בחייך

Hebrew

Etymology

בְּ־ +‎ חַיִּים +‎ ־ך, literally “in your life”, derived from an oath formula that meant "swear on your life that it is true".

Pronunciation

• (Modern Israeli Hebrew) (for male) IPA^(key): /beχaˈjɛχa/, (for female) IPA^(key): /beχaˈja.iχ/, (for male, with special emphasis) IPA^(key): /beˈχaːjɛχa/

Interjection

בְּחַיֶּיךָ • (bekhayékha)

1. come on, get out of town (expression of disbelief)
2. no kidding (expression of amazement)
   • a. 425 C.E., Jerusalem Talmud, Yevamot 15:4:

     קָם אַבָּא בַר בָּא וְלָחַשׁ גַו אוּדְנֵהּ. אָמַר לֵהּ בְּחַיֶּיךָ הַב לָהּ גֵּט מִסָּפֵק.

     qám ábba var ba v-laḥash gav undéh. amár leh: b-ḥayyékha hav lah get mi-safeq

     Abba son of Ba got up and whispered in his ear. He said, By your life! Give her a bill of divorce on account of the doubt.