interjection
shalom
shah-LOHM
Shalom (interjection) means a traditional Jewish greeting or farewell, meaning peace. Example: “Shalom!" she said as she welcomed her guests.”
interjection
1
A traditional Jewish greeting or farewell, meaning peace.
""Shalom!" she said as she welcomed her guests."
noun
1
Peace, well-being, or wholeness.
"In Hebrew, bonai shalom means “builders of peace,” and the congregation welcomes both Jews and non-Jews to participate in all aspects of the community."
— Cindy Von Quednow, Their synagogue taught them to build peace. An antisemitic attack is testing their resilience (2025)
"The rabbi spoke of finding shalom within oneself."
How to use shalom
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishA Hebrew word used both as a greeting and to mean "peace".
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Word forms
- Plural
- shaloms
- Third person singular
- shaloms
- Past tense
- shalomed
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"_____!" she said as she welcomed her guests.
Etymology
From Hebrew shalom ("peace, well-being"), a doublet of Arabic "salaam", which entered English separately.
Frequently asked questions
What does “shalom” mean?
The word “shalom” means a traditional Jewish greeting or farewell, meaning peace. In plain terms, a Hebrew word used both as a greeting and to mean "peace".
How do you pronounce “shalom”?
“Shalom” is pronounced shah-LOHM (/ʃɑːˈloʊm/ in IPA).
How do you use “shalom” in a sentence?
Here is “shalom” used in a sentence: “"Shalom!" she said as she welcomed her guests.”
What part of speech is “shalom”?
Depending on how it is used, “shalom” can be an interjection and a noun.
Where does the word “shalom” come from?
The word “shalom” comes from Arabic. From Hebrew shalom ("peace, well-being"), a doublet of Arabic "salaam", which entered English separately.
How many meanings does “shalom” have?
“Shalom” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: a traditional Jewish greeting or farewell, meaning peace.
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