L’chaim

This is a traditional Jewish toast which means “to life.” It’s a lot like Salud / Salut is for the Italians.

It’s sometimes used as a noun to mean:

• A toast, in itself. You can offer “a l’chaim”

• A celebratory party, like a wedding or a graduation. You can attend “a l’chaim.”

In English, it’s pronounced “le-HI-am.” You might drag your tonque a little on the “HI,” like you’re clearing your throat.

Why I Looked It Up

I had heard it before.

In particular, in one of the final songs of the first act of In the Heights, Usnavi says:

As long as you buy ‘em, l’chaim!

Then, in Cork Dork, I saw this in discussion of an Israeli wine:

But man, the Tzora was delicious, if you gave it a chance to win you over, and the Napa fans who tasted it usually ended up converts, toasting “L’chaim!” to the vines of the Holy Land.