l'chaim

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Pronunciations

l'chaim (leh-CHAH-yem) listen
l'chaim (leh-CHAI-yeem) listen

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Definitions

  • interj. A traditional toast exclaimed before drinking.

Example Sentences

  • At a celebration such as a wedding where many toasts are given, it is customary to exclaim "L'chaim" before drinking.

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Languages of Origin

  • Textual Hebrew
  • Yiddish
  • Modern Hebrew

Etymology

  • TH לחיים 'lit. to life' > Y לחײם lekháim, MH לחיים lekhaím

      • Who Uses This

      • Jews: Jews of diverse religious backgrounds and organizational involvements
      • Non-Jews: (words that have spread outside of Jewish networks)

      Regions

      • North America
      • Great Britain
      • South Africa
      • Australia / New Zealand

      Dictionaries

      • The New Joys of Yiddish, by Leo Rosten and Lawrence Bush (New York, 2003[1968]).
      • The JPS Dictionary of Jewish Words, by Joyce Eisenberg and Ellen Scolnic, (Philadelphia, 2001).
      • The Joys of Hebrew, by Lewis Glinert (New York, 1992).
      • Dictionary of Jewish Usage: A Popular Guide to the Use of Jewish Terms, by Sol Steinmetz (Lanham, MD, 2005).
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      Alternative Spellings

      lechaim, l'khaim, lekhaim, l'chayim, l'khayim, lekhayim, lechayim

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