Mazel tov definition: an expression of congratulations and best wishes, used chiefly by Jews. See examples of MAZEL TOV used in a sentence.
alsoschlimazel, etc., "born loser, unlucky person," 1948, from Yiddish phraseshlim mazel"rotten luck," from Middle High Germanslim"crooked" (seeslim(adj.)) + Hebrewmazzal"luck" (as inmazel tov). British slangshemozzle"an unhappy plight" (1889) probably is from the same source. Compare...