lav davka / לאו דווקא

Pronunciation: LAHV DAHV-kah
Definition: Not necessarily; not specifically.
Example: “That’s lav davka literal.”
Origin: Aramaic
Also spelled: lav dafka

l’chorah / לכאורה

Pronunciation: leh-KHOH-rah
Definition: Seemingly; at first glance.
Example: “L’chorah, it’s difficult.”
Origin: Aramaic/Hebrew
Also spelled: lechora

lemafre’a / למפרע

Pronunciation: leh-mah-FRAY-ah
Definition: Retroactively.
Example: “Lemafrea, we understand.”
Origin: Aramaic/Hebrew
Also spelled: l’mafre’a

l’maaseh / למעשה

Pronunciation: leh-MAH-seh
Definition: Practically speaking.
Example: “L’maaseh, what do we do?”
Origin: Hebrew/Yiddish
Also spelled: lemaaseh

loshon / לשון

Pronunciation: LOH-shon
Definition: Language; wording.
Example: “Look at the loshon.”
Origin: Hebrew/Yiddish
Also spelled: lashon