Unsure where to place the stress in “Shanah Tovah”? Here’s the breakdown.

Step‑by‑Step Pronunciation Guide

Phonetic spelling: /ʃaˈna toˈva/ → sha‑NAH to‑VAH
Breaking it down
• sha – soft “shah,” short “a”
• NAH – stressed, open “ah” vowel
• to – quick “toh,” long “o”
• VAH – lightly stressed final “vah,” open “ah”
Say it in four beats, primary stress on NAH with a gentle lift on VAH.

Shanah Tovah is a Hebrew phrase meaning “Good year,” used as a warm greeting during the Jewish New Year, Rosh HaShanah, to wish someone a sweet and happy year ahead.