challah

American  

[khah-luh, hah] / ˈxɑ lə, ˈhɑ /

Also challeh,

noun

1. a loaf of rich white bread leavened with yeast and containing eggs, often braided before baking, prepared especially for the Jewish Sabbath.

---

challah British  

/ ˈhɑːlə, xaˈla /

noun

1. bread, usually in the form of a plaited loaf, traditionally eaten by Jews to celebrate the Sabbath

---

Etymology

Origin of challah

From the Hebrew word hallāh

Example Sentences

Instagram’s @ChallahPrince, this year have collaborated on an illustrated recipe for making a challah menorah — a full-circle moment as Rebecca is seen in “The Weinerville Chanukah Special’s” closing montage showing her own environmentally-conscious “Recyclorah.”

From Los Angeles Times • Dec. 15, 2025

“With this challah, I want to bless my three sons who are in the army and all the soldiers,” said Ruthie Tick, who had convened the mothers so they could comfort one another.

From New York Times • Dec. 3, 2023

On the table were candles, wine and loaves of challah, the braided bread typically eaten during the Friday night meal.

From Seattle Times • Oct. 21, 2023

Tom Aviv: The saying "baking is a science" very much applies to making challah.

From Salon • Sep. 16, 2023

“The domovoi got mad because I wouldn’t give him the challah that I separated and burnt.”

From Anya and the Dragon by Sofiya Pasternack