mazel tov

See also: mazeltov

English

Alternative forms

• mazeltov
• mazal tov
• mazaltov

Etymology

Borrowing from Yiddish מזל־טובֿ‏ (mazl tov), from Hebrew מַזָּל‏ (mazál, “star, constellation; fate, luck”), from Akkadian 𒌓𒁕 (manzaltu [UD.DA]) + Hebrew טוֹב‏ (tov, “good”); literally “good stars, good luck”.

Pronunciation

• (UK) IPA^(key): /ˈmaz(ə)l ˌtɒf/, /ˈmaz(ə)l ˌtɒv/
• (US) IPA^(key): /ˈmɑz(ə)lˌtɔf/, /ˈmɑz(ə)lˌtɔv/, /ˈmɑz(ə)lˌtɑf/, /ˈmɑz(ə)lˌtɑv/
• Rhymes: -ɒf, -ɒv

Interjection

mazel tov

1. (in a Jewish context) Used to express congratulations or good wishes, especially at weddings.

Usage notes

• While it literally means “good luck”, it is used more to express congratulations or well wishes retrospectively (at a wedding, after a purchase), rather than prospectively as good luck is often used.

Translations

(Hebrew/Yiddish) congratulations or good wishes, especially at weddings

• Arabic: مَازَل تُوف‏‎ (māzal tūf)
• Armenian: մազել թով (mazel tʿov), մազալ թով (mazal tʿov)
• Dutch: (Yiddish) mazzel tov (nl), mazzeltof (nl), mazzeltow, (Hebrew) mazal tov (nl), (Sephardi Hebrew) mazaal tob (nl)
• French: mazeltov, mazaltov
• German: masel tov (de), masseltopp, masseltoff
• Hebrew: מַזָּל טוֹב‏‎ (he) (mazál tov)
• Korean: 마잘 토브 (majal tobeu)
• Polish: mazzal tow

• Russian: маза́ль тов (mazálʹ tov), мазль то́в (mazlʹ tóv), мазл то́в (mazl tóv)
• Serbo-Croatian:

  Cyrillic: мазал тов, мазелтов

  Roman: mazal tov, mazeltov

• Spanish: mazel tov (es), mazal tov
• Ukrainian: маза́ль тов (mazálʹ tov)
• Yiddish: מזל־טובֿ‏‎ (mazl-tov), מזל טובֿ‏‎ (mazl tov)