ע״ה

Hebrew

Etymology

Abbreviation of עָלָיו הַשָּׁלוֹם (with a masculine singular subject), עָלֶיהָ הַשָּׁלוֹם (with a feminine singular subject), עֲלֵיהֶם הַשָּׁלוֹם (with a masculine plural subject), or עֲלֵיהֶן הַשָּׁלוֹם (with a feminine plural subject). Hence literally “peace be upon him/her/them”.

Pronunciation

Pronounced as if it were spelled out. See Etymology, above.

Phrase

ע״ה • (alav ha-shalom)

1. On whom should be peace; used after the name of a dead person.

Usage notes

• In form, this expression expresses the desire that a deceased person’s soul be at peace, but in practice, it often serves mostly as a way of indicating that the person is deceased. Indeed, it is sometimes used after other noun phrases (besides people’s names) to indicate jokingly that a thing is dead or defunct.