The term pilegesh appears to be an Indo-European loanword related to Ancient Greek: παλλακίς pallakis, meaning 'concubine'.
[8][5][6] In the Hebrew of the contemporary State of Israel, pilegesh is often used as the equivalent of the English word mistress—i.e., the female partner in extramarital relations—regardless of legal recognition.
Attempts have been initiated to popularise pilegesh as a form of premarital, non-marital or extramarital relationship (which, according to the perspective of the enacting person(s), is permitted by Jewish law).
[14] Other rabbis, such as Nachmanides, Samuel ben Uri Shraga Phoebus, and Jacob Emden, strongly object to the idea that concubines should be forbidden.
[citation needed] According to Rabbi Mnachem Risikoff, the institution of pilegesh is an alternative to formal marriage which does not have the same requirements for a get upon the dissolution of the relationship.