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 • (lekhayem) m, plural לחיימס (lekhayems)

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

Related terms

• חיים (khayem)

References

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