כל טוב
kol tuv/ˈkul tˤoːb/word by word
The Hebrew phrase for "all the best" is כל טוב (kol tuv).
כל טוב is a way to wish someone well. It is commonly used as a closing in letters or emails, serving a similar purpose to "Best regards" or "All the best" in English.
Meaning: good luck (intj)
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
While it can be used in casual settings, כל טוב is a relatively formal and elegant way to wish someone well and it is often used in written correspondence.
How do you pronounce it?
The romanization is kol tuv and the IPA is /ˈkul tˤoːb/.
When do people say it?
If you want to combine a wish for success with a wish for good health, you can use the informal expression בהצלחה ובריאות (B'Hatzlacha u'Vri'ut). Additionally, if you are addressing a male to say "good luck to you," you would say B'Hatzlacha Lecha.
Did you know?
- In very traditional or religious circles, כל טוב can be perceived as a 'shorthand' for a larger prayer for divine goodness to follow the person.
- The word טוב is a linguistic relative of the Arabic word طَيِّب (tayyib), meaning 'good' or 'pleasant'.
- In Israel, saying כל טוב in a spoken conversation can sometimes feel overly poetic or archaic, making it feel more like a blessing than a casual goodbye.
Examples in context
- בוא נאחל לתום כל טוב.Let's wish Tom all the best.This sentence shows how to use כל טוב to wish someone well.Tatoeba #5627365 by fekundulo, translation #5178632 by CK
- אני מאחל לך כל טוב.ani me'achel lecha kol tuv.I wish you all the best.
- 1 more sentence on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Two friends are saying goodbye after a meeting.
- עידו Idoהיה נחמד לראות אותך, רוטם.Haya nehmad lir'ot otach, Rotem.It was nice seeing you, Rotem.
- רוטם Rotemגם אני שמחתי לראות אותך, עידו.Gam ani samachti lir'ot otcha, Ido.I was happy to see you too, Ido.
- עידו Idoכל טוב, נסע בזהירות.Kol tuv, nis'a bizhirut.All the best, drive safely.
- רוטם Rotemתודה, להתראות!Toda, lehitraot!Thanks, see you!
Sources
- IPA marked “word by word” joins the Wiktionary pronunciations of each word (כל, טוב) and can differ in connected speech.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries טוב, כל, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
