What does challa mean?
Challa is the soft, golden, richly braided bread that anchors the Jewish Sabbath table. Enriched with eggs (and often honey or sugar), it has a tender crumb and a glossy crust typically sprinkled with sesame or poppy seeds. Baked fresh for Friday night, it is traditionally blessed before being torn by hand rather than sliced with a knife. Beyond the kitchen, 'challa' carries a second, older meaning: under Jewish dietary law, a small portion of every batch of dough must be separated and given to a priest — a practice rooted in offerings once brought to the Temple in Jerusalem. The word derives from Hebrew, where it originally referred to that consecrated portion of dough. Today the term travels comfortably between religious observance and mainstream baking culture, appearing on bakery shelves and brunch menus far beyond its origins.
A braided, egg-enriched yeast bread traditionally baked and eaten by Jews on the Sabbath and holidays.
"Grandmother pulled a fragrant challa from the oven just before sundown."
Plural 'challot' (Hebrew) or 'challahs' (English). Also spelled challah or hallah.
In Jewish law, the portion of dough separated from a larger batch and given to a kohen (priest).
"Observant bakers still separate challa from their dough as a symbolic act."
This is the original, legal meaning of the word; less common in casual use today.
Both plurals are accepted; 'challot' is preferred in religious contexts.
"Three challot were laid out for the holiday meal."
Every Friday night, millions of families tear — never cut — this golden braid, echoing a Temple offering made from dough thousands of years ago.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Etymology of challa
The word comes from Hebrew חלה (ḥallah), which in biblical and rabbinic texts denoted the portion of dough set aside for the priestly class. After the destruction of the Second Temple, the practice became symbolic, and over centuries the name came to be associated primarily with the festive loaves eaten on the Sabbath. Yiddish helped carry both the word and the bread through the diaspora into English, particularly via Ashkenazi immigrant communities in America.
Related word forms
How challa is actually used
Also spelled 'challah' or 'hallah'. The plural is 'challot' (Hebrew) or 'challahs' in English. In everyday usage it almost always refers to the bread rather than the legal sense. Commonly pronounced with an initial 'h' sound by English speakers.
Easily confused with challa
'Challa' is a type of bread, whereas 'holla' or 'holler' is an exclamation used to attract attention.