mazel tov

or ma·zal tov

[ mah-zuhl -tawv, tawf, tohv ]

/ ˈmɑ zəl ˌtɔv, ˌtɔf, ˌtoʊv /

Yiddish.

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noun

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

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

QUIZ

ARE YOU A TRUE BLUE CHAMPION OF THESE "BLUE" SYNONYMS?

We could talk until we're blue in the face about this quiz on words for the color "blue," but we think you should take the quiz and find out if you're a whiz at these colorful terms.

Question 1 of 8

Which of the following words describes “sky blue”?

navy

beryl

azure

TAKE THE QUIZ TO FIND OUT

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Origin of mazel tov

1860–65; <Yiddish mazltov<Hebrew mazzāl tōbh literally, good luck

Words nearby mazel tov

Mazatec, Mazatlán, Mazda, Mazdaism, maze, mazel tov, mazer, mazey, mazo-, mazopathia, mazopathy

How to use mazel tov in a sentence

Yes, the first line uttered by a black female cast regular since 2007 was “Mazel tov.”
How Did Sasheer Zamata Do in Her Saturday Night Live Debut?|Kevin Fallon|January 19, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Author Gary Shteyngart was even congratulatory: “Mazel Tov, Random Penguin!”
The Victims of the Penguin & Random House Merger: Literary Agents|Ella Delany|November 28, 2012|DAILY BEAST
An Israeli lawyer says that Shem-Tov, who plead not guilty, was recently rearrested after he broke his house arrest.
Israel’s Campaign To Halt Organ Trafficking Tourism|Rob Verger|March 18, 2012|DAILY BEAST
Two years later, in Thoroughly Modern Millie, Andrews shouted “Mazel tov!”
Look Who's Talking Yiddish!||July 15, 2011|DAILY BEAST

To all of that that I say Mazel Tov, and John, Charlie, and Julian, have a glass of Manischewitz Concord Grape on me.
Anti-Semitic Celebrity Meltdowns|Eric Alterman|March 4, 2011|DAILY BEAST
The tribe of Mazel abounds in the Cevennes, and they had already given many martyrs to the cause.
The Huguenots in France|Samuel Smiles.
Since the discussion had become envenomed, Mazel had been ringing his bell, extremely flushed at finding his authority ignored.
His Masterpiece|Emile Zola
At the outset of the sitting the brigadier had come to him, saying: 'There was a mistake yesterday, Monsieur Mazel.
His Masterpiece|Emile Zola
Only, some of the committee-men laughed and nudged each other, at which Mazel felt very hurt, and became very fierce.
His Masterpiece|Emile Zola
He greeted his aged father with a smile, and wished him good 'Yom Tov' and bowed his head for his father's blessing.
Pictures of Jewish Home-Life Fifty Years Ago|Hannah Trager