Mazal tov
Encyclopedia
"Mazel tov" or "mazal tov" (Hebrew
/Yiddish
: "מזל טוב", Hebrew: "mazal tov"; Yiddish: "mazel tov"; lit.
"good luck") is a phrase used to express congratulations for a happy and significant occasion or event.
" or "destiny
" (compare English "one's (lucky) stars").
The Mishnaic word derives from Biblical Hebrew mazalot (2 Kings 23:5).
While the words mazal (or mazel in Yiddish; "luck" or "fortune") and tov ("good") are Hebrew in origin, the phrase is of Yiddish origin, and was later incorporated into Modern Hebrew
.
While the Yiddish pronunciation of mazel has the stress on the first syllable, the modern Hebrew word has the stress on the second syllable, as is standard in modern Hebrew.
The phrase "mazel tov" is recorded as entering into English from Yiddish in 1862.
Similarly the Yiddish שלימזל, transliterated as shlimazl ("misfortune"), also made its way into US English (as shlemozzle, schlimazel) in the 20th century.
The same words were also loaned into German
, as Massel ("luck"), and also as the verb vermasseln ("to ruin, screw up") and Schlamassel ("misfortune, disaster").
In Polish
, the word ślamazara, also derived from Yiddish shlimazl, denotes a person who is slow, sluggish, or lifeless.
The phrase for wishing good luck to occur in Hebrew, in the way "good luck" does in English, is b'hatzlacha (בהצלחה), literally meaning "with success."
, "mazel tov!" is a common Jewish phrase, such as after a bar or bat mitzvah or a wedding
, the congregation may be inclined to shout "Mazel Tov!" For instance, at a Jewish wedding
, after the groom breaks the glass everyone yells "Mazel Tov!" In addition it is one of the most well known cultural references that non-Jews know regarding Jews.
In Israel
, "mazal tov" is used for all sorts of happy occasions, whether they be a new driver's license
, a birthday
, or the end of military service
. Another common use is to acknowledge a bad event or experience being over—for example, after a very hard test.
Hebrew language
Hebrew is a Semitic language of the Afroasiatic language family. Culturally, is it considered by Jews and other religious groups as the language of the Jewish people, though other Jewish languages had originated among diaspora Jews, and the Hebrew language is also used by non-Jewish groups, such...
/Yiddish
Yiddish language
Yiddish is a High German language of Ashkenazi Jewish origin, spoken throughout the world. It developed as a fusion of German dialects with Hebrew, Aramaic, Slavic languages and traces of Romance languages...
: "מזל טוב", Hebrew: "mazal tov"; Yiddish: "mazel tov"; lit.
Literal translation
Literal translation, or direct translation, is the rendering of text from one language to another "word-for-word" rather than conveying the sense of the original...
"good luck") is a phrase used to express congratulations for a happy and significant occasion or event.
Etymology and pronunciation
The expression comes from the Mishnaic Hebrew mazzāl, meaning "constellationConstellation
In modern astronomy, a constellation is an internationally defined area of the celestial sphere. These areas are grouped around asterisms, patterns formed by prominent stars within apparent proximity to one another on Earth's night sky....
" or "destiny
Destiny
Destiny or fate refers to a predetermined course of events. It may be conceived as a predetermined future, whether in general or of an individual...
" (compare English "one's (lucky) stars").
The Mishnaic word derives from Biblical Hebrew mazalot (2 Kings 23:5).
While the words mazal (or mazel in Yiddish; "luck" or "fortune") and tov ("good") are Hebrew in origin, the phrase is of Yiddish origin, and was later incorporated into Modern Hebrew
Modern Hebrew
Modern Hebrew , also known as Israeli Hebrew or Modern Israeli Hebrew, is the language spoken in Israel and in some Jewish communities worldwide, from the early 20th century to the present....
.
While the Yiddish pronunciation of mazel has the stress on the first syllable, the modern Hebrew word has the stress on the second syllable, as is standard in modern Hebrew.
The phrase "mazel tov" is recorded as entering into English from Yiddish in 1862.
Similarly the Yiddish שלימזל, transliterated as shlimazl ("misfortune"), also made its way into US English (as shlemozzle, schlimazel) in the 20th century.
The same words were also loaned into German
German language
German is a West Germanic language, related to and classified alongside English and Dutch. With an estimated 90 – 98 million native speakers, German is one of the world's major languages and is the most widely-spoken first language in the European Union....
, as Massel ("luck"), and also as the verb vermasseln ("to ruin, screw up") and Schlamassel ("misfortune, disaster").
In Polish
Polish language
Polish is a language of the Lechitic subgroup of West Slavic languages, used throughout Poland and by Polish minorities in other countries...
, the word ślamazara, also derived from Yiddish shlimazl, denotes a person who is slow, sluggish, or lifeless.
Translation
Although mazel tov literally translates to "good luck," the phrase is not used in the way that the expression "good luck" is typically used in English (i.e. "I wish you good luck"). It rather means "good luck has occurred" or "your fortune has been good" and is an acknowledgement of this fact. The phrase "mazel tov!" parallels the use of the phrase "congratulations!" and conveys roughly that "I am pleased this good thing has happened to you!"The phrase for wishing good luck to occur in Hebrew, in the way "good luck" does in English, is b'hatzlacha (בהצלחה), literally meaning "with success."
Usage
In the diasporaJewish diaspora
The Jewish diaspora is the English term used to describe the Galut גלות , or 'exile', of the Jews from the region of the Kingdom of Judah and Roman Iudaea and later emigration from wider Eretz Israel....
, "mazel tov!" is a common Jewish phrase, such as after a bar or bat mitzvah or a wedding
Jewish wedding
A Jewish wedding is a wedding ceremony that follows Jewish law and traditions.While wedding ceremonies vary, common features of a Jewish wedding include a ketuba signed by two witnesses, a wedding canopy , a ring owned by the groom that is given to the bride under the canopy, and the breaking of a...
, the congregation may be inclined to shout "Mazel Tov!" For instance, at a Jewish wedding
Jewish wedding
A Jewish wedding is a wedding ceremony that follows Jewish law and traditions.While wedding ceremonies vary, common features of a Jewish wedding include a ketuba signed by two witnesses, a wedding canopy , a ring owned by the groom that is given to the bride under the canopy, and the breaking of a...
, after the groom breaks the glass everyone yells "Mazel Tov!" In addition it is one of the most well known cultural references that non-Jews know regarding Jews.
In Israel
Israel
The State of Israel is a parliamentary republic located in the Middle East, along the eastern shore of the Mediterranean Sea...
, "mazal tov" is used for all sorts of happy occasions, whether they be a new driver's license
Driver's license
A driver's license/licence , or driving licence is an official document which states that a person may operate a motorized vehicle, such as a motorcycle, car, truck or a bus, on a public roadway. Most U.S...
, a birthday
Birthday
A birthday is a day or anniversary where a person celebrates his or her date of birth. Birthdays are celebrated in numerous cultures, often with a gift, party or rite of passage. Although the major religions celebrate the birth of their founders , Christmas – which is celebrated widely by...
, or the end of military service
Military service
Military service, in its simplest sense, is service by an individual or group in an army or other militia, whether as a chosen job or as a result of an involuntary draft . Some nations require a specific amount of military service from every citizen...
. Another common use is to acknowledge a bad event or experience being over—for example, after a very hard test.