l'chaim

or l'cha·yim, le·cha·yim, le·ha·yim

[ Ashkenazic Hebrew luh-khah-yim; Sephardic Hebrew luh-khah-yeem ]

noun

, Hebrew.

1. a toast used in drinking to a person's health or well-being.

l'chaim

/ ləˈxɑjim /

interjection

1. a variant spelling of lechaim

Word History and Origins

Origin of l'chaim¹

ləḥayyīm literally, “to life”

Example Sentences

In telling another joke about how Jews cheer while drinking, Chappelle said “l’chaim,” or “to life” in Hebrew, which another man shouted back from the audience.

From Seattle Times

“I wake up to my crime daily and I’ve never gone a day without sincere remorse for the hurt I’ve caused,” Murphy wrote in a message earlier this year he sent to Michael Zoosman, who had corresponded with Murphy and is co-founder of L’chaim!

From Seattle Times

They saw in the social structure, to quote another "Fiddler" classic, "something to think about, something to drink about, drink l'chaim, to life."

From Salon

To coin one of Fiddler's most famous lines - To life, to life, l'chaim!

From BBC

“L’chaim,” he echoed, tapping glasses with me.

From Literature