how to say “unless” in Hebrew

Some parts of speech have very clear translations from one language to another. For example, a noun such as tree has a clear equivalent in all languages with Hebrew being no exception: עֵץ (ets). Likewise, the verb לְהַזְמִין (leh-hahz-MEEN) means to invite or to order.

Other parts of speech become a bit more tricky to translate. Take, for example, the prepositional prefix –ב (beh). In some contexts it means in, while in other contexts it means with, and still others it means by means of.


And take conjunctions. Some translate nicely, such as the word אָבָל (ah-VAHL) meaning but, and the prefix –ו (veh), meaning and. But others are a bit clumsy – such as today’s dose of Hebrew, the Hebrew phrase meaning unless – אֶלָּא אִם כֵּן (EH-lah eem ken).


אלא אם כן – sometimes abbreviated as אא”כ – means, literally, rather if so. Truth is, the English word unless is also composed of two distinct parts – un and less. אלא אם כן appears in Mishnaic Hebrew.


Here’s an example of this phrase’s usage: נִסַּע מָחָר לְגַן הַחַיּוֹת, אֶלָּא אִם כֵּן יֵרֵד גֶּשֶׁם (nee-SAH mah-KHAHR leh-GAHN hah-khah-YOHT, EH-lah eem ken yeh-RED GHEH-shem) – We’ll go (travel) tomorrow to the zoo, unless it’ll rain.