chap / כאַפּ

Pronunciation: KHAP
Definition: Grasp; catch.
Example: “Chap the point.”
Origin: Yiddish
Also spelled: chapen

chap arein / כאַפּ אַרײַן

Pronunciation: KHAP ah-RINE
Definition: Grab it; internalize it.
Example: “Chap arein this yesod.”
Origin: Yiddish
Also spelled: chap arayn

chacham / חכם

Pronunciation: khah-KHAHM
Definition: Wise person; sage.
Example: “A chacham understands…”
Origin: Hebrew
Also spelled: hakham

chas v’shalom / חס ושלום

Pronunciation: KHAS vuh-shah-LOHM
Definition: God forbid.
Example: “Not chas v’shalom…”
Origin: Hebrew/Yiddish
Also spelled: chas veshalom

chassidus / חסידות

Pronunciation: khah-SEE-dus
Definition: Hasidic teaching or path.
Example: “Chassidus explains…”
Origin: Hebrew/Yiddish
Also spelled: chasidus

chein / חן

Pronunciation: KHAYN
Definition: Grace; favor; charm.
Example: “It gives chein.”
Origin: Hebrew
Also spelled: chen

chelek / חלק

Pronunciation: KHEH-lek
Definition: Part; portion.
Example: “This chelek explains…”
Origin: Hebrew
Also spelled: cheilek

chesed / חסד

Pronunciation: KHEH-sed
Definition: Kindness.
Example: “Chesed opens the world.”
Origin: Hebrew
Also spelled: hesed

chevra / חברה

Pronunciation: KHEV-rah
Definition: Group; friends; community.
Example: “Chevra, let’s go inside this.”
Origin: Hebrew/Yiddish
Also spelled: chevreh

chevrosa / חברותא

Pronunciation: khev-ROO-sah
Definition: Learning partner.
Example: “Learn this with a chevrosa.”
Origin: Aramaic/Hebrew
Also spelled: chavrusa, chavruta

chidush / חידוש

Pronunciation: khi-DOOSH
Definition: Novel insight.
Example: “That’s a big chidush.”
Origin: Hebrew
Also spelled: chiddush

chinuch / חינוך

Pronunciation: KHEE-nukh
Definition: Education.
Example: “In chinuch, timing matters.”
Origin: Hebrew

chitzoni / חיצוני

Pronunciation: khee-tsoh-NEE
Definition: External; surface-level.
Example: “A chitzoni reaction…”
Origin: Hebrew

chitzoniyus / חיצוניות

Pronunciation: khee-tsoh-NEE-yus
Definition: Externality; surface layer.
Example: “That’s only chitzoniyus.”
Origin: Hebrew/Yiddish
Also spelled: chitzonius

chiyuv / חיוב

Pronunciation: khee-YOOV
Definition: Obligation.
Example: “There’s a chiyuv to…”
Origin: Hebrew
Also spelled: hiyyuv

chizuk / חיזוק

Pronunciation: KHEE-zook
Definition: Encouragement; strengthening.
Example: “People need chizuk.”
Origin: Hebrew
Also spelled: hizuk

chumrah / חומרה

Pronunciation: KHOOM-rah
Definition: Stringency.
Example: “It’s a chumrah.”
Origin: Hebrew
Also spelled: chumra

chutz laaretz / חוץ לארץ

Pronunciation: KHOOTS lah-AH-retz
Definition: Outside Israel.
Example: “In chutz laaretz…”
Origin: Hebrew
Also spelled: chutz l’aretz