Phrase guide

heaven forfend

intj · 1 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot

Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.

Sound

Pronunciation

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  • Received-Pronunciation: /ˌhɛvn̩ fɔːˈfɛnd/
  • Received-Pronunciation: /-fə-/
  • General-American: /ˌhɛv(ə)n fɔɹˈfɛnd/
  • General-American: Recorded audio is listed in the source snapshot.
  • rhymes with -ɛnd

1

intj

Meaning 1

Used to express that one hopes that something does not happen

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: dated, humorous

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: heaven forbid, God forbid, heaven forfend, absit omen, God forfend, lo aleinu

Antonyms: God willing

History

Etymology

From heaven (“abode of God”) + forfend (“to avert; to forbid, prohibit”).

Across languages

Translations

9 source translations are retained for this English entry.

  • Estonian: taevas hoidku — used to express that one hopes that something does not happen
  • Finnish: Herra varjele — used to express that one hopes that something does not happen
  • Hungarian: ne adj' ég — used to express that one hopes that something does not happen
  • Polish: broń Boże — used to express that one hopes that something does not happen
  • Polish: nie daj Bóg — used to express that one hopes that something does not happen
  • Polish: nie daj Boże — used to express that one hopes that something does not happen
  • Polish: niech Pan Bóg broni — used to express that one hopes that something does not happen
  • Polish: Boże uchowaj — used to express that one hopes that something does not happen
  • Turkish: Allah korusun — used to express that one hopes that something does not happen