How to Say Lord in Hebrew: Adonai (אֲדֹנָי)

Quick Answer: How to Say Lord in Hebrew

Lord in Hebrew is:

אֲדֹנָי

Adonai Pronounced: ah-doh-NAI

Meaning: My Lord, Master

Note: Adonai is used as a substitute for Yahweh (יְהוָה) when reading Scripture aloud.

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Here's something that changes how most people read their Bibles: when you see "LORD" in all caps in your English translation, it's not actually the word "Lord." It's standing in for something else entirely — the sacred name Yahweh. And when you see "Lord" in mixed case, that's Adonai. Two different Hebrew words, both rendered "Lord" in English, but carrying completely different weight. Once you know this, you start noticing it everywhere.

The LORD vs. Lord: A Revelation

Ancient Jewish readers never spoke the name Yahweh aloud. Out of reverence — and in keeping with the Third Commandment — they would say "Adonai" (My Lord) whenever they encountered the four-letter name in the text. So when Psalm 8:1 says "O LORD, our Lord, how majestic is your name", the Hebrew has both: first Yahweh (read as Adonai), then Adonai. The first is God's personal, covenant name. The second is the title "our Lord" — the One who rules over us.

English Bibles preserve this distinction with typography: LORD in small capitals = Yahweh. Lord in regular case = Adonai. It's a quiet convention, but it's been there all along. Most readers never notice. Now you will.

How to Pronounce Adonai

The Hebrew word אֲדֹנָי (Adonai) is pronounced ah-doh-NAI.

Break it down: אֲדֹנ (adon) sounds like "ah-dohn" — the "a" as in "father," the "o" as in "go." The ָי (ai) ending sounds like "NAI," with the emphasis on that final syllable. Try it slowly: ah-dohn (pause) NAI. Then faster: ah-doh-NAI. The "ai" rhymes with "eye."

What Does Adonai Mean?

Adonai comes from the root א.ד.נ (a.d.n), meaning "lord" or "master." The "-ai" ending is a first-person possessive suffix: "my lord" or "my master." It's personal. It's relational. When you call God Adonai, you're not just acknowledging His authority — you're claiming Him as yours. He is my Lord.

That same root shows up in Adonai as a name of God — our page explores why Jews use this title instead of pronouncing the sacred name, and how it connects to Yahweh in Scripture. The two names often appear together: Adonai Yahweh — "Lord GOD" — stacking divine titles to express both covenant intimacy and sovereign majesty.

Adonai in Worship and the Shema

The most famous declaration of faith in Judaism — and one of the first verses Jewish children learn — is the Shema: "Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God, the LORD is one." There it is again: Yahweh (LORD) and Elohim (God), with Adonai spoken in place of the sacred name. When you recite the Shema, you're joining a tradition that stretches back thousands of years, declaring that the One whose name is too holy to speak is also our Lord — personal, present, and one.

Adonai appears throughout the Psalms, in prayers, and in prophetic visions. Isaiah 6:1: "I saw the Lord sitting on a throne, high and lifted up." The Hebrew says Adonai. When you sing Hallelujah — "Praise the Lord" — you're praising the same Adonai. The word carries the weight of worship: He is the Master. He is the One we serve. And He is ours.

Why It Matters

Calling God Elohim (God) names His power and majesty. Calling Him Yahweh names His covenant faithfulness — the "I AM" who keeps His promises. Calling Him Adonai names His lordship over your life. It's the word that says: I belong to Him. He has authority over me. He is my Master, and I am His.

So the next time you open your Bible and see "LORD" in small caps, you'll know: that's Yahweh, read as Adonai. And when you see "Lord" in regular type, that's Adonai itself — My Lord. Two words, one reverence. The God who is too holy to name is also the God who invites you to call Him yours.

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