Jewish greetings


There are several Jewish and Hebrew greetings, farewells, and phrases that are used in Judaism, and in Jewish and Hebrew-speaking communities around the world. Even outside Israel, Hebrew is an important part of Jewish life. Many Jews, even if they do not speak Hebrew fluently, will know several of these greetings.

Shabbat

For the Sabbath, there are several greetings that Jews use to greet one another.
PhraseHebrew scriptTranslationPronunciationLanguageExplanation
Shabbat shalomשַׁבָּת שָׁלוֹםPeaceful SabbathHebrewUsed any time on Shabbat, especially at the end of a Shabbat service. Used also preceding Shabbat almost like "have a good weekend."
Gut Shabbes
Good Shabbos		גוּט שַׁבָּתGood SabbathYiddish/EnglishUsed any time on Shabbat, especially in general conversation or when greeting people.
Gut Voch
Shavua tov		גוט וואָך
שָׁבוּעַ טוֹב		Good weekYiddish/HebrewUsed on Saturday nights and even on Sundays "shavua tov" is used to wish someone a good coming week.

Holidays

For different chagim and Yom Tov there are different expressions used.
PhraseHebrew scriptTranslationPronunciationLanguageExplanation
Chag sameachחַג שָׂמֵחַHappy holidayHebrewUsed as a greeting for the holidays, can insert holiday name in the middle; e.g. "chag Chanukah sameach". Also, for Passover, "chag kasher v'same'ach" meaning wishing a happy and kosher holiday.
Moed tov
Moadim l'simcha		מועד טובֿ
מועדים לשמחה		A good festival period
A happy festival period		HebrewUsed as a greeting during the chol ha-moed of the Passover and Sukkot holidays.
Gut Yontivגוט יום־טובֿGood Yom TovYiddish/EnglishUsed as a greeting for the Yom Tov holidays. Often spelled Gut Yontif or Gut Yontiff.
L'shanah tovah or Shana Tovaלְשָׁנָה טוֹבָהTo a good yearHebrewUsed as a greeting during Rosh Hashanah and the Days of Awe, Also used, simply "shanah tovah", meaning "a good year", or "shanah tovah u'metukah" meaning "a good and sweet year". The phrase is short for "l'shanah tovah tikatevu ve techatemu", meaning "may you be inscribed and sealed for a good year". A shorter version is often used: "ktiva ve chatima tova", meaning " good signature " and literally "good inscribing and signing". In Israel, also used during Passover due to the renewal of spring, the Exodus story and the new beginning of being freed from slavery, and because it says in the bible itself, as to the month of Nissan, the month of Passover, that "This month is to be for you the first month, the first month of your year." Nissan is in fact the seventh month, but for these reasons the greeting has wide usage in Israel near Passover.
Tzom kalצוֹם קַלEasy fastHebrewUsed to wish someone well for Yom Kippur. The word "happy" is not used because Yom Kippur is meant to be somber holiday, not a happy one.
G'mar Chatima Tovahגמר חתימה טובהMay you be sealed for good HebrewUsed to wish someone well for and on Yom Kippur. Tradition teaches that our fate is written on Rosh Hashanah and is sealed on Yom Kippur.
Tizku Leshanim Rabot - Ne'imot veTovotתזכו לשנים רבות - נעימות וטובותMay you merit many pleasant and good yearsHebrewUsed in Sephardic communities to wish someone well for Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur.

Greetings and farewells

There are several greetings and good-byes used in Hebrew to say hello and farewell to someone.
PhraseHebrew scriptTranslationPronunciationLanguageExplanation
ShalomשָׁלוֹםHello, goodbye, peaceHebrewA Hebrew greeting, based on the root for "completeness". Literally meaning "peace", shalom is used for both hello and goodbye. A cognate with the Arabic-language salaam.
Shalom aleichemשָׁלוֹם עֲלֵיכֶםPeace be upon youHebrewThis form of greeting was traditional among the Ashkenazi Jewish communities of Eastern Europe. The appropriate response is "Aleichem Shalom" or "Upon you be peace." "
L'hitraotלְהִתְרָאוֹתGoodbye, lit. "to meet"HebrewPerhaps the most common Hebrew farewell in Israel.

Phrases

These are Hebrew phrases used in Jewish communities both inside and outside of Israel.
PhraseHebrew scriptTranslationPronunciationLanguageExplanation-
Mazal tov / Mazel tovמַזָּל טוֹבgood luck/congratulations
Hebrew/YiddishUsed to mean congratulations. Used in Hebrew or Yiddish. Used on to indicate good luck has occurred, ex. birthday, bar mitzvah, a new job, or an engagement. Also shouted out at Jewish weddings when the groom stomps on a glass. It is also used when someone accidentally breaks a glass or a dish. However, NOT normally used on news of a pregnancy, where it is replaced by "b'sha'ah tovah".-
B'karov etzlech
B'karov etzlecha 		בְּקָרוֹב אֶצְלְךָSoon so shall it be by you
HebrewUsed in response to "mazal tov"-
B'ezrat HaShemבְּעֶזְרָת הַשֵּׁםWith God's helpHebrewUsed by religious Jews when speaking of the future and wanting God's help.-
Yasher koach יְישַׁר כֹּחַYou should have increased strengthHebrewMeaning "good for you", "way to go", or "more power to you". Often used in synagogue after someone has received an honour. The proper response is "baruch tiheyeh" /brucha teeheyi meaning "you shall be blessed."-
Chazak u'varuchחֵזָק וּבָרוךְBe strong and blessedHebrewUsed in Sephardi synagogues after an honour. The response is "chazak ve'ematz" It is the Sephardi counterpart pair to the Ashkenaz ShKoiAch and Boruch TihYeh.
Nu??נוSo?YiddishA Yiddish interjection used to inquire about how everything went.-
Kol ha'ka'vodכֹּל הַכָּבוֹדAll of the honourHebrewUsed for a job well done.-
L'chaimלְחַיִּיםTo life
Hebrew/YiddishHebrew and Yiddish equivalent of saying "cheers" when doing a toast-
GesundheitגעזונטהייטHealthYiddishYiddish equivalent of saying "bless you" when someone sneezes. Also sometimes "tsu gezunt".-
Lavriut לבריאותTo HealthHebrewHebrew equivalent of saying "bless you" when someone sneezes.-
רְפוּאָה שְׁלֵמָהGet well soon. Lit. full recoveryHebrewUsed when someone is sick or injured. Also see related daily prayer addition.-