Do Jews call God Allah?

What Do Jews Call God?

It might surprise some, but Jews around the world use many different words for God—depending on the language they speak. Just as English-speaking Jews say "God" and Spanish-speaking Jews say "Dios," Arabic-speaking Jews refer to the divine as Allah.

This isn’t a theological shift—just a linguistic one. The word “Allah” is simply the Arabic term for “God,” used by Muslims, Christians, and Jews alike in Arabic-speaking regions. It’s the same concept of the one, monotheistic deity, rooted in the same Abrahamic tradition.

In fact, long before Islam emerged, Arabic-speaking Jews and Christians used “Allah” to refer to God. Today, Jewish communities in countries like Morocco, Iraq, or Egypt might naturally use the term when praying or speaking in Arabic, just as Portuguese Jews would say “Deus” or Italians say “Dio.”

That said, many observant Jews, regardless of language, often avoid using any vernacular term altogether. Instead, they use Hebrew names like Hashem, which literally means “The Name,” as a respectful way to refer to God without saying His full name. Others might use Adonai or Elohim, both Hebrew terms found in Jewish liturgy.

So yes, Jews can call God Allah—but only if they’re speaking Arabic. It’s not about changing beliefs; it’s about speaking them. Language reflects culture and context, but for Jews, the faith behind the word remains unchanged through centuries and continents. The divine is one—no matter what language you use to call Him.