It literally means "good luck", but it's used for "congratulations".
Going way back, it's interesting to notice that the constellations, particularly those of the zodiac,
are known in Hebrew as the "mah-zah-LOTE", singular "mah-ZAHL". It's pretty clear that way back
in the day, when you wished someone "mazal tov", you were wishing him "good constellations",
or "good horoscope".
"mah-ZAHL TOV" is a Hebrew phrase, used to convey the same meaning where,
in English, one would say "Good Luck" or "Congratulations".
"TOV" in Hebrew means "Good", so with the phrase "mazal tov", one is wishing
upon the recipient "good mazal", in the sense of good luck or good fortune. But
"mazal" is an interesting way to say it.
In the King James translation of Psalms, there is a reference to the Creator as the one
" ... who bringest forth the Mazzeroth ... ". That strange word is one of the many cases
where King James' committee of scholars decided to keep the Hebrew word, instead of
trying to translate it (just as they did with the Hebrew words Adam, Abraham, Sarah,
Rebecca, Isaac, Jacob, Joseph, Moses, Aaron, Israel, Daniel, Satan, Behemoth, David,
Michael, Elijah, Joel, Gabriel ... but that's another story).
"Mazzeroth" is equivalent to the Hebrew word "mazallot", plural for "constellations"
of the stars. The Creator ".. bringest forth the Mazzeroth .." when he causes the sky
to rotate so that the constellations appear in their correct places and times.
And when you wish someone "good mazal", you literally wish him "good constellations",
or good Astrology, good horoscope, etc. No different at all from good luck.
Astrology was never part of Judaism, and was actively frowned upon, since it purports
to substitute other forces for Gcd's will. But you can't keep the simple folks down,
popular superstitions die hard, and the Jewish wish for a "good horoscope" lives on
even in our times. Mazal tov !
This is the Ashkenazi pronunciation of the Hebrew phrase Mazal Tov (מזל טוב) which means "congratulations." It literally means "good luck" but it's not used in that way.
The whole verse is Siman Tov u'Mazel Tov Siman = sign Mazel = luck Tov=Good U' = and So Good signs (Siman Tov) and (u') Good Luck (Mazel Tov)
Mazel is a Hebrew word translating to the English word "luck". Mazel comes from the Hebrew phrase "Mazel Tov" which translates to "Good Luck".
Mazel tov or mazal tov.
It's spelled mazel tov and means congratulations.
Mazel Tov Cocktail - 2007 was released on: USA: 2007
The phrase Mazel Toyv is a phrase used to express congratulations for a happy or significant occasion. Mazel Tov has Hebrew and Yiddish roots, and is also spelled Mazal Tov.
Mazal Tov or מזל טוב
MAZEL TOV is Hebrew or yiddish for congratulations...
The cast of Mazel Tov Cocktail - 2007 includes: Mamta Pasha as Ravi
mazal tov (מזל טוב) is Hebrew for "congratulations.
It means Good fortune and good sign.
Mazel Tov ou le mariage - 1968 is rated/received certificates of: USA:M