Common Yiddish Terms

 Yiddish is a language spoken by millions of Jews throughout the world for hundreds of years, sometimes referred to as the “mother tongue” (distinguishing it from Hebrew, the “holy tongue”) of Ashkenazic Jews. It originated with Ashkenazic Jews in Europe, based on German, with some Hebrew terms, and adding parts and terms from other languages, often from the host country or region where the Jews speaking it lived. Written Yiddish uses Hebrew script to phonetically write non-Hebrew terms. There are several dialects of Yiddish, and there is a further problem of correctly transliterating Yiddish into English, especially in view of the different pronunciations from the various dialects. We offer one of several spellings and pronumciations below. But Yiddish does still have relevance in both Jewish religion and culture. Here is a list of some common terms:

babkes – nothing, beans
balebosteh – housewife/hostess/capable homemaker/matriach
chavurah – group of friends, prayer group
chaza – a pig
chazerai – junk (lit. “pig stuff”)/unpalatable/rotten
chutzpah – audacity/utter nerve
drek – trash/manure or excrement
facacta – lousy, rediculous
famisht – confused
fardeiget – distressed/worried/anxiety
farklempt (verklempt) – in a bad mood/bummed out
Gai avek! – Go away!
gedempte fleisch – a soft meat, usually Brisket
gelt – money
gonnif – thief/crook
haken a tsheinik – [lit: banging a teapot]. Someone who startles, jars,annoys by repeated intrusive speech or action. Also can mean boring, long-winded and annoying conversation, sleep-inducing,understimulating, hard to keep paying attention.
kibitz – to meddle
kvel – to swell with pride
kvetch – complain/one who complains
landsman – a neighbor/someone from the same town
macher – A big shot/man with contacts
Mashgiach – A person who certifies that food is kosher.
mavin – connoisseur
mensch – a nice gentleman or person
meshugenah – crazy person
milchig – dairy. Used to describe kosher foods that contain dairy products and therefore cannot be eaten with meat.
mishigas – craziness
mishpacha – family
nachas – joy
nebbish – little nerd
nosh – eat a little something
Nu? – So? Well?
nudnik – pesty nagger, a bore, obnoxious person
Oy vey iz mir! – Woe is me! Oh, my goodness!
ungapatchka -a little too much
plotz – burst
Rav – Rabbi/religious leader of the community.
Rebbe – Usually translated Grand Rabbi. The leader of a Chasidic community, often believed to have special, mystical power.
schlemazel – unlucky person
schlep – to drag or lug around clumsily, as an object/a long, difficult journey
schlepper – a clumsy or stupid person
schmaltzy – sentimental/corny
schmendrick – a jerk
schmootz – dirt
schnorrer – beggar
schvitz – perspire
shayna punim – a pretty face
shicker – a drunkard
schnorrer – A beggar who makes pretensions to respectability; moocher; a parasite, but always with resourcefulness in getting money from others as though it was his own.
Shomer Shabbat (Sabbath Observer) It refers to one who observes Shabbat all day.
shpilkes – Literally needles – nervousness, hyperactivity
shtetl – Small Jewish Village
shtick – routine
treyf – non-kosher
tsures (soo-ris)- trouble
tumul – noise, confusion