שנה טובה
shaná tová
שנה טובה (shaná tová) is the Hebrew phrase for Happy New Year.
The phrase שנה טובה is the most common way to wish someone a Happy New Year in Hebrew.
Meaning: Happy New Year (phrase)
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase שנה טובה literally translates to year good.
How does it change in a sentence?
In the phrase שנה טובה, the adjective טובה (good) follows the noun שנה (year) and agrees with it in feminine gender.
How do you pronounce it?
shaná tová
When do people say it?
During the Jewish New Year, a common, more elaborate variation or response is שנה טובה ומתוקה (shaná tová u'metuká), which means 'a good and sweet year'.
Did you know?
- It is common to respond to שנה טובה by saying גמר חתימה טובה, which wishes the other person a 'good final sealing' of their fate for the year.
- When you say שנה טובה, you are actually using a shortened version of a much longer blessing: לְשָׁנָה טוֹבָה תִּכָּתֵב, which means 'may you be inscribed for a good year'.
- The phrase שנה טובה ומתוקה is often accompanied by the custom of eating apples dipped in honey to symbolize a 'sweet' year.
Examples in context
- אני מאחל לך שנה טובה.I wish you a Happy New Year.This sentence shows how to use שנה טובה to wish someone a Happy New Year.Tatoeba #578005 by Eldad, translation #30091 by Eldad
- שנה טובה לכל באי טטואבה!Happy New Year to all Tatoebans!This sentence shows how to wish שנה טובה to a group of people.Tatoeba #4118355 by Eldad, translation #12892137 by rul
- שנה טובה!Happy New Year!This is a simple way to say שנה טובה.Tatoeba #1817262 by MrShoval, translation #361350 by blay_paul
- שָׁנָה טוֹבָה וּמְתוּקָהWishing you a happy and sweet New Year.
- שָׁנָה טוֹבָה וְהַצְלָחָהWishing you a happy New Year and success.
- שָׁנָה טוֹבָה וְחַג שָׂמֵחַWishing you a happy New Year and a joyous holiday.
- 3 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Noam and Noa are meeting at a holiday party.
- נועם Noamשנה טובה, נועה!Shana tova, Noa!Happy New Year, Noa!
- נועה Noaשנה טובה גם לך, נועם.Shana tova gam lecha, Noam.Happy New Year to you too, Noam.
- נועם Noamשתהיה לך שנה נפלאה.She'tehiye lecha shana nifla'a.May you have a wonderful year.
- נועה Noaתודה רבה, שנת בריאות.Toda raba, shnat briut.Thank you very much, a year of health.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “happy new year” translations and entries שנה טובה, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries שנה, שנה טובה, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
