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C1 advanced

Lesson 154: Holidays and Their Greetings

LESSON 154 · C1חַג שָׂמֵחַchag sameachholidays & greetings

Each Jewish holiday has its own greeting — and using the right one shows real cultural fluency. Tap any line to hear it.

The High Holidays

שָׁנָה טוֹבָה!

shana tova!

Happy New Year! (Rosh Hashanah)

גְּמַר חֲתִימָה טוֹבָה.

gmar chatima tova.

May you be sealed for good. (Yom Kippur)

The festivals

חַג שָׂמֵחַ!

chag sameach!

Happy holiday! (any festival)

חַג אוּרִים שָׂמֵחַ!

chag urim sameach!

Happy Hanukkah! (literally “festival of lights”)

חַג פֶּסַח כָּשֵׁר וְשָׂמֵחַ.

chag pesach kasher vesameach.

A kosher and happy Passover.

General well-wishes

מוֹעֲדִים לְשִׂמְחָה.

mo’adim lesimcha.

Happy holidays. (a traditional festival greeting)

תִּתְחַדֵּשׁ!

titchadesh!

Enjoy the new thing! (said over new clothes or a purchase)