mazel tov

See also: mazeltov

English

Alternative forms

• mazeltov, mazal tov, mazaltov

Etymology

Borrowed from Yiddish מזל־טובֿ (mazl tov), from Hebrew מַזָּל (mazál, “star, constellation; fate, luck”), from Akkadian 𒌓𒁕 (manzaltum) + Hebrew טוֹב (tov, “good”); literally “good stars, good luck”.

Pronunciation

• (Received Pronunciation) IPA^(key): /ˈmaz(ə)l ˌtɒf/, /ˈmaz(ə)l ˌtɒv/
• (General American) IPA^(key): /ˈmɑz(ə)lˌtɔf/, /ˈmɑz(ə)lˌtɔv/, /ˈmɑz(ə)lˌtɑf/, /ˈmɑz(ə)lˌtɑv/
• Hyphenation: ma‧zel tov

Interjection

mazel tov

1. (in a Jewish context) Used to express congratulations or good wishes, especially at weddings.
2. (chiefly in non-Jewish contexts) Used to sarcastically express congratulations for an unimpressive accomplishment or in order to dismiss an accomplishment.

Usage notes

Although often parsed as good luck, mazel tov originally and principally offers congratulations or admiration at something already achieved (your stars have been good, your luck has been good, etc.) rather than expressing hopes for future good luck.

Translations

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

• Arabic: مَازَل تُوف (māzal tūf)
• Armenian: մազել թով (mazel tʻov), մազալ թով (mazal tʻov)
• Catalan: bonastruc
• 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)
• Persian: مزل طوب (mazal tôb), مزل طوو (mazal tôv)
• 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
• Swedish: mazel tov (sv)
• Ukrainian: маза́ль тов (mazálʹ tov)
• Yiddish: מזל־טובֿ (mazl-tov), מזל טובֿ (mazl tov)