kal v'chomer

adverb

All the more so, a fortiori.

OriginHebrew קל וחומר →
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Meanings

adverbkal v'chomer (not comparable)
  1. Jewishnot comparableAll the more so, a fortiori.
    1 more example

    Thus, if the Talmud and the major poskim permitted fighting on Shabbat for matters of life, and even for monetary matters, kal vaḥomer is it permissible not to study Torah in order to save lives and even possessions from our enemies whose intention is to destroy, kill, and annihilate every Jew in the State of Israel.

    2024, David Golinkin, “Does Jewish Law Require Yeshivah Students To Be Drafted At Age 18?”, in Responsa in a Moment, volume 4, page 68

Origin

  1. Hebrewקל וחומר
  2. Englishkal v'chomer

Borrowed from Hebrew קל וחומר (literally “lenient and strict”)

More words from Hebrew

Full word history & related roots →
Cite this entry
APA

kal v'chomer. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 5, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/kal%20v'chomer

MLA

“kal v'chomer.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/kal%20v'chomer. Accessed November 5, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “kal v'chomer,” accessed November 5, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/kal%20v'chomer.

Source: kal v'chomer on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.