mazel tov

Or ma·zal tov

[mah-zuhl tawv, tawf, tohv]

noun

1. an expression of congratulations and best wishes, used chiefly by Jews.

   A chorus of mazel tovs greeted the newlyweds as they circulated from table to table.

interjection

1. Congratulations!; Best wishes!.

   “Mazel tov,” Grandpa said as he thrust a five-dollar bill into my pocket. “I'm so proud of you!”

Word History and Origins

Origin of mazel tov¹

First recorded in 1860–65; from Yiddish mazltov, from Hebrew mazzāl tōv, literally, “good luck”; mazzāl “constellation, destiny, luck,” ultimately from Akkadian manzaltu, mazzaztum “location of a star, position”; tōv “good,” cognate with Arabic ṭayyib; schlimazel ( def. )