The most common traditional greeting for Yom Kippur is to wish someone a “meaningful fast” or an “easy fast,” often expressed in Hebrew as “Tzom kal” (“an easy fast”).

Core Yom Kippur greetings

  • “Tzom kal” – “Have an easy fast.”
  • “G’mar chatima tova” – Literally “a good final sealing,” referring to being sealed for good in the Book of Life.
  • “G’mar tov” – A shortened form of “G’mar chatima tova,” meaning “a good end” or “good final sealing.”
  • “Have a meaningful fast” – A modern English phrasing many people prefer, emphasizing the spiritual depth of the day.

Because Yom Kippur is solemn and reflective rather than festive, people usually avoid saying “Happy Yom Kippur” and instead choose one of the greetings above.

If you’re not Jewish or unsure

If you want something simple and respectful in English, you can say:

  • “Wishing you a meaningful Yom Kippur.”
  • “Wishing you an easy and meaningful fast.”

Since Yom Kippur comes right after Rosh Hashanah, it is also still acceptable in this season to say “Shanah tovah” (“good year” / “happy new year”), especially in the days surrounding the holiday.

Information gathered from public forums or data available on the internet and portrayed here.