , Numbers and Deuteronomy Torah- A scroll containing the first five books of the BibleThe Torah , is name given by Jews to the first five...
scroll, containing the Pentateuch
ע
- על זה, ע"ז (al zeh) - on this, regarding this, above this
- על ידי, ע"י (al yedei) - because of, through agency of, lit. by the hand of
- עד כאן, ע"כ (ad kan) - until this point, lit. until here
- על כך, ע"כ (al kach) - thus, lit. [based] on this
- על כן, ע"כ (al kein) - therefore
- על כרחך, ע"כ (al karchach) - we are forced [to conclude], perforce, lit. on your compulsion
- 'עמוד, עמ (amud) - side, page, lit. column
- על פי, ע"פ (al pi) - according to, lit. by the mouth of
- עשרת ימי תשובה, עשי"ת (Aseret Yemei Teshuvah) - the Ten Days of TeshuvahTen Days of RepentanceThe Ten Days of Repentance are the first ten days of the Hebrew month of Tishrei, usually sometime in the month of September, beginning with the Jewish holiday of Rosh Hashanah and ending with the conclusion of Yom Kippur.-Introduction:...
פ
- [x] 'פ ,[x] פרק (perek [x]) - chapter [x]. But, see פ"ק
- 'פרשת, פ (parshat) - the [Torah] portion of
- 'פירוש, פי (pirush) - which means, lit. [the] explanation [is]
- פרק קמא, פ"ק (perek kama) - in the first chapter. See [x] 'פ
- פירוש רש"י, פרש"י (pirush Rashi) - RashiRashiShlomo Yitzhaki , or in Latin Salomon Isaacides, and today generally known by the acronym Rashi , was a medieval French rabbi famed as the author of a comprehensive commentary on the Talmud, as well as a comprehensive commentary on the Tanakh...
explains, Rashi's explanation
צ
- צריך להיות, צ"ל (tzarich lihiyot) - it should/must be (can be used to indicate a textual correction)
- צריך עיון, צ"ע (tzarich iyun) - [this] requires investigation. See also צע"ק
- צריך עיון קצת, צע"ק (tzarich iyun ketzat) - [this] requires a little investigation. See also צ"ע
ק
- קל וחומר, ק"ו (kal vachomer) - all the more so, at least as much so, lit. light and weighty. See also כ"ש
- קודשא בריך הוא, קוב"ה (Kudsha Brich Hu) - the Blessed Holy One
- קימלא לן, קי"ל (kaimla lan) - we have established, lit. established for us
- קריאת שמע, ק"ש (keriat shema) - reading of the Shema
ר
- 'ראיה, ראי (raya) - proof
- ראש השנה, ר"ה (Rosh HaShanahRosh HashanahRosh Hashanah , , is the Jewish New Year. It is the first of the High Holy Days or Yamim Nora'im which occur in the autumn...
) - the beginning of the year - רבותינו זכרונם לברכה, רז"ל (Razal) - "Our Rabbis, of blessed memory," referring to Jewish sages of previous generations. See also חז"ל
- ראש חודש, ר"ח (Rosh ChodeshRosh ChodeshRosh Chodesh or Rosh ḥodesh is the name for the first day of every month in the Hebrew calendar, marked by the appearance of the new moon. The new moon is marked by the day and hour that the new crescent is observed...
) - the beginning of the month - רחמנא לצלן, ר"ל (Rachamana litzlan) - Heaven forbid, lit. may the Merciful One spare us
- רעיא מהימנא, ר"מ (Ra'aya Mehemna) - a commentary on the ZoharZoharThe Zohar is the foundational work in the literature of Jewish mystical thought known as Kabbalah. It is a group of books including commentary on the mystical aspects of the Torah and scriptural interpretations as well as material on Mysticism, mythical cosmogony, and mystical psychology...
, lit. The Faithful Shepherd - רמ"ח (remach) - 248, indicating either the 248 positive mitzvot or the 248 organs of the human body. See also תרי"ג and שס"ה
- רפ"ח (rapach) - (KabbalahKabbalahKabbalah/Kabala is a discipline and school of thought concerned with the esoteric aspect of Rabbinic Judaism. It was systematized in 11th-13th century Hachmei Provence and Spain, and again after the Expulsion from Spain, in 16th century Ottoman Palestine...
) 288, indicating the 288 sparks resulting from the Shattering of the Vessels of the world of Tohu
ש
- 'שנאמר, שנא (shene'emar) - as it says
- שס"ה (shesah) - 365, indicating either the 365 negative mitzvot, the 365 veins and sinews of the human body, or the 365 days of the solar yearYearA year is the orbital period of the Earth moving around the Sun. For an observer on Earth, this corresponds to the period it takes the Sun to complete one course throughout the zodiac along the ecliptic....
. See also תרי"ג and רמ"ח - שמנה עשרה, ש"ע (Shemoneh Esrei) - the amidah, or standing prayer, lit. [the order of] 18 [blessings]
- שליח ציבור, ש"ץ (shali'ach tzibur) - prayer leader, lit. emissary of the community
- שבת קודש, ש"ק (Shabat Kodesh) - the Holy ShabbatShabbatShabbat is the seventh day of the Jewish week and a day of rest in Judaism. Shabbat is observed from a few minutes before sunset on Friday evening until a few minutes after when one would expect to be able to see three stars in the sky on Saturday night. The exact times, therefore, differ from...
ת
- תורה שבכתב, תושב"כ (Torah SheBichtav) - the Written Torah. See also תושבע"פ and תנ"ח
- תורה שבעל פה, תושבע"פ (Torah SheBe'al Peh) the Oral TorahOral TorahThe Oral Torah comprises the legal and interpretative traditions that, according to tradition, were transmitted orally from Mount Sinai, and were not written in the Torah...
. See also תושב"כ - תשבי יתרץ קושיות ואביות, תיק"ו (teiku, Tishbi yetareitz kushiyot ve'avayot) - it stands unresolved, lit. the TishbiteTishbiteTishbite is a word used in the Bible to refer to Elijah . The phrasing can be reworded as "Elijah the Tishbite of Tishbe inGilead." The word is sometimes interpreted as "stranger," so that the verse might read "Elijah the stranger from among the strangers in Gilead." This designation is probably...
(Elijah the Prophet, in the time of the Moshiach) will answer questions and problems - תורה נביאים וכתובים, תנ"ח (Tanach) - the Bible, lit. "Torah [five books of Moses], Prophets and Writings." See also נ"ח
- תנא קמא, ת"ק (Tanna kama) - the first TannaTannaimThe Tannaim were the Rabbinic sages whose views are recorded in the Mishnah, from approximately 70-200 CE. The period of the Tannaim, also referred to as the Mishnaic period, lasted about 130 years...
[mentioned] - תרי"ג (taryag) - 613, usu. indicating the 613 mitzvot. Also used to indicate the 613 corresponding organs and veins of the human body. See also רמ"ח and שס"ה
- תקיעה תרועה תקיעה, תר"ת (tarat, tekiah teruah, tekiah) - a series of shofarShofarA shofar is a horn, traditionally that of a ram, used for Jewish religious purposes. Shofar-blowing is incorporated in synagogue services on Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur.Shofar come in a variety of sizes.- Bible and rabbinic literature :...
blasts - תקיעה שברים-תרועה תקיעה, תשר"ת (tashrat, tekiah, shevarim-teruah, tekiah) - a series of shofarShofarA shofar is a horn, traditionally that of a ram, used for Jewish religious purposes. Shofar-blowing is incorporated in synagogue services on Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur.Shofar come in a variety of sizes.- Bible and rabbinic literature :...
blasts - תקיעה שברים תקיעה, תש"ת (tashat, tekiah, shevarim, tekiah) - a series of shofarShofarA shofar is a horn, traditionally that of a ram, used for Jewish religious purposes. Shofar-blowing is incorporated in synagogue services on Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur.Shofar come in a variety of sizes.- Bible and rabbinic literature :...
blasts - תפילה של יד, תש"י (tefilah shel yad) - the arm tefillinTefillinTefillin also called phylacteries are a set of small black leather boxes containing scrolls of parchment inscribed with verses from the Torah, which are worn by observant Jews during weekday morning prayers. Although "tefillin" is technically the plural form , it is loosely used as a singular as...
- תפילה של ראש, תש"ר (tefilah shel rosh) - the head tefilin