כל טוב
kol tuv/ˈkul tˤoːb/word by word
The Hebrew phrase for "best wishes" is כל טוב (kol tuv).
כל טוב is used as a sign-off at the end of written correspondence, similar to "Best wishes" or "All the best" in English.
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase consists of the word כל (all) and טוב (good/goodness).
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
כל טוב is a standard, polite way to close a professional or respectful email and can be used in semi-formal contexts. In contrast, the informal expression המון ברכות literally means "lots of blessings".
How do you pronounce it?
The pronunciation is /ˈkul tˤoːb/ (romanized as kol tuv).
What mistakes should you avoid?
Do not use מזל טוב to mean "best wishes" in a letter closing, as this is typically associated with congratulations for special occasions like birthdays and weddings.
When do people say it?
When you want to express congratulations for special occasions like birthdays and weddings, the appropriate phrase is מזל טוב.
Did you know?
- While כל טוב is a written closing, saying it aloud during a goodbye can sound like a final farewell or a way to end a conversation quickly.
- The word טוב (good) shares the same ancient Semitic root as the Arabic word طَيِّب (ṭayyib), which describes something that is pleasant, pure, or even fragrant.
- If you use כל טוב in a very casual text message to a close friend, it might come across as cold or overly distant.
Examples in context
- כל טוב, יעל.kol tuv, Yael.Best wishes, Yael.
Example conversation
Daniel is writing an email to Rotem and is deciding how to end it.
- דניאל Danielאיך כדאי לסיים את המייל לרוטם?eich kedai lesayem et hamail lerotem?How should I end the email to Rotem?
- רוטם Rotemתכתוב 'כל טוב', זה תמיד נשמע טוב.tiktov 'kol tuv', ze tamid nishma tuv.Write 'best wishes', it always sounds good.
- דניאל Danielאוקיי, אני מוסיף 'כל טוב' בסוף.okay, ani mosif 'kol tuv' basof.Okay, I am adding 'best wishes' at the end.
- רוטם Rotemמעולה, זה מאוד מנומס.me'ule, ze me'od muna'sem.Excellent, it is very polite.
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.
