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Hebrew abbreviations (rashei teivot) are sometimes used for common Hebrew phrases. (You can view an exhautive list at Princeton University’s web site by clicking here.) Here are some of the most common Hebrew abbreviations you are likely to encounter:
A”B
Alef-Bet. The Hebrew alphabet.
Admor
Adonainu, Morainu, VeRabbeinu
Translation: Our Master, Our Teacher, and Our Rebbe
An honorific title given to scholarly leaders of a Jewish community. In writing, this title is placed before the name, as in "Admor of Minsk" or “R' Ploni Almoni, Admor of Chelm.”
AGLA (אגלא)
A Hebrew notariqon for the phrase Attah Gibbur LeOlam Adonai, meaning "Thou art great forever, LORD."
A"H (ע״ה)
Alev Hashalom (m), Aleha shalom (f)
Translation: “Peace Be Upon Him/Her.”
For any deceased Jew (usually said postpositively, as in “My uncle Harry, Alev Hashalom...”)
Akum
Gentile; Hebrew acronym for “avdei kochavim u’mazalot” - worshiper of stars and constellations (somewhat ironic, since Kabbalah and Tarot definitely are akum-kop).
Amush (אמו"שׁ)
Ad Maia V’esrim Shana
Translation: [He/She should live] for 120 years; (Alef, Mem, Vav,[gerish], Shin)
Used for salutations in correspondence: "Dear Ploni AMU"Sh,"
Ararita
(Ah-rah-ree-tah) Achad Rosh Achdotho Rosh Ichudo Temu rahzo Achad,
Translation: "One is his Beginning; One is His Individuality; His Permutation is One."
Ari (אֲרִי)
Rabbi Yitzchak Luria (יִצְחַק לוּרְיָא), the 16th century Kabbalist. He is called “Ari” (Lion) from an acronym for Ashkenazi Rabbi Yitzchak ("The Ashkenazic Rabbi Yitzhak"), and sometimes called Ari Ha-Kadosh ("The holy lion").
Bavli
Jewish shorthand term for the Babylonian Talmud.
B"H
Baruch Hashem
Translation: Blessed be G-d (occasionally)
B"H
B'Ezrat/Ezer Hashem
Translation: With G-d's help (i.e. at top of papers, sometimes with an Ayin following the Bet )
B"N
B'li Neder
Translation: Without taking a vow
Used after a promise, since failure to fulfill a promise is a serious violation of Jewish law. For example, "I'll check that reference tomorrow, B"N." (i.e., if I forget, I don't want to be liable under Jewish law).
B"R
Ben Rabbi or ben Rav
Son of Rabbi so-and-so
Besht (בעש"ט)
besht
An honorary name given to Rabbi Israel ben Eliezer (ישראל בן אליעזר), the founder of Chasidism, the 18th century mystical revival movement. Hebrew for Baal Shem Tov (בעל שם טוב), "master of the good name." The “BeSHT” is an acronym for Baal SHem Tov.
BLA"H
B'li Ayin Hara
Translation: "without the 'evil eye'"
Meaning: "I'm saying this without hubris"
BS"D (בס"ד)
B'siyata d'shmaya
Translation: With the help of heaven (Aramaic)
B"T (בעל תשובה)
Ba'al Teshuvah
A penitent; a Jew who returns to a traditional observant Jewish lifestyle.
Chvsh
Chas v’sholem
G-d forbid! (Stop or you’ll break your neck, CHvSH).
Chazal (חז"ל)
Hebrew acronym for חכמינו זכרונם לברכה: Chochmenu Zichrona Levaracha (“Our sages of blessed memory”), and often used to refer to Rabbis of the Talmud. Note that the Tannaim (pl; sing. is tanna) are the sages of the Mishnah, whereas the Amoraim (pl; sing. is amora) are the sages of the Gemara. Collectively the Tannaim and Amoraim are referred to as Chazal in later rabbinical writing.
CYLAH
An abbreviation for "Consult Your Local Authority on Halacha." A general disclaimer that the person speaing is without authority pertaining to Jewish Law (halakhah). "Use the information here for your own education, and in actual practice - CYLAH." A sort of “CYB” for those who write about Jewish religious subjects.
FHS
Faith and the Hebrew Scriptures
Gamzu
gam zu
Translation: “This too,” a shortened version of the phrase "Gam zu letovah," “This, too, is for the best.” From a story in the Talmud of a sage named Nachum, whose staunch faith in God led him to declare all of God's actions as being for the best. His name therefore became Nachum Ish Gam Zu, Nachum, the Man of 'Everything is for the Best.'
G”F
G-d forbid.
HY"D (הי״ד)
Hashem Yikom Damo: השם יקום דמו
For martyred Jews.
Translation: Hashem will avenge his blood
HKB"H
HaKadosh Barukh Hu
Translation: The Holy One, Blessed be He; (also HKB"H)
IY"H
Im Yirtzeh Hashem
Translation: If it be G-d's will. Used for referring to future actions: "I'll see you tomorrow, IY"H."
KFP
Kosher for Passover.
Maharal - מהר"ל
Moreinu ha-Rav Loew: "Our Teacher the Rabbi Loew"
Jewish philosopher, mystic and Talmud scholar (1525-1609) who served as a leading rabbi in Prague (thus he is called the Maharal of Prague). His works inspired the Polish branch of Hasidism. He is perhaps best known for his supposed creation of a golem by means of magical powers based on the esoteric knowledge of how God created Adam.
N"E
Nishmaso b'Eden (m) / Nishmasa b'Eden (f)
Translation: His/Her soul should be in Eden/paradise
N"K
Nakh - the Nevi'im and Ketuvim, considered apart from the Torah.
N"Y
Nero yoir -- “may his candle shine”; similar in general sentiment to shlita (see below), but said of lesser mortals.
R'
Rabbi (sometimes Rav)
Rambam (רמב"ם)
Acronym for Rabbi Moshe ben Maimon (1135-1204), otherwise known as Maimonides, an Aristotelian medievalist who is considered by some to be the greatest Jewish sage and leader of his day.
Ramban (רמב"ן)
Rabbi Moshe ben Nachman (1194-1270), a great Spanish-Jewish scholar. Also known as Nachmanides.
Rashbam (רשב"ם)
Rabbi Samuel ben Meir (1080-1158). Famous contributor to the Tosafot (commentary on Rashi’s notes of the Talmud) and Torah scholar.
Rashbi (רשב"י)
Rabbi Shimon bar Yochai (רבי שמעון בר יוחאי), a tanna (sage of the Mishnah) who is considered one of the great revealers of "Torat Hanistar" (the hidden Torah or kabbalah). A disciple of Rabbi Akiva who is (psuedopigraphically) said to be the author of the Zohar ("splendor"), a key work of Jewish mysticism. Lag Ba'omer (i.e., 18th of Iyar) is traditionally regarded as his Yahrzeit (the anniversary of the death). Rabbi Shimon is mentioned in every chapter in the Talmud. c.100-160 AD.
Rashi (רש"י)
Rabbi Shlomo Yitzchaki (1040-1105 C.E.), a great French commentator.
Shas (ש״ס)
Abbreviation for Shisha Sidarim, the six orders of the Mishnah that form the basis of the Talmud. Shas and Chumash with Rashi is considered a good Jewish religious education.
Shatz
Shaliach tzibur; cantor; prayer leader; "messenger of (the) congregation"
Shlita
SHe'yikhye Lirot Yamim Tovim ve'Arukim
Acronym for a Hebrew phrase, “May he live a long and good life, Amen,” said by ultraorthodox when mentioning the name of a revered rabbi. (Example: “Note that the Rebbe sh'lita has instructed and requested all of Bar Mitzvah age and older to regularly put on tefillin.”)
TN"K (תנ״ך)
Tanakh: The Torah, Nevi'im, and Ketuvim divisions of the Hebrew scriptures.
U (inside a circle)
Kosher (from Union of Orthodox Hebrew Congregations). A solitary K is sometimes used as a symbol for kosher, but as this symbol cannot be trademarked and is not considered to be a safeguard. You may also see the following marks on packaged foods:
D - The product has dairy ingredients.
DE - The product is processed on equipment that processes dairy ingredients.
M - The product contains meat/poultry .
P - The products is kosher for Passover but may not be pareve (non-milk or meat).
YM"SH, Y'Sh, Y"ShU
Yemach Shmo Vezichro
For deceased enemies of the Jewish people.
Translation: May his name be wiped out (YH"SH, Y'Sh); May his name and memory be wiped out (Y'Shu);
Z"KL (זק״ל)
zekher kadosh livrakha: זכר קדוש לברכה
Phr. “May the memory of the saintly be for blessing.”
Z"L (ז״ל)
Zichrono Livrocho (m) / zichronah lebracha (f)
(Pronounced "zal") An abbreviation used to indicate that person has died.
Translation: Of Blessed Memory; Example: Rabbi Yochnon ZT”L used to say...
ZT"L (זצ״ל)
Zecher Tzadik Livrocho
(Pronounced "zatzal") For deceased prominent Jews.
Translation: The Memory of the Righteous is a Blessing.
ZTvK"L
Hebrew initials of the words: Zechor Tzaddik veKadosh LeVaracha (the memory of a Tzaddik (righteous man) and a Kadosh (a holy man) is a blessing.
ZY"A (זי״ע)
z'khuto yagen aleinu: זכותו יגן עלינו
Phrase: “May his merit protect us” (said of pious rabbis of the past)
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