Nidrei
/nɪˈdreɪ/noun
A transliteration of the Aramaic plural-construct form meaning “of vows,” chiefly encountered in the Jewish liturgical phrase Kol Nidrei.
Did you know?Kol Nidrei is traditionally recited before Yom Kippur and concerns vows made under duress or unintentionally, although it does not cancel ordinary promises or ethical obligations.
Etymological Timeline
Proto-Semitic
Proto-Semitic
*n-d-r
“Reconstructed root associated with making a vow or dedicating something through a vow”
Biblical Hebrew
Hebrew
נֶדֶר (neder)
“A vow, especially a solemn promise or dedication made to God”
Ancient Aramaic
Aramaic
נִדְרֵי (nidrei)
“Of vows; the plural noun in construct form”
Early Medieval Judaism
Jewish Aramaic
כָּל נִדְרֵי (Kol Nidrei)
“All [the] vows / of all vows, the opening words of a Yom Kippur liturgical formula”
Modern English
English
Nidrei
“A transliteration used mainly as part of the title Kol Nidrei”