Glossary of Conversational Yiddish
"For the Yiddishly Challenged"

(With a bissel* Hebrew thrown in). *a little bit

abee gezunt — as long as you’re healthy, as in the expression, "What else matters, abee gezunt." p. 147

afikoman — the piece of matzoh that is hidden away to be eaten at the conclusion of the Passover seder. Actually the word is Greek (fooled you, you thought this was all Yiddish!) and means dessert. p. 164

a leben af em — long life to him; or more simply "God bless him!" Take your pick. p. 45, 141

alta — older or senior. It actually became a name for some people, just as we call someone "Junior." p. 91

aroyss vaffen der gelt — a waste of money (literally, you’re throwing out your money on such an enterprise!) p. 156

ay-yi-yi — now this expression has several meanings. For example in, "She’s not so ay-yi-yi, it simply means "so special." But in "Ay-yi-yi, do I have a problem!" it means, "Oh my goodness!" p. 90

ayn klaynikite — a bit of nothing; or "come on now"; an expression of disbelief or wonder. p. 210

ayn und ayntsigeh — "the one and only." Every Jewish child is ayn und ayntsigeh, even if he or she has four brothers and six sisters. p. 76

a yom tov a freilach — a joyous holiday, the opening line to a Yiddish song that was sung at Chanukah time. p. 154

az mir schmeart fohrt mir — the squeaky wheel gets the grease. (Sometimes it suggests that a little bribe won’t hurt!) p. 71

a zissin Pesach — a sweet and happy Passover holiday. p. 164

B

ballabusta — a woman who is an excellent homemaker. In Proverbs we read of the "woman of valor." Now she was a ballabusta! p. 106, 123

bendel — a little band or a ribbon. A red bendel would protect one from the "evil eye." p. 64

bimah — the platform or podium in the synagogue. p. 77, 210

boichik — simply a "boy," but usually said affectionately, no matter what your age. p. 83

boychikel — now this was a "little" boy. The "el" ending is usually the sign of the diminutive. p. 88

bris — circumcision. You want to know more, see me after class. According to Jewish law a bris takes place eight days after birth and a drop of wine is placed on the baby’s tongue. (No wonder Jewish men don’t become alcoholics! Think of the association!) p. 87, 90

bubbie — grandma. Such a lovely word! p. 32, 75, 76, 146

C

chaleryas — pestilence or cholera. But when a woman is called a chalerya she is a vixen, a termagant, a shrew, a "chalerya!" p. 69, 109

chanukiah — the eight branched candlestick used during the festival of Chanukah. p. 153

chatschka — a bauble; a trinket; a nik-nak. (Mama called them nok-niks.) p. 39, 119, 121

chometz — bread; and by extension, all foods prohibited during Passover. p. 163

D

dayenu — enough! The popular refrain of a song that is sung during the Passover celebration. p. 164

der tochter fun shylock — Shylock’s daughter; the Yiddish rendition of Shakespeare’s Merchant of Venice. p. 109

der emes — the truth; or the equivalent of "I swear to God!" p. 110

der gantze velt iz a tay-ater — the whole world is a theater! Or as the bard said, "All the world’s a stage!" And he wasn’t even Jewish! p. 109

der koenig lear — King Lear, as in the Shakespearean tragedy by the same name. p. 69

dos iz der emes — it’s the truth! p. 109

dreidel — the little spinning top played with on Chanukah, with four letters informing us that "A great miracle happened there!" p. 109

E

emes — you already learned this. See der emes. p. 64

F

far vuss nit — so why not? p. 98

finster vee drerd — as dark as H--l! (This may be a family book, so I am being careful.) p. 138

freilach — happy; joyous; Another nice word. p. 154

funferrer — actually, this originally had the connotation of someone who nasalized his speech and talked through his nose. Then it took on the meaning of a "deceiver" or a "goof-off" or even a "double-talker." p. 91

fun gornisht kumt gornisht — a line from King Lear, only in Yiddish. "Nothing comes from nothing!" p. 69

G

gefilte fish — Jewish "soul food." Oh come on now, surely you must have eaten this "delicacy." Now-a-days you can buy it in any supermarket, but when I was a boy... p. 163, 209

gelt — money. p. 154

genuge shoyn — enough already. p. 12

geshtorben — Dead, as in "dead." p. 61

geshrai — a loud outcry; a scream; a yell. p. 24, 161, 166

gevalt — now this was a geshrai and means something more than "goodness gracious." p. 161

glezzele — a little glass. Did you spot the diminutive ending here? Good for you! p. 85

glitzeeyanas — Jews from Galicia, a province of Poland or Austria. They were often at odds with the Litvaks, Jews from Lithuania. p. 148, 154

gonnif — a thief! Sometimes it is used affectionately when a child is called a gonnif, but don’t bet on it. p. 191

gornisht — nothing. p. 69

greener couziner — the green horn, someone newly arrived in America and not yet a "Yankee." p. 165

grivenes — when chicken fat was rendered with some onions and a dash of garlic (What else?) this was produced, a high cholesterol, multi-caloric spread. Try it on rye bread, if you dare. p. 73

groggers — noisemakers, not the people kind but the little toys that kids use to make sounds. On Purim time you used your grogger every time that the villian Haman’s name was mentioned. Booooooo! p. 162

grub yung — a boorish individual; a coarse or uncouth fellow. Pheh! p. 138

gutteh neshomeh — a good soul. This is a high compliment. p. 142

H

haimish — a down-to-earth person, one who doesn’t put on airs; literally a "homebody." p. 150

hamantaschen — a delicacy! A three cornered cookie filled with prune butter (lekvah) or jam or raisins and .... enough already. It was thought to resemble the hat that the no-goodnik Haman wore. In Israel it’s called oznai haman, or Haman’s ears. Take your pick. But both are yummy. p. 162

ha-tikvah — literally "the hope." This is the title of the Israeli National Anthem. p. 153

havdallah — the ceremony that takes place on Saturday evening at sunset to signal the departure of the Sabbath and the beginning of the regular work-week. p. 48

K

kaddish — literally "sanctification," but usually thought of as the prayer recited by those in mourning. p. 182

katz-kopf — literally a "cat in one’s head," but it usually means a forgetful person. p. 214

keppie — a diminutive for "head" so we might say "a blessing on your keppie (head)." p. 48

kiddush — the blessing over the wine. p 106, 107, 148

kinder — children; the plural of kind. p. 111

k‘nine a hara — An imprecation to keep away the evil eye. Nobody, and I mean nobody, wants to get a k’nine a hara! p. 63, 64

knish — now this is a delicacy that you should try. It’s a pastry dough filled with potato, or meat, or kasha, or whatever. p. 167

kristallnacht — the "Night of the Broken Glass," that infamous day in Nazi Germany in November 1938 when synagogues were broken into and Jewish store fronts were shattered and vandalized. p. 111

krychick — the end of a loaf of bread; that crusty corner. Mmmmnnnnn. p. 89

kugel — a pudding. Sometimes there’s a potato kugel and sometimes a noodle (or lokshen) kugel, but who cares? They’re both delicious. p. 33, 166, 192

kvetching — complaining or whining. Many a husband has told his wife (and vice-versa), "Stop your kvetching!" p. 140, 185

L

lamed vovnik — tradition has it that the world exists because of 36 righteous individuals and each is called a "lamed vovnik." Lamed-vov are the two Hebrew letters that add up to thirty-six. p. 43

langer — tall or long. p. 91

lashon rah — or better yet, loshon hara. Literally a "bad tongue"; slander or gossip. To be avoided like the plague. So take care. p. 149

latkes — pancakes made with oil and grated potatoes. Ask and I’ll send you a recipe. Usually eaten at Chanukah time, but who cares when? p. 192

litvak — a Jew from Lithuania. See the word glitzeeana. p. 148, 154

loksh — a noodle; a tall skinny guy! p. 91

l’shana tova tikatayvu — may you be inscribed in the Book of Life for a good year; the traditional greeting on Rosh Hashana, the Jewish New Year. p. 146

M

macher — a person of influence; or at least someone who thinks he or she is such a person; a big shot. And if you want to make this the superlative say, a gantzeh macher. p. 12

ma-oz tzur — Rock of Ages. A traditional song sung on Chanukah. p. 154

malach hamaves — the angel of death. So beware! p. 182

mamzer ben ha-niddah — Oy, is this an expression! Don’t use it lightly. It means a "bastard that was conceived during the time the mother had her period." I warned you in advance to be careful! p. 210

mann tracht und gott lacht — "man plans and God laughs" or "man proposes and God disposes." p. 35

matanah — a gift. p. 150

maxele — diminutive for Max as in Maxie. p. 81

mazel tov — surely you know this. "good luck!" or "congratulations!" p. 169, 201

mazel — luck. p. 147

me y’malel — a popular Chanukah song; "Who can retell" p. 154

mechaya — a pleasure; a delight! p. 212

meese — ugly, plain in appearance. p. 91

meese n’shumeh — an ill-favored person; not a nice person. The opposite is a gutteh neshomeh. p. 137

mensch — a real good person; a fine human being. In short, a mensch. p. 207

menshlichhkeit — the practice of all the virtues befitting a person. p. 99

meshuga — crazy; stupid! p. 112

meshugenas — zanies; silly or crazy people. p. 63

meshugeneh — This is the singular. One is enough! p. 111, 113, 205

metziah — a find! a treasure! p. 207

minyan — a religious quorum. It takes ten men to make a minyan in traditional Judaism. p. 103

mishpacha — family. But when you say "the whole mishpacha," you mean EVERYONE, related or not! p. 163, 207

mit schlag — with cream, usually whipped cream or as Mama called it "whip-cream." Not for the calorie-conscious...even in Yiddish or Viennese.. p. 20

mit-vokch — the middle of the week. I suppose that that’s Wednesday. p. 76

mitzvah — a good deed; literally a "commandment" since God commands us to perform good deeds. p. 68, 95, 120, 142, 193, 210

mogen david — the six pointed Star of David. p. 151

mohel — a person who performs circumcisions. How’s that for a profession?! p. 88

N

narashkeit — nonsense. p. 161

nebbish — a wimp; a bit lower than a schlemiel; could also be used as an interjection conveying the idea of "alas!" p. 182

nisht by unz gedacht — God forbid! p. 106

noch — yet; even; (surprisingly). p. 11

nosh — a snack, a bit of food taken between meals. "Have a nosh before dinner!" p. 58

nu? — Next to oy, the most frequently used expression. It means, So…? p. 93, 206

O

ois-ge-pitzt — all dressed up, probably in a fancy over-dressed outfit. p. 87

oneg — Actually it means "joy" but has come to be associated with the refreshment taken after a religious service. p. 61, 82

or-mayn — the Yiddish equivalent of Amen. p. 147

oy — now here is the most frequently used expression. Just heave a sigh and say, "Oy!" Much better than the pallid "Oh!" Just ask any Jewish mother. p. 23, 25, 67, 84, 117, 122, 124, 144, 166, 207

oy vay — double OY! p. 88, 163, 193

oy chanukah, oy chanukah, a yom tov a freilach — a yiddish song. The translation is "Oh Chanukah, Oh Chanukah, a happy holiday!" But in Yiddish it’s so much better! p. 154

oyz — plural of oy. If one oy is good then two is… p. 163

P

pekel — a little package (There’s that diminutive again!); a little bit of something. p. 71

pheh — Pheh is pheh! Like pu-pu-pu, only pheh; a sound of disgust. p. 67, 74, 84, 94, 103, 148, 188

pisk — a not so nice expression for the "mouth" (cf. French "guele") p. 165

ponim — face. p. 48

pu, pu, pu — the sound of spitting out. See the notation under pheh. p. 64, 113

pupik — The belly-button or navel (are you an in-zy or an out-zy?) p. 88

Q

quvell — to experience a sense of inner (and even outer) pride, usually in one’s children. What else? A synonymn, sort of, for to tschepp nachos p. 12

R

rebbitzen — the Rabbi’s wife. p. 98, 159, 192, 205

ruggelach — a delicious cookie rolled up and stuffed with raisins and nuts. You must taste one to appreciate it. So have a nosh. p. 118, 206

S

schlumpy — ill kempt; sloppy, slovenly. p. 107

shandeh — a shame! p. 26, 109

shayne — pretty p. 56

shikkur — a drunk; intoxicated. p. 88, 151

shivah — literally, Hebrew for "seven." This usually conveys the idea of the seven days of mourning following the death of an immediate member of the family. p. 65, 152

shlep — to drag along, to pull. A person who is a shlep is a jerk, a wimp, an unkempt drip. p. 109

shlepping — see shlep and you have the idea. p. 40, 68, 141

shlumpy/shlumper — slovenly; ill-kempt. p.43, 107

shmateh — a rag; something your ex-husband’s new girlfriend wears. p. 67

shmeared — spread; Also used to indicate a bribe. p. 66

shmearar — one who paints, but not too carefully. p. 84, 85, 86

shmooze — idle talk; chit-chat p. 141

shmutz — dirt. p. 148

sholem — a favorite word, from the Hebrew meaning "peace." What could be better? p. 160

shtetl — a small community of Jews, usually reminiscent of the small towns in Poland before the Holocaust. p. 110, 112

shtick nachas — a special bit of joy. Every child is a shtick nachas to his grandparents. You don’t believe this? Ask my wife! p. 48

shul — a synagogue. p. 48, 82, 94, 103, 144, 151

simcha — a joyous or happy occasion, a celebration. p. 151

sufganiot — jelly donuts. Just go to Israel at Chanukah time and you will eat plenty! p. 152, 153

T

taiglach — a confection made with honey and raisins and nuts and then more honey. Usually eaten on the Jewish New Year. p. 150

takkeh — really; "you’re not kidding me." p. 160

tallis — a prayer shawl. p. 88

tallisim — plural of tallis. p.146

tanta — aunt. p. 80, 89

tattele — a boy-child is a tattele, a little daddy and a girl is a mammele. But both are chips off the old block, but Jewish ones! p. 56

trayfe — not kosher; forbidden. p. 57, 91, 138, 192

tsorris — troubles, worries; concerns. We all have them, so learn the word! p. 110

tsorris bi-leiten — other people’s problems. This was the theme of a popular radio (you remember radio?) program. p. 216

tushie — a rather endearing term for that part of the anatomy on which we sit, probably a corruption of tuchis, which was a bit off-color. You could pinch (or even kiss) a child’s tushie, but you gave him or her a potch (slap) in tuchis! p. 21, 25, 26

tza-budjet — discombobulated; mixed up; confused, but with a "capital C." p. 212

tzedaka — charity p. 20

V

vay iz mir — "woe is me." But in Yiddish, of course it’s so much better! p. 64, 87, 108

Y

yarhtzeit — the date marking the yearly anniversary of someone’s passing. There are candles in glasses that are usually used as a memorial. p. 82

yarmulkes — the skull caps worn by men in a synagogue p. 48, 100

yenta tallabenta — a gossip; a chatter-box (I know this is sexist, but it refers only to women). p. 148

yeshiva — a Jewish day school for Orthodox boys. p. 100

Yiddishkeit - a sense of things Jewish. After yiou read this book you will have a real sense of Yiddishkeit. p. 11

yom tov — a holiday. p. 87, 150, 151

Z

zaydies — plural of zaydie, a Grandpa! p. 63, 75, 76, 146

zoll gornisht helfen — nothing can help. It’s a fait accompli! How’s that for mixing languages? p. 72

zibitel — from the word meaning "seven" Usually, when there is a premature birth or one that comes "too soon" after the official marriage, the baby is called a zibitel. Aha! p. 90, 92

zissen — sweet. p. 164

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