הכל טוב
hakol tov
The Hebrew phrase for "all is good" is הכל טוב (hakol tov).
הכל טוב is a common way to say that everything is fine or that there are no problems. It is frequently used as a standalone response to questions like "How are you?" or "Is everything okay?"
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase is composed of the word הכל (everything) and טוב (good).
How do you pronounce it?
hakol tov
Did you know?
- In Israel, saying הכל טוב with a specific rising intonation can actually be a sarcastic way of suggesting that things are actually going quite poorly.
- While הכל טוב is a standard response, Israelis often use the slang term סבבה (sababa) to express the same sentiment in a much more relaxed, informal way.
- The word טוב shares its ancient roots with the Arabic word ṭayyib, which is used to describe something that is not just good, but also pleasant or fragrant.
Examples in context
- הכל טוב אצלי.Hakol tov etsli.Everything is good with me.
- אל תדאג, הכל טוב.Al tid'ag, hakol tov.Don't worry, everything is fine.
- הכל טוב בבית?Hakol tov ba'bayit?Is everything good at home?
Example conversation
Ido is checking in with Rotem after a long day.
- עידו Idoהיי רוטם, איך הלך היום?hai rotam, eich halach hayom?Hi Rotem, how did the day go?
- רוטם Rotemהיה עמוס, אבל הכל טוב.haya amus, aval hakol tov.It was busy, but all is good.
- עידו Idoאת צריכה עזרה עם משהו?at tzricha ezra im mashehu?Do you need help with something?
- רוטם Rotemלא תודה, הכל טוב.lo toda, hakol tov.No thanks, all is good.
Sources
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries טוב, CC BY-SA 4.0.
