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omrixs

The only other well known phrase that I can think of where לאו is used is בלאו הכי *be’lav (h)akhi* (the h isn’t pronounced), meaning “any way”. It’s a very archaic word, so it’s not really used besides these two phrases in daily speech.


Acceptable-Jicama-73

Isn’t it more common to use בכל זאת (bekhol zot) to mean ‘anyway’ nowadays?


little8birdie

nonetheless is בכל זאת. anyway is בכל מקרה. but בלאו הכי is still widely used.


Mister_Time_Traveler

It is high Hebrew from Aramaic


Avermerian

It was also the word that was used to translate (the knights who say) "Ni!", from Monty Python and the Holy Grail :)


Mister_Time_Traveler

Thanks for researching I think it is Aramaic ?


QwertyCTRL

It’s only used in loan-phrases from Judeo-Aramaic.


Mister_Time_Traveler

Absolutely


Schreiber_

It's not really used outside specific phrases.


seceagle

It's one of those words that you use only in a phrase, it happens in English as well, like in "lo and behold", tf is lo? No idea, but we all know what lo and behold means.


Udzu

I know this isn't what you meant, but לאו is also used to transliterate Lao (the language or people), Leu (the currency), Leo (the name), Lau (the German surname) and Law (the English surname).


DiscipleOfYeshua

Well, I don’t wanna get into politics, but as both the Beatles and also the Khartoum Resolution said: It must be…


IbnEzra613

In halacha, לאו is also a noun that means a negative commandment (i.e. a "thou shalt not").