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#2 (permalink) Wed Sep 16, 2009 20:10 pm How often do you use the phrase 'Mazel tov'? |
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| I heard it a couple of times in comedies and cartoons. |
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Ratt I'm new here and I like it ;-)

Joined: 12 Sep 2009 Posts: 12 Location: Samarkand, Uzbekistan
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#3 (permalink) Wed Sep 16, 2009 21:19 pm How often do you use the phrase 'Mazel tov'? |
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It depends on the community you live in. I am Jewish and have a lot of Jewish friends. It is very common among Jewish people. Even people whose first language is not Yiddish or Hebrew use it a lot to congratulate each other with inportant life events, like birthdays, marriages, births, college admissions, etc. Many non-Jewish people I know use it too. "Masel tov" is a Yiddish expression, it verbatim translation into English is "Good luck." _________________ con·text - The part of a text or statement that surrounds a particular word or passage and determines its meaning. |
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Milanya I'm here quite often ;-)
Joined: 29 Dec 2008 Posts: 923 Location: Texas, USA (at present)
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#4 (permalink) Thu Sep 17, 2009 11:29 am How often do you use the phrase 'Mazel tov'? |
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| In the United States it is relatively common to hear "Masel tov", and even non-Jews will say it from time to time. However, I think it's more common to hear Americans say "на здоров'я". |
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Jamie (K) I'm a Communicator ;-)
Joined: 24 Feb 2006 Posts: 6559 Location: Detroit, Michigan, USA
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#5 (permalink) Thu Sep 17, 2009 12:12 pm How often do you use the phrase 'Mazel tov'? |
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You probably will also hear "на здоровье" or "за здоровье" since many Ukrainians speak Russian rather than Ukrainian.
TOEIC listening, photographs: The earthmover |
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Torsten Learning Coach

Joined: 25 Sep 2003 Posts: 14528 Location: EU
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#6 (permalink) Thu Sep 17, 2009 12:17 pm How often do you use the phrase 'Mazel tov'? |
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| Torsten wrote: |
| You probably will also hear "на здоровье" or "за здоровье" since many Ukrainians speak Russian rather than Ukrainian. |
That's the one we hear. |
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Jamie (K) I'm a Communicator ;-)
Joined: 24 Feb 2006 Posts: 6559 Location: Detroit, Michigan, USA
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#7 (permalink) Wed Oct 07, 2009 18:46 pm How often do you use the phrase 'Mazel tov'? |
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And how popular is the word 'naheim' in the US?
TOEIC listening, photographs: At the marina |
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Torsten Learning Coach

Joined: 25 Sep 2003 Posts: 14528 Location: EU
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#8 (permalink) Wed Oct 07, 2009 20:36 pm How often do you use the phrase 'Mazel tov'? |
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Milanya, " Mazal Tov is a pure Hebrew not Yiddish. You translation is right . I know it because we heard it a lot during the Israeli occupation to Gaza . I even took "Advanced Hebrew " courses.This is the Hebrew transcription " !!מזל טוב " Toretten , The word is " Lihaeim" means -verbally -"to life" which is equivalent to "Cheers !!" in English for a toast . This is the Hebrew transcription : "לחיים " |
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Muin You can meet me at english-test.net

Joined: 08 Jul 2007 Posts: 50 Location: Gaza Strip
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#9 (permalink) Thu Oct 08, 2009 14:44 pm How often do you use the phrase 'Mazel tov'? |
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Hi Muin,
Many thanks for your answer. I was referring to the word 'naheim' and would like to know how common it is in the UK or US.
TOEIC listening, photographs: Waste disposal |
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Torsten Learning Coach

Joined: 25 Sep 2003 Posts: 14528 Location: EU
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#10 (permalink) Thu Oct 08, 2009 16:03 pm How often do you use the phrase 'Mazel tov'? |
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| Jamie (K) wrote: |
| In the United States it is relatively common to hear "Masel tov", and even non-Jews will say it from time to time. |
Yes, that's a pretty well-known expression.
| Jamie (K) wrote: |
| However, I think it's more common to hear Americans say "на здоров'я". |
Since I can't read what that says, I can't say whether I've ever heard anyone in the US say it. However, I can say that that's definitely not something I would expect the average American to ever write. :?
| Torsten wrote: |
| I was referring to the word 'naheim' and would like to know how common it is in the UK or US. |
That doesn't ring a bell. I have heard of a place named Anaheim, however.
| Muin wrote: |
| The word is " Lihaeim" means -verbally -"to life" which is equivalent to "Cheers !!" in English for a toast . |
Yes, that's something I've heard people say in the US, but I would spell it this way: l'chaim.
___________________________________ "You can't depend on your eyes when your imagination is out of focus." ~ Mark Twain |
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Esl_Expert I'm here quite often ;-)
Joined: 26 Dec 2008 Posts: 969 Location: USA
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#11 (permalink) Thu Oct 08, 2009 18:43 pm How often do you use the phrase 'Mazel tov'? |
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| Most Americans would go their whole life without saying either of these expressions. But they are certainly well known from the media, movies, plays, etc. Outside of certain communities, it would be strange to hear a non-Jewish person use these terms. |
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Erik You can meet me at english-test.net
Joined: 08 Oct 2009 Posts: 85
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#12 (permalink) Mon Nov 09, 2009 14:06 pm How often do you use the phrase 'Mazel tov'? |
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Maybe the correct English spelling of both expressions is molzotov and lahyme?
TOEIC listening, photographs: A large machine |
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Torsten Learning Coach

Joined: 25 Sep 2003 Posts: 14528 Location: EU
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| using 'stop' and 'to' | These and This |