חַג שָׂמֵחַ
chag sameach
Chag sameach means happy holiday, for any Jewish festival
What it means
Chag is a festival and sameach is happy. The greeting fits Passover, Shavuot, Sukkot, Rosh Hashanah, Hanukkah and Purim alike, and Israelis say it in the days before each one as well as on the day.
When Israelis say it
Some festivals have a fuller form. Before Passover people say chag kasher vesameach, a kosher and happy festival. Hanukkah is chag urim sameach, a happy festival of lights. In the middle days of Passover and Sukkot the greeting is moadim lesimcha, times for joy.
How to answer
Chag sameach back, or gam lecha to a man and gam lach to a woman: to you too.
Frequently asked questions
Do you say chag sameach on Yom Kippur?
Usually not, since it is a fast. The greeting before Yom Kippur is gmar chatima tova, a good final sealing in the Book of Life, or have an easy fast.
How do you pronounce chag sameach?
Chag with the throaty ch of Bach, then sa-ME-ach, with the same sound at the end.