לחיים

Hebrew

Etymology 1

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

Pronunciation

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

Phrase

לְחַיִּים • (lekhayím)

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

Etymology 2

Noun

לְחָיַיִם • (lekhayáyim)

  1. dual indefinite form of לֶחִי (lékhi).

Yiddish

Pronunciation

  • IPA(key): /ɫəˈχaɪ̯əm/

Etymology 1

From Hebrew לְחַיִּים (to life).

Phrase

לחיים • (lekhayem)

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

Etymology 2

Derived metonymically from the former.

Noun

לחיים • (lekhayemm, plural לחיימס (lekhayems)

  1. toast (e.g. "cheers")
  2. drink (alcoholic)

References

  • Justus van de Kamp et al., “לחיים” in Jiddisch-Nederlands Woordenboek [Yiddish-Dutch Dictionary], Amsterdam: Stichting Jiddische Lexicografie, 1987-present (ongoing). [1].