Vocalizing Hashem’s Name

Vocalizing Hashem’s Name

The common enunciation of Hashem’s Name (yud-hei-vav-hei) when reciting a brachah or a pasuk (verse) is A-doi-noi (אד-ני)—except in special cases (such as when Hashem’s four-letter name appears twice, consecutively). Whenever we pronounce A-doi-noi, we should be careful with its vocalization, so as not, chas v’shalom (G-d forbid) to change its meaning or render it meaningless. Following are the guidelines for the Ashkenazic pronunciation:

The letter Alef (א): Though some contend that it should read at times with a shvah (ְ), the conventional pronunciation is with the vowel chataf-patach ((ֲ, like so: “Ah.”

The letter Dalet (ד) is vocalized with the vowel cholam (ֹ). Some pronounce it incorrectly with a shvah when rushed, but the correct diction is Doi.

The Nun and Yud (ני) are enunciated with the vowel kamatz (ָ), not with a patach: Adoinai, or a chirik: Adoini, which would result in an inaccurate meaning (“my masters” or “my master” respectively). The correct vocalization is “Noi,” though there is discussion among poskim whether the yud should be accentuated or not.

The phonetic structure of the whole word is mil-ra—with the stress on the final syllable “Ah-doi’NOI.

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Practical Halacha: One minute a day. By Horav Yosef Yeshaya Braun, shlita, Mara D'asra and member of the Badatz of Crown Heights.