לעבן
lebn/ˈɫɛbn̩/neuter
The English word 'life' can be translated into Yiddish as לעבן (lebn) or חיים.
Meaning: the state of being alive (noun)
Ways to say it
| Yiddish | Romanization (Wiktionary) | IPA | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| לעבן | lebn | /ˈɫɛbn̩/ (Northeastern, YIVO) | neuter |
| חיים | khayem | masculine |
Both terms refer to the state of being alive, but they are used in different contexts depending on whether the setting is secular or religious.
Which one should you use?
לעבן is the standard, secular term for 'life' used in everyday contexts. In contrast, חיים is a Hebrew-derived term for 'life' that is often used in religious, liturgical or traditional Jewish contexts.
Is it said differently in some regions?
In East Yiddish, the term for 'life' is לעבן.
How does it change in a sentence?
לעבן is a neuter noun, while חיים is a masculine noun.
How do you pronounce it?
לעבן is pronounced /ˈɫɛbn̩/.
Did you know?
- The word חיים is commonly used as a male given name, which is why some people are called 'Life' as a nickname.
- The term לעבן is a linguistic cousin to the English word 'life', as both share a common Proto-Germanic ancestor.
- While לעבן refers to biological or general existence, the term חיים is almost always plural in its Hebrew form, even when referring to a single 'life'.
Examples in context
- דער איינציגער ווייג צו דערגרייכן גוטע זאכן אין דער לעבן איז, אז מען מוזט ערשט ארויסגיין פון דאס וואס איז פאר אונז שוין באקוועם.The only way to achieve great things in life is to first leave your comfort zone.This sentence shows how to use לעבן when discussing achieving things in life.Tatoeba #4265346 by negativeclock, translation #1963430 by sysko
- איך בין דיין פאטער'ס נשמה, פארשעמט פאר א צייט צו גייען ביי נאכט, און ביי טאג צו זיין געלייגט אין פויער – ביז מיינע זינדן, וואס איך האב געטאהן אין מיין לעבן, זענען אוועקפארברענט און נסלח געווארען.I am your father's spirit, doomed for a certain time to walk the night, and during the day I am confined to burn in fires, until the evil crimes I had done in my life are burnt and purged away.This sentence uses לעבן in a more descriptive, personal context regarding one's life.Tatoeba #2401760 by negativeclock, translation #1627651 by al_ex_an_der
- דאָס לעבן איז זיס.Life is sweet.This sentence uses לעבן to make a simple statement about life.Tatoeba #10473448 by shekitten, translation #270580 by CK
- 134 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Abraham and Sarah are talking about their goals.
- אברהם Avrahamוואס איז דיין חלום אין לעבן?Vos iz dayn kholom in lebn?What is your dream in life?
- שרה Saraאיך וויל האבן א רואיג לעבן.Ikh vil hobn a ruig lebn.I want to have a quiet life.
- אברהם Avrahamדאס איז א שענקע פונעם לעבן.Dos iz a shenke funem lebn.That is a gift from life.
- שרה Saraיאָ, אברהם, דאָס איז אמת.Yo, Avraham, dos iz emes.Yes, Abraham, that is true.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “life” translations and entries לעבן, חיים, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries חיים, לעבן, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
