Ways to say it
| Yiddish | Romanization (Wiktionary) | IPA |
|---|---|---|
| זאָל זײַן מיט מזל | zol zayn mit mazl | /ˌzɔl ˌzaɪ̯n mit ˈmazl̩/ |
| זאָל זײַן מיט גליק | zol zayn mit glik | |
| מיטן רעכטן פֿוס | mitn rekhtn fus |
These phrases are used to wish fortune upon someone or to offer encouragement. One way to express this is through the phrase זאָל זײַן מיט מזל, while another idiomatic option is מיטן רעכטן פֿוס, which functions as a superstitious way to wish someone luck.
What does it mean word for word?
The idiom מיטן רעכטן פֿוס literally means "with the right foot".
Which one should you use?
While both מזל (mazl) and גליק (glik) translate to luck or fortune, מזל often carries a connotation of destiny or astrological fortune. This distinction is reflected in the two different forms for wishing luck: זאָל זײַן מיט מזל and זאָל זײַן מיט גליק.
How do you pronounce it?
zol zayn mit mazl
When do people say it?
The phrase מיטן רעכטן פֿוס is rooted in the custom of entering a place or starting a task with the right foot to ensure good fortune.
Did you know?
- While מזל means luck in Yiddish, it comes from the Hebrew word for a constellation. This links the idea of 'luck' to the position of the stars.
- The phrase מיטן רעכטן פֿוס reflects a superstition shared with several Mediterranean and Middle Eastern cultures that starting a journey with the right foot prevents misfortune.
- The Yiddish word גליק is a distant relative of the English word 'luck'. They both stem from the same ancient Germanic root.
Examples in context
- זאָל זײַן מיט מזל.I wish you good luck.This sentence is useful for expressing the wish "I wish you good luck" using זאָל זײַן מיט מזל.Tatoeba #10187601 by shekitten, translation #54468 by CK
- מיטן רעכטן פֿוס, טאָם.Good luck, Tom.This sentence shows how to use מיטן רעכטן פֿוס to say "Good luck, Tom".Tatoeba #10187600 by shekitten, translation #4495417 by CK
- זיכער. מיטן רעכטן פֿוס!Sure. Good luck!This sentence demonstrates a conversational use of מיטן רעכטן פֿוס to say "Sure. Good luck!"Tatoeba #10187599 by shekitten, translation #4431177 by Vortarulo
- 4 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Berel is about to go for a job interview.
- בערל Berelאיך גיי שוין צו דעם אינטערוויו.ikh gay shoyn tsu dem interv yu.I am going to the interview now.
- שרה Saraזאָל זײַן מיט מזל, בערל!zol zayn mit mazl, berel!Good luck, Berel!
- בערל Berelאַ דאַנק, שרה.a dank, sora.Thank you, Sarah.
- שרה Saraדו וועסט מאַכען אַ גוטן דרוק.du vest makhen a gutn druk.You will make a good impression.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “good luck” translations and entries זאָל זײַן מיט מזל, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries גליק, זאָל זײַן מיט מזל, זײַן, מזל, מיט, מיטן, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
