Phrase guide

lo aleinu

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

Each Play button uses your device's default local English voice, or a natural local fallback. The selected voice name appears after playback. This is synthesized speech, not a source recording.

  • General-American: Recorded audio is listed in the source snapshot.
  • Ashkenazi Recorded audio is listed in the source snapshot.

1

intj

Meaning 1

may it not happen to us; an expression that indicates a desire that a previously mentioned negative thing not happen again or effect anyone else

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: Judaism

Examples

  • "Did you hear? There was an antisemitic attack yesterday!" — "That's horrible! Lo aleinu!"

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: God forbid

Antonyms: none provided

History

Etymology

From Yiddish לא־עלינו (loy oleynu) and Hebrew לֹא עָלֵינוּ (“lit. (may it) not [be] upon us”).