מַזָּל טוֹב
mazal tov
Mazel tov means congratulations, not good luck
What it means
Mazal tov is said when something good has already happened: a birth, a wedding, a bar mitzvah, a new job, a birthday. Word for word it is good fortune, from mazal, a word that once meant a constellation, the stars that were thought to decide a person's luck. Mazel is the Yiddish pronunciation; Israelis say mazal.
When Israelis say it
It is the guests' shout at a Jewish wedding the moment the groom breaks the glass, and the line on every card for a new baby. For luck with something still ahead, an exam or an interview, Hebrew says behatzlacha, with success.
How to answer
Toda, thank you. Close family may add that they wish the same back.
Frequently asked questions
Is mazel tov the same as good luck?
No. Mazel tov congratulates something that has happened. For good luck before a test or a trip, the Hebrew is behatzlacha.
Mazel tov or mazal tov?
Both are right. Mazel tov is the Yiddish pronunciation, common in English, and mazal tov is how it is said in Israel.