Names of God in Judaism#Adonai

Adonai (Hebrew אֲדֹנָי Adonay " my Lord " ), in Ashkenazi pronunciation Adaunoi, Adoinoi, Adonoi, is one of the descriptions for YHWH, God's personal name in Tanach, the Jewish Bible. The word is - as Elohim - in the grammatical plural ( gentlemen ) to express the respect for the person addressed, and is not necessarily syntactically plural. The singular would Adoni. In Hebrew, the singular form is used only in connection with superscript, outstanding personalities. Otherwise it is simply called Adon.

Since Jews do not pronounce the divine proper name " Yahweh " out of respect for its sanctity, will instead read Adonai, while listening to the public use of God's name usually with HaShem ( " the Name") from the Torah and prayer. Some devout Jews substitute Adonai in everyday conversation by Adoschem, a combination of Adonai and HaShem.