עלמא

Aramaic

Etymology

Cognate with Hebrew עוֹלָם (ʿōlām), Arabic عَالَم (ʕālam).

Noun

עָלְמָא • (ʿāləmā) m (plural עָלְמַיָּא (ʿāləmayyā), absolutive עָלַם (ʿālam))

1. eternity, forever
   • Kaddish:

     יְהֵא שְׁמֵהּ רַבָּא מְבָרַךְ לְעָלַם וּלְעָלְמֵי עָלְמַיָּא

     yəhē šəmēh rabbā məḇāraḵ ləʿālam ūləʿāləmē ʿāləmayyā

     May His great name be blessed forever and all eternity.

2. world
   • Kaddish:

     יִתְגַּדַּל וְיִתְקַדַּשׁ שְׁמֵהּ רַבָּא בְּעָלְמָא דִּי בְרָא כִרְעוּתֵהּ

     yiṯgaddal wəyiṯqaddaš šəmēh rabbā bəʿāləmā dī ḇərā ḵirʿūṯēh

     May His great name be exalted and sanctified in the world that He created according to His will.

3. nation, people