challah

American  

[khah-luh, hah] / ˈxɑ lə, ˈhɑ /

Also challeh,

noun

1. a loaf of rich white bread leavened with yeast and containing eggs, often braided before baking, prepared especially for the Jewish Sabbath.

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challah British  

/ ˈhɑːlə, xaˈla /

noun

1. bread, usually in the form of a plaited loaf, traditionally eaten by Jews to celebrate the Sabbath

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Etymology

Origin of challah

From the Hebrew word hallāh

Example Sentences

Around us are culturally clashing foods — boxes of takeout Indian dishes set across the room from a cart of sliced challah and tiny cups of prayer wine.

From Los Angeles Times • Feb. 8, 2024

This recipe dispatches any sort of stale loaf — the panettone, challah, brioche, a few croissants, a day-old baguette, even dried cake — forgotten among all the holiday goodies.

From Seattle Times • Dec. 25, 2023

The six mothers had gathered in a Jerusalem home on a recent Friday to prepare challah, the braided bread that Jews eat on the Sabbath.

From New York Times • Dec. 3, 2023

Sifting is what gives challah its soft, airy texture.

From Salon • Sep. 16, 2023

She dreamt continually of bread, of grainy ryes and pumpemickels, whole wheat and challah in woven straw baskets.

From "Dreaming in Cuban" by Cristina García