mazel
Yiddish good fortune
Mazel is a Yiddish and Hebrew word meaning luck or fortune, most familiar in English through the expression mazel tov (good luck, congratulations).
On its own, mazel appears mainly in Jewish contexts: She has no mazel with men.
The word carries connotations of destiny or fate beyond mere chance.
Chance affecting outcomes
- destinyPredetermined course of events
- fatePredetermined course of events
- serendipityAccidental fortunate discovery
- kismetPreordained future outcome
providence · windfall · boon · auspicious · chance · blessing · stars · karma
Festive event marking occasion
- weddingMarriage rite and feast
- birthComing into the world
- achievementAccomplished goal or deed
- milestoneNotable event marking progress
graduation · engagement · promotion · simcha · toast · cheers · felicitations · salute
Ashkenazi Jewish language
- HebrewSemitic language of Israel
- AshkenaziJews of European descent
- SephardicOf Iberian Jewish origin
- shtetlHistoric Jewish village
mensch · schmaltz · chutzpah · kibitz · kvell · schmooze · bubbe · landsman
Formal spoken blessing
- graceEffortless beauty of motion
- favorKind act or preference
- divineOf or from gods
- prayerAddress to deity
sanctity · well-wishing · invocation · good wishes · bestowed · sacred · spiritual · devotion
luck
Chance affecting outcomes
- destinyPredetermined course of events
- fatePredetermined course of events
- serendipityAccidental fortunate discovery
kismet · providence · windfall · boon · auspicious · chance · blessing · stars · karma · lot
celebration
Festive event marking occasion
- weddingMarriage rite and feast
- birthComing into the world
- achievementAccomplished goal or deed
milestone · graduation · engagement · promotion · simcha · toast · cheers · felicitations · salute · bridal
Yiddish
Ashkenazi Jewish language
shtetl · mensch · schmaltz · chutzpah · kibitz · kvell · schmooze · bubbe · landsman · oy
benediction
Formal spoken blessing
prayer · sanctity · well-wishing · invocation · good wishes · bestowed · sacred · spiritual · devotion · gratitude
mazelmisfortune
Adverse circumstance or event
bad luck · shlimazel · unluckiness · hard luck · calamity
mazelcurse
Invoked harm through words
damnation · misfortune · affliction · blight · malediction
- mazel tovHebrew celebratory exclamation