לחיים

Hebrew

Etymology 1

From לְ־ (l'-, “to, for”) + חַיִּים (chayím, “life”); hence literally “to life”.

Pronunciation

• (Modern Israeli Hebrew) IPA^(key): /leχaˈjim/ (properly), IPA^(key): /leˈχajim/ (commonly)

Phrase

לְחַיִּים • (l'chayím)

1. A blessing, a toast, and an expression of goodwill.

Usage notes

• Note that, due to Yiddish influence, this phrase is commonly stressed on its second syllable, rather than its final one.

Etymology 2

Noun

לְחָיַיִם • (l'chayaím)

1. Dual indefinite form of לֶחִי (léchi)‎.

Yiddish

Etymology

From Hebrew לְחַיִּים (“to life”).

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /ɫəˈχaɪ̯əm/

Phrase

לחיים • (lekhayem)

1. A blessing, a toast, and an expression of goodwill.

Related terms

• חיים (khayem)