חיים
chayim
The Hebrew word for 'life' is חיים (chayim).
The word חיים refers to the state of being alive.
Meaning: the state of being alive (noun)
How does it change in a sentence?
Although it translates to the singular 'life' in English, חיים is grammatically plural in Hebrew and is used with plural verbs and adjectives.
How do you pronounce it?
chayim
Did you know?
- In Jewish tradition, it is common to avoid saying the word חיים when wishing someone a long life, instead using phrases like 'until 120' to avoid tempting fate.
- The root of חיים also appears in the word חיה, which means 'animal', because animals are fundamentally 'living things'.
- Because חיים is grammatically plural, you will see it in many Hebrew names, such as 'Chaim' or 'Haim', which literally translate to 'lives'.
Examples in context
- יש לי ביטוח חיים.I have life insurance.This sentence shows how to use חיים in the context of life insurance.Tatoeba #1712009 by MrShoval, translation #258997 by CK
- כסף לא קונה חיים.Money can't buy life.This sentence illustrates the concept of money and חיים.Tatoeba #1803418 by MrShoval, translation #1802073 by CM
- בלי מים אין חיים.Without water, there's no life.This sentence demonstrates the relationship between water and חיים.Tatoeba #1936580 by fekundulo, translation #4398413 by AlanF_US
- 96 more sentences on Tatoeba
Sources
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
