May one say the letters of Hashem's name i.e. “Yud hei vov hei”?

Question

We know we cannot pronounce the 4-lettered name of Hashem.

Is it allowed to say the letters of Hashem's name ie “Yud hei vov hei” as in the meditation before counting the Omer or must one say “Yud kei vov kei”.

What proof is there that the expression ההוגה את השם באותיותיו in the Mishna in Sanhedrin 10:1 refers to saying the letters (yud hei etc.) as well as pronouncing the whole name.

@DoubleAA Thank you. Incorporated your comment into the question. — Avrohom Yitzchok, Apr 21 '13 at 13:32
@double aa, avrohom yitzchok, isn't the meditation usually Yud Hei BeVav Hei? — Seth J, Apr 21 '13 at 20:53
@SethJ Yes it is. But I don't see your point. BTW the Gr"a did not say any "leshem Yichud"s. — Avrohom Yitzchok, Apr 21 '13 at 20:56
Avrohom Yitzchok, my point is that you're not really saying all for letters in a way that actually spells the name. You're breaking it up, perhaps deliberately so. — Seth J, Apr 21 '13 at 22:19
@SethJ Yes - but the letters Yud Kei (and Vov Kei, my Rav tells me) create a name of Hashem on their own. — Avrohom Yitzchok, Apr 22 '13 at 13:56

score 8 · Answer 1 · answered Apr 21 '13 at 19:23

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Tosfot (Sukkah 5a s.v. Yod) says that saying "Yod - Hey" is ok if the intention is not for the name יה but as a abbreviation of the Tetragrammaton. This implies that they understand that spelling out the letters can be problematic as well.

answered Apr 21 '13 at 19:23

Double AA

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BTW, the marginal note in Sukkah refers to two other Tosafos. Shevuos 35a s.v. b'alef dales agrees with Tosafos in Sukkah that is that without intention for the name is not a problem. Avodo Zoro 18a s.v. hog'e says that one should not mention even the letters yud hei - and does not speak about intention. – Avrohom Yitzchok Apr 21 '13 at 20:52

score 6 · Accepted Answer · edited Apr 22 '13 at 03:01

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The Kaf Hachaim 5:9 quotes the AriZal and Radvaz who say that spelling out the letters is forbidden as ההוגה את השם.

edited Apr 22 '13 at 03:01

Menachem

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answered Apr 21 '13 at 22:56

Meir Zirkind

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I wonder when the "Kay" in place of the "Hey" became popular. The Kaf Hachaim brings another way to say it. – Menachem Apr 22 '13 at 03:02
Hacham Ovadia also holds like this. – Hacham Gabriel Apr 22 '13 at 04:18

May one say the letters of Hashem's name i.e. “Yud hei vov hei”?

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