1

Does the greeting "Good Yom Tov" contain a redundancy? Doesn't "Yom Tov" mean "Good day"? So you are saying "Good good day?"

Improve this question
3
  • 2
    The "Tov" means that the day in general is good. The "good" means that I hope your particular experience on this day is good and enjoyable.
    – Ypnypn
    May 30, 2014 at 18:24
  • Tov Yom Good to you too!
    – Double AA ♦
    May 30, 2014 at 20:29
  • Note that idioms do not need to be literally correct. This is an idiom for Have a good ho(i/y)day
    – sabbahillel
    Jul 28, 2016 at 12:48

2 Answers 2

Reset to default
8

This is a matter of idiom. "Yom Tov" while literally meaning "Good Day" is the idiom for a day that is "good" because of the spiritual level of that day. Thus, when spoken as a single phrase, the translation is similar to the English original "Holy Day" which we now use as "holiday". The Yiddish "Yumtuf" or "Yuntif" shows that it is used a a single meaning. Thus "Good Yuntif" would not be considered a redundancy. It is the equivalent of "Happy Holiday".

This answer was approved by the Department of Redundancy department (:-)

Improve this answer
4
  • Funny ... I hope people saw the humor in the question, as well. You didn't think I was 100% serious, did you?
    – DanF
    May 30, 2014 at 21:00
  • @DanF What else would your question be except serious?
    – Double AA ♦
    May 30, 2014 at 21:45
  • @DanF What do the Jews in Rome say to the Pope on Shavuos?
    – sabbahillel
    May 30, 2014 at 22:14
  • 4
    @DanF Gut Yuntif Puntif
    – sabbahillel
    May 30, 2014 at 22:15
4

In Munkatch the custom is to say just Yom-Tov and not 'Git' Yom-Tov.

The Rebbe of Munkatch used to say that Git Yom Tuv is one of three redundant expressions in yiddish:

גוט יום טוב

מים אחרונים וואסער

אונגארישער נער

Improve this answer
2
  • 1
    Maybe the Munkatcher rebbe also noted that the phrase "Shabbat Hol Hamo'ed" is a double oximoron?
    – DanF
    Jun 3, 2014 at 2:34
  • The last expression, when heard, might be assumed to mean "a young fool".
    – DanF
    Sep 20, 2018 at 21:01

You must log in to answer this question.

Not the answer you're looking for? Browse other questions tagged .