LIST OF ENGLISH WORDS OF YIDDISH ORIGIN
- + Add to Faves
- + Translate
- + Share
العربية
ä¸å›½
Français
Deutsch
Ελληνική
हिनà¥à¤¦à¥€
Italiano
日本語
Português
РуÑÑкий
Español
This is a list of English language words of Yiddish language origin, many of which have entered the language by way of American English or Cockney. Spelling of some of these words may be variable (for example, ''schlep'' is also seen as ''shlep'', ''schnoz'' as ''shnozz'', and so on). Many of these words are more common in the entertainment industry, via vaudeville, the Catskills/Borscht Belt, and Hollywood. Others are more regionally oriented, ''e.g.'' in the New York City metropolitan area.
Yiddish is a Germanic language originally spoken by the Jews of Eastern Europe, written in the Hebrew alphabet, and containing a substantial substratum of words from Hebrew as well as numerous loans from Slavic languages.[1] For that reason, it is worth noting that some of these words listed below are in fact of Hebrew or Slavic origin, but have entered the English language via their Yiddish forms. Since Yiddish is very closely related to modern German, many native Yiddish words have close German cognates; in a few cases it is difficult to tell whether English borrowed a particular word from Yiddish or from German. The transliterated spellings of Yiddish words and conventional German spellings are different, but the pronunciations are frequently the same (e.g., ''shvarts'' in Yiddish is pronounced the same way as ''schwarz'' in German).
It should also be noted that many of these words are used in English differently than in Yiddish. For example ''chutzpah'' is usually used in Yiddish with a negative connotation meaning improper audacity, while in English it has a more positive meaning. ''Shlep'' in Yiddish is usually used for carrying (or dragging) something else, while in English it is used more commonly for dragging the self. ''Glitch'' simply means 'slip' in Yiddish.
A list of English words of Yiddish origin is found below. Except as noted, all words listed can be found in the current online edition of the Oxford English Dictionary (OED), American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language (AHD), or Merriam-Webster dictionary (MW).
★ 'bagel' : a ring-shaped bread roll made by boiling then baking the dough (from בײגל ''beygl'') (OED, MW)
★ 'blintz' : a sweet cheese-filled crepe (Yiddish ×‘×œ×™× ×¦×¢ ''blintse'') (AHD)
★ 'bris' : the circumcision of a male child. (from Hebrew ''brith'' 'covenant') (OED, MW)
★ 'boychik' : boy, young man. (English ''boy'' + Eastern Yiddish ''-chik'', diminutive suffix (from Slavic)) (AHD)
★ 'bubkes' (also spelled "bupkis") : emphatically nothing, as in ''He isn't worth bubkes'' (literally 'goat droppings', possibly of Slavic origin; cf. Polish ''bób'' 'bean') (MW)
★ 'chutzpah' : guts, daring, audacity, effrontery (Yiddish חוצפּה ''khutspe'', from Hebrew) (AHD)
★ 'dreck' : (vulgar) worthless material, especially merchandise; "crap" (Yiddish ''drek'' or German ''Dreck'') (OED, MW)
★ 'dybbuk' : the malevolent spirit of a dead person which enters and controls a living body until exorcised (from Hebrew דיבוק ''dibbuk'', that which clings) (AHD)
★ 'fleishig' : made with meat (Yiddish ''fleyshik'' 'meaty', from ''fleysh'' 'meat', cf. German ''Fleisch'') (MW)
★ 'ganef' or 'gonif' : thief, scoundrel, rascal (Yiddish ×’× ×‘Ö¿ ''ganef'' 'thief', from Hebrew ''gannav''). (AHD)
★ 'gelt' : money; chocolate coins eaten on Hanukkah (געלט ''gelt'' 'money', cf. German ''Geld'') (AHD)
★ 'glitch' : a minor malfunction (possibly from Yiddish ''glitsh'') (AHD)
★ 'golem' : a man-made humanoid; an android, Frankenstein monster (from Hebrew ×’×•×œ× ''gÅlem'', but influenced in pronunciation by Yiddish ''goylem'') (OED, MW)
★ 'goy' : a gentile, someone not of the Jewish faith or people (Yiddish גוי, plural ×’×•×™× ''goyim''; from Hebrew ×’×•×™× ''goyim'' meaning 'nations [usually other than Israel]', plural of גוי ''goy'' 'nation') (AHD)
★ 'haimish' (also 'heimish') : home-like, friendly, folksy (Yiddish ''heymish'', cf. German ''heimisch'') (AHD)
★ 'kibitz' : to offer unwanted advice, e.g. to someone playing cards; to converse idly, hence a ''kibbitzer'', gossip (Yiddish קיבעצן ''kibetsn''; cf. German ''kiebitzen'', related to ''Kiebitz'' 'lapwing') (OED, MW)
★ 'klutz' : clumsy person (from Yiddish קל×ָץ ''klots'' 'wooden beam', cf. German ''Klotz'') (OED, MW)
★ 'kosher' : conforming to Jewish dietary laws; (slang) appropriate, legitimate (originally from Hebrew כּשר ''kaÅ¡er'') (AHD)
★ 'kvell' : feel delighted and proud (Yiddish קװעלן ''kveln'', from an old Germanic word akin to German ''quellen'' 'well up') (OED, MW)
★ 'kvetch' : to complain habitually, gripe; as a noun, a person who always complains (from Yiddish קװעטשן ''kvetshn'' 'press, squeeze', cf. German ''quetschen'' 'squeeze') (OED, MW)
★ 'latke' : potato pancake, especially during Hanukkah (from Yiddish, from either Ukrainian or Russian) (AHD)
★ 'Litvak' : a Lithuanian Jew (OED)
★ 'lox' : smoked salmon (from Yiddish ל×ַקס ''laks'' 'salmon'; cf. German ''Lachs'' 'salmon') (OED, MW)
★ 'macher' : big shot, important person (Yiddish מ×ַכער ''makher'', literally 'maker' from מ×ַכן ''makhn'' 'make', cf. German ''Macher'') (OED)
★ 'mamzer' : bastard (from Yiddish or Hebrew ממזר) (OED)
★ 'maven' : expert (from Yiddish מבֿין ''meyvn'', from Hebrew ''mevin'' 'one who understands') (OED, MW)
★ 'mazel' : luck (Yiddish מזל ''mazl'', from Hebrew מזל ''mazzÄl'' 'luck, planet') (OED)
★ 'Mazel tov' : congratulations! (Yiddish מזל־טובֿ†''mazl-tov'', from Hebrew ''mazzÄl á¹Åv'': ''mazzÄl'' 'fortune' + ''á¹Åv'' 'good') (OED, MW:Hebrew)
★ 'megillah' : a tediously detailed discourse (from Yiddish מגילה ''megile'' 'lengthy document, scroll [esp. the Book of Esther]', from Hebrew מגילה ''mÉ™gillÄ'' 'scroll') (OED, MW)
★ 'mensch' : an upright man; a decent human being (from Yiddish ×ž×¢× ×˜×© ''mentsh'' 'person', cf. German ''Mensch'') (OED, MW)
★ 'meshuga', also 'meshugge', 'meshugah', 'meshuggah': crazy (Yiddish משוגע ''meshuge'', from Hebrew ''məšugga‘'') (OED, MW)
★ 'meshugas' : madness, nonsense, irrational idiosyncrasy (Yiddish משוגעת ''meshugas'', from Hebrew ''məšugga‘ath'', a form of the above) (OED)
★ 'meshuggener' : a crazy person (Yiddish ×ž×©×•×’×¢× ×¢×¨ ''meshugener'', a derivative of the above משוגע ''meshuge'') (OED)
★ 'milchig' : made with milk (Yiddish ''milkhik'' milky, from ''milkh'' milk, cf. German ''milchig'') (MW)
★ 'minyan' : the quorum of ten adult (i.e., 13 or older) Jews who are necessary for the holding of a public worship service (Yiddish ×ž× ×™×Ÿ ''minyen'', from Hebrew ×ž× ×™×Ÿ ''minyÄn'') (OED, MW:Hebrew)
★ 'mishpocha' : extended family (Yiddish משפּחה ''mishpokhe'', from Hebrew משפּחה '') (OED)
★ 'naches' : pride, esp. in the achievements of one's children (Yiddish × ×—×ª ''nakhes'', from Hebrew × ×—×ª '' 'contentment') (OED)
★ 'narrischkeit' : foolishness, nonsense (Yiddish ''narishkayt'', from ''nar'' 'fool', cf. German ''närrisch'' 'foolish') (OED)
★ 'nebbish' : an insignificant, pitiful person; a nonentity (from Yiddish interjection ''nebekh'' 'poor thing!', from Czech ''nebohý'') (OED, MW)
★ 'noodge' : to pester, nag, whine; as a noun, a pest or whiner (from Yiddish × ×•×“×™×¢×Ÿ ''nudyen'', from Polish or Russian) (OED)
★ 'nosh' : snack (noun or verb) (Yiddish × ×ַשן ''nashn'', cf. German ''naschen'') (OED, MW)
★ 'nu' : multipurpose interjection often analogous to "well?" or "so?" (Yiddish × ×• ''nu'', perhaps akin to Russian "ну"; probably not related to German dialect expression ''nu''[ short for ''nun''=now] , which might be used in the same way) (OED)
★ 'nudnik' : a pest, "pain in the neck"; a bore (Yiddish × ×•×“× ×™×§ ''nudnik'', from the above × ×•×“×™×¢×Ÿ ''nudyen'') (OED, MW)
★ 'oy' : interjection of surprise, dismay, or grief (Yiddish ××± ''oy'') (OED, MW)
★ 'oy vey' : interjection of grief, pain, or horror (Yiddish ××± װײ ''oy vey'' 'oh, pain!' or "oh, woe"; cf. German ''oh weh'') (OED)
★ 'pareve' : containing neither meat nor dairy products (from Yiddish (פּ×ַרעװ(×¢ ''parev(e)'') (OED, MW)
★ 'pisher' : a nobody, an inexperienced person (Yiddish פּישער ''pisher'', from פּישן ''pishn'' 'piss', cf. German ''pissen'' or dialectal German ''pischen'') (OED)
★ 'potch' : slap, smack (Yiddish פּ×טשן ''patshn''; cf. German ''patschen'' 'slap') (OED)
★ 'plotz' : to burst, as from strong emotion (from Yiddish פּל×ַצן ''platsn'' 'crack', cf. German ''platzen'') (OED)
★ 'putz' : an idiot, a jerk; a penis (from Yiddish פּ×ָץ ''pots'') (AHD)
★ 'schlemiel' : an inept clumsy person; a bungler; a dolt (Yiddish ''shlemil'') (OED, MW)
★ 'schlep' : to drag or haul (an object); to make a tedious journey (from Yiddish שלעפּן ''shlepn''; cf. German ''schleppen'') (OED, MW)
★ 'schlimazel' : a chronically unlucky person (שלימזל ''shlimazl'', from Middle High German ''slim'' 'crooked' and Hebrew מזל ''mazzÄl'' 'luck') (OED) [2]
:In June 2004, Yiddish ''shlimazl'' was one of the ten non-English words that were voted Words hardest to translate by a British translation company. [3]
★ 'schlock' : something cheap, shoddy, or inferior (perhaps from Yiddish ''shlak'' 'a stroke', cf. German ''Schlag'') (OED, MW)
★ 'schlong' : (vulgar) penis (from Yiddish של×Ö·× ×’ ''shlang'' 'snake'; cf. German ''Schlange'') (OED)
★ 'schlub': a clumsy, stupid, or unattractive person (Yiddish ''zhlob'' 'hick', perhaps from Polish ''żłób'') (OED, MW)
★ 'schmaltz' : melted chicken fat; excessive sentimentality (from Yiddish שמ×ַלץ ''shmalts'' or German ''Schmalz'') (OED, MW)
★ 'schmatte' : a rag (from Yiddish שמ×ַטע ''shmate'', from Polish ''szmata'') (OED)
★ 'schmeer' also 'schmear' : noun or verb: spread (e.g., cream cheese on a bagel); bribe (from Yiddish שמיר ''shmir'' 'smear'; cf. German ''schmieren'') (OED MW)
★ 'schmendrik' : a foolish or contemptible person (from a character in an operetta by Abraham Goldfaden) (OED)
★ 'schmo' : a stupid person. (an alteration of ''schmuck''; see below) (OED)
★ 'schmooze' : to converse informally, make small talk or chat (from Yiddish שמועסן ''shmuesn'' 'converse', from Hebrew ''shÉ™mÅ«Ê¿Åth'' 'reports, gossip') (OED, MW)
★ 'schmuck' : a contemptible or foolish person; a jerk; literally means 'penis' (from Yiddish שמ×ָק ''shmok'' 'penis') (AHD)
★ 'schmutter' : clothing; rubbish (from Yiddish Yiddish שמ×ַטע ''shmate'' 'rag', as above) (OED)
★ 'schmutz' - dirt (from Yiddish שמוץ ''shmuts'' or German ''Schmutz'' 'dirt') (OED)
★ 'schnook' : an easily imposed-upon or cheated person, a pitifully meek person, a particularly gullible person (perhaps from Yiddish ×©× ×•×§ ''shnuk'' 'snout'; cf. Northern German ''Schnucke'' 'sheep') (OED)
★ 'schnorrer' : beggar (Yiddish ×©× ×ָרער ''shnorer'', cf. German ''schnorren'' 'to beg or steal (usu. a small item of a consumable good) of a friend'[4]) (OED, MW)
★ 'schnoz' or 'schnozz' also 'schnozzle' : a nose, especially a large nose (perhaps from Yiddish ×©× ×•×™×¥ ''shnoits'' 'snout', cf. German ''Schnauze'') (OED, MW)
★ 'schvartze' : term used to denote black people; can be used derogatorily. (from Yiddish שוו×ַרץ ''shvarts'' 'black'; cf. German ''schwarz''). (OED)
★ 'Shabbos' or 'Shabbes' : Shabbat (Yiddish ''Shabes'', from Hebrew ''Å abbÄth'') (AHD)
★ 'shammes' : the beadle or sexton of a synagogue (Yiddish ''shames'', from Hebrew שמש ''Å¡ammÄÅ¡'' 'attendant') (OED, MW)
★ 'shamus': a detective (possibly from ''shammes'', or possibly from the Irish name ''Seamus'') (OED)
★ 'shegetz' : (derogatory) a young non-Jewish male (Yiddish שגץ or שײגעץ ''sheygets'', from Hebrew '' 'blemish') (AHD)
★ 'shemozzle' (slang) quarrel, brawl (perhaps related to ''schlimazel'', q.v.) (OED)
: This word is commonly used in Ireland to describe confused situations during the Irish sport of hurling, e.g. 'There was a shemozzle near the goalmouth'. In particular, it was a favourite phrase of t.v. commentator Miceal O'Hehir who commentated on hurling from the 1940s to the 1980s.
★ 'shicker' or 'shickered' : drunk (adjective or noun) (Yiddish ''shiker'' 'drunk', from Hebrew ''Å¡ikkÅr'') (OED)
★ 'shiksa' : (often derogatory) a young non-Jewish woman (Yiddish שיקסע ''shikse'', a derivative of the above שײגעץ ''sheygets'') (AHD)
★ 'shtetl' : a small town with a large Jewish population in pre-Holocaust Eastern Europe (Yiddish שטעטל ''shtetl'' 'town', diminutive of שט×ָט ''shtot'' 'city'; cf. German ''Städtl'', South German colloquial diminutive of ''Stadt'', city) (AHD)
★ 'shtick' : comic theme; a defining habit or distinguishing feature (from Yiddish שטיק 'piece'; cf. German ''Stück'' 'piece') (AHD)
★ 'spiel' : a sales pitch or speech intended to persuade (from Yiddish שפּיל ''shpil'' 'play' or German ''Spiel'' 'play'') (AHD)
★ 'tchotchke': knickknack, trinket, curio (from Yiddish טש×ַטשקע ''tshatshke'', from obsolete Polish ''czaczko'') (OED, MW)
★ 'tref' or 'trayf' or 'traif' : not kosher (Yiddish ''treyf'', from Hebrew '' 'carrion') (AHD)
★ 'tsimmes' : a sweet stew of vegetables and fruit; a fuss, a confused affair, a to-do (Yiddish צימעס ''tsimes'') (OED, MW)
★ 'tsuris' : troubles (from Yiddish צרות ''tsores'') (AHD)
★ 'tuchus' : buttocks, rear end (from Yiddish תּחת ''tokhes'', from Hebrew תחת '' 'underneath') (OED)
★ 'tummler' : an entertainer or master of ceremonies, especially one who encourages audience interaction (from Yiddish ''tumler'', from ''tumlen'' 'make a racket'; cf. German ''(sich) tummeln'' 'go among people, cavort') (OED, MW)
★ 'tush' : butt, rear end (from ''tuchus'') (OED, MW)
★ 'yarmulke' : round cloth skullcap worn by observant Jews (etymology unclear) (OED, MW)
★ 'Yekke' : (mildly derogatory) a German Jew (Yiddish יעקע ''Yeke'') (OED)
★ 'yenta' : a talkative woman; a gossip; a scold (from Yiddish ×™×¢× ×˜×¢, from a given name) (OED, MW)
★ 'Yiddish' : the Yiddish language (from Yiddish ''Yidish'' 'Jewish', cf. German ''jüdisch'') (AHD)
★ 'yontef' also 'yom tov' : a Jewish holiday on which work is forbidden, eg. Rosh Hashanah, Yom Kippur, Pesach (from Yiddish יו×- טובֿ ''yontef'' 'holiday', from Hebrew ×™×•× ×˜×•×‘ '' 'good day') (OED)
★ 'zaftig' : plump, chubby, full-figured, as a woman (from Yiddish ''zaftik'' 'juicy'; cf. German ''saftig'' 'juicy') (OED, MW)
1. Bartleby on Yiddish
2. The difference between a ''schlemiel'' and a ''schlimazel'' is described through the aphorism, "The ''schlemiel'' spills his soup on the ''schlimazel''." Also, the words ''schlemiel'' and ''schlimazel'' appear prominently in the ''Laverne and Shirley'' theme song.
3. BBC news
4. http://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/schnorren
★ Lists of English words of international origin
★ List of English words of Hebrew origin
★ List of German expressions in English
★ How to Speak Recording Studio Yiddish
Yiddish is a Germanic language originally spoken by the Jews of Eastern Europe, written in the Hebrew alphabet, and containing a substantial substratum of words from Hebrew as well as numerous loans from Slavic languages.[1] For that reason, it is worth noting that some of these words listed below are in fact of Hebrew or Slavic origin, but have entered the English language via their Yiddish forms. Since Yiddish is very closely related to modern German, many native Yiddish words have close German cognates; in a few cases it is difficult to tell whether English borrowed a particular word from Yiddish or from German. The transliterated spellings of Yiddish words and conventional German spellings are different, but the pronunciations are frequently the same (e.g., ''shvarts'' in Yiddish is pronounced the same way as ''schwarz'' in German).
It should also be noted that many of these words are used in English differently than in Yiddish. For example ''chutzpah'' is usually used in Yiddish with a negative connotation meaning improper audacity, while in English it has a more positive meaning. ''Shlep'' in Yiddish is usually used for carrying (or dragging) something else, while in English it is used more commonly for dragging the self. ''Glitch'' simply means 'slip' in Yiddish.
A list of English words of Yiddish origin is found below. Except as noted, all words listed can be found in the current online edition of the Oxford English Dictionary (OED), American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language (AHD), or Merriam-Webster dictionary (MW).
★ 'bagel' : a ring-shaped bread roll made by boiling then baking the dough (from בײגל ''beygl'') (OED, MW)
★ 'blintz' : a sweet cheese-filled crepe (Yiddish ×‘×œ×™× ×¦×¢ ''blintse'') (AHD)
★ 'bris' : the circumcision of a male child. (from Hebrew ''brith'' 'covenant') (OED, MW)
★ 'boychik' : boy, young man. (English ''boy'' + Eastern Yiddish ''-chik'', diminutive suffix (from Slavic)) (AHD)
★ 'bubkes' (also spelled "bupkis") : emphatically nothing, as in ''He isn't worth bubkes'' (literally 'goat droppings', possibly of Slavic origin; cf. Polish ''bób'' 'bean') (MW)
★ 'chutzpah' : guts, daring, audacity, effrontery (Yiddish חוצפּה ''khutspe'', from Hebrew) (AHD)
★ 'dreck' : (vulgar) worthless material, especially merchandise; "crap" (Yiddish ''drek'' or German ''Dreck'') (OED, MW)
★ 'dybbuk' : the malevolent spirit of a dead person which enters and controls a living body until exorcised (from Hebrew דיבוק ''dibbuk'', that which clings) (AHD)
★ 'fleishig' : made with meat (Yiddish ''fleyshik'' 'meaty', from ''fleysh'' 'meat', cf. German ''Fleisch'') (MW)
★ 'ganef' or 'gonif' : thief, scoundrel, rascal (Yiddish ×’× ×‘Ö¿ ''ganef'' 'thief', from Hebrew ''gannav''). (AHD)
★ 'gelt' : money; chocolate coins eaten on Hanukkah (געלט ''gelt'' 'money', cf. German ''Geld'') (AHD)
★ 'glitch' : a minor malfunction (possibly from Yiddish ''glitsh'') (AHD)
★ 'golem' : a man-made humanoid; an android, Frankenstein monster (from Hebrew ×’×•×œ× ''gÅlem'', but influenced in pronunciation by Yiddish ''goylem'') (OED, MW)
★ 'goy' : a gentile, someone not of the Jewish faith or people (Yiddish גוי, plural ×’×•×™× ''goyim''; from Hebrew ×’×•×™× ''goyim'' meaning 'nations [usually other than Israel]', plural of גוי ''goy'' 'nation') (AHD)
★ 'haimish' (also 'heimish') : home-like, friendly, folksy (Yiddish ''heymish'', cf. German ''heimisch'') (AHD)
★ 'kibitz' : to offer unwanted advice, e.g. to someone playing cards; to converse idly, hence a ''kibbitzer'', gossip (Yiddish קיבעצן ''kibetsn''; cf. German ''kiebitzen'', related to ''Kiebitz'' 'lapwing') (OED, MW)
★ 'klutz' : clumsy person (from Yiddish קל×ָץ ''klots'' 'wooden beam', cf. German ''Klotz'') (OED, MW)
★ 'kosher' : conforming to Jewish dietary laws; (slang) appropriate, legitimate (originally from Hebrew כּשר ''kaÅ¡er'') (AHD)
★ 'kvell' : feel delighted and proud (Yiddish קװעלן ''kveln'', from an old Germanic word akin to German ''quellen'' 'well up') (OED, MW)
★ 'kvetch' : to complain habitually, gripe; as a noun, a person who always complains (from Yiddish קװעטשן ''kvetshn'' 'press, squeeze', cf. German ''quetschen'' 'squeeze') (OED, MW)
★ 'latke' : potato pancake, especially during Hanukkah (from Yiddish, from either Ukrainian or Russian) (AHD)
★ 'Litvak' : a Lithuanian Jew (OED)
★ 'lox' : smoked salmon (from Yiddish ל×ַקס ''laks'' 'salmon'; cf. German ''Lachs'' 'salmon') (OED, MW)
★ 'macher' : big shot, important person (Yiddish מ×ַכער ''makher'', literally 'maker' from מ×ַכן ''makhn'' 'make', cf. German ''Macher'') (OED)
★ 'mamzer' : bastard (from Yiddish or Hebrew ממזר) (OED)
★ 'maven' : expert (from Yiddish מבֿין ''meyvn'', from Hebrew ''mevin'' 'one who understands') (OED, MW)
★ 'mazel' : luck (Yiddish מזל ''mazl'', from Hebrew מזל ''mazzÄl'' 'luck, planet') (OED)
★ 'Mazel tov' : congratulations! (Yiddish מזל־טובֿ†''mazl-tov'', from Hebrew ''mazzÄl á¹Åv'': ''mazzÄl'' 'fortune' + ''á¹Åv'' 'good') (OED, MW:Hebrew)
★ 'megillah' : a tediously detailed discourse (from Yiddish מגילה ''megile'' 'lengthy document, scroll [esp. the Book of Esther]', from Hebrew מגילה ''mÉ™gillÄ'' 'scroll') (OED, MW)
★ 'mensch' : an upright man; a decent human being (from Yiddish ×ž×¢× ×˜×© ''mentsh'' 'person', cf. German ''Mensch'') (OED, MW)
★ 'meshuga', also 'meshugge', 'meshugah', 'meshuggah': crazy (Yiddish משוגע ''meshuge'', from Hebrew ''məšugga‘'') (OED, MW)
★ 'meshugas' : madness, nonsense, irrational idiosyncrasy (Yiddish משוגעת ''meshugas'', from Hebrew ''məšugga‘ath'', a form of the above) (OED)
★ 'meshuggener' : a crazy person (Yiddish ×ž×©×•×’×¢× ×¢×¨ ''meshugener'', a derivative of the above משוגע ''meshuge'') (OED)
★ 'milchig' : made with milk (Yiddish ''milkhik'' milky, from ''milkh'' milk, cf. German ''milchig'') (MW)
★ 'minyan' : the quorum of ten adult (i.e., 13 or older) Jews who are necessary for the holding of a public worship service (Yiddish ×ž× ×™×Ÿ ''minyen'', from Hebrew ×ž× ×™×Ÿ ''minyÄn'') (OED, MW:Hebrew)
★ 'mishpocha' : extended family (Yiddish משפּחה ''mishpokhe'', from Hebrew משפּחה '') (OED)
★ 'naches' : pride, esp. in the achievements of one's children (Yiddish × ×—×ª ''nakhes'', from Hebrew × ×—×ª '' 'contentment') (OED)
★ 'narrischkeit' : foolishness, nonsense (Yiddish ''narishkayt'', from ''nar'' 'fool', cf. German ''närrisch'' 'foolish') (OED)
★ 'nebbish' : an insignificant, pitiful person; a nonentity (from Yiddish interjection ''nebekh'' 'poor thing!', from Czech ''nebohý'') (OED, MW)
★ 'noodge' : to pester, nag, whine; as a noun, a pest or whiner (from Yiddish × ×•×“×™×¢×Ÿ ''nudyen'', from Polish or Russian) (OED)
★ 'nosh' : snack (noun or verb) (Yiddish × ×ַשן ''nashn'', cf. German ''naschen'') (OED, MW)
★ 'nu' : multipurpose interjection often analogous to "well?" or "so?" (Yiddish × ×• ''nu'', perhaps akin to Russian "ну"; probably not related to German dialect expression ''nu''
★ 'nudnik' : a pest, "pain in the neck"; a bore (Yiddish × ×•×“× ×™×§ ''nudnik'', from the above × ×•×“×™×¢×Ÿ ''nudyen'') (OED, MW)
★ 'oy' : interjection of surprise, dismay, or grief (Yiddish ××± ''oy'') (OED, MW)
★ 'oy vey' : interjection of grief, pain, or horror (Yiddish ××± װײ ''oy vey'' 'oh, pain!' or "oh, woe"; cf. German ''oh weh'') (OED)
★ 'pareve' : containing neither meat nor dairy products (from Yiddish (פּ×ַרעװ(×¢ ''parev(e)'') (OED, MW)
★ 'pisher' : a nobody, an inexperienced person (Yiddish פּישער ''pisher'', from פּישן ''pishn'' 'piss', cf. German ''pissen'' or dialectal German ''pischen'') (OED)
★ 'potch' : slap, smack (Yiddish פּ×טשן ''patshn''; cf. German ''patschen'' 'slap') (OED)
★ 'plotz' : to burst, as from strong emotion (from Yiddish פּל×ַצן ''platsn'' 'crack', cf. German ''platzen'') (OED)
★ 'putz' : an idiot, a jerk; a penis (from Yiddish פּ×ָץ ''pots'') (AHD)
★ 'schlemiel' : an inept clumsy person; a bungler; a dolt (Yiddish ''shlemil'') (OED, MW)
★ 'schlep' : to drag or haul (an object); to make a tedious journey (from Yiddish שלעפּן ''shlepn''; cf. German ''schleppen'') (OED, MW)
★ 'schlimazel' : a chronically unlucky person (שלימזל ''shlimazl'', from Middle High German ''slim'' 'crooked' and Hebrew מזל ''mazzÄl'' 'luck') (OED) [2]
:In June 2004, Yiddish ''shlimazl'' was one of the ten non-English words that were voted Words hardest to translate by a British translation company. [3]
★ 'schlock' : something cheap, shoddy, or inferior (perhaps from Yiddish ''shlak'' 'a stroke', cf. German ''Schlag'') (OED, MW)
★ 'schlong' : (vulgar) penis (from Yiddish של×Ö·× ×’ ''shlang'' 'snake'; cf. German ''Schlange'') (OED)
★ 'schlub': a clumsy, stupid, or unattractive person (Yiddish ''zhlob'' 'hick', perhaps from Polish ''żłób'') (OED, MW)
★ 'schmaltz' : melted chicken fat; excessive sentimentality (from Yiddish שמ×ַלץ ''shmalts'' or German ''Schmalz'') (OED, MW)
★ 'schmatte' : a rag (from Yiddish שמ×ַטע ''shmate'', from Polish ''szmata'') (OED)
★ 'schmeer' also 'schmear' : noun or verb: spread (e.g., cream cheese on a bagel); bribe (from Yiddish שמיר ''shmir'' 'smear'; cf. German ''schmieren'') (OED MW)
★ 'schmendrik' : a foolish or contemptible person (from a character in an operetta by Abraham Goldfaden) (OED)
★ 'schmo' : a stupid person. (an alteration of ''schmuck''; see below) (OED)
★ 'schmooze' : to converse informally, make small talk or chat (from Yiddish שמועסן ''shmuesn'' 'converse', from Hebrew ''shÉ™mÅ«Ê¿Åth'' 'reports, gossip') (OED, MW)
★ 'schmuck' : a contemptible or foolish person; a jerk; literally means 'penis' (from Yiddish שמ×ָק ''shmok'' 'penis') (AHD)
★ 'schmutter' : clothing; rubbish (from Yiddish Yiddish שמ×ַטע ''shmate'' 'rag', as above) (OED)
★ 'schmutz' - dirt (from Yiddish שמוץ ''shmuts'' or German ''Schmutz'' 'dirt') (OED)
★ 'schnook' : an easily imposed-upon or cheated person, a pitifully meek person, a particularly gullible person (perhaps from Yiddish ×©× ×•×§ ''shnuk'' 'snout'; cf. Northern German ''Schnucke'' 'sheep') (OED)
★ 'schnorrer' : beggar (Yiddish ×©× ×ָרער ''shnorer'', cf. German ''schnorren'' 'to beg or steal (usu. a small item of a consumable good) of a friend'[4]) (OED, MW)
★ 'schnoz' or 'schnozz' also 'schnozzle' : a nose, especially a large nose (perhaps from Yiddish ×©× ×•×™×¥ ''shnoits'' 'snout', cf. German ''Schnauze'') (OED, MW)
★ 'schvartze' : term used to denote black people; can be used derogatorily. (from Yiddish שוו×ַרץ ''shvarts'' 'black'; cf. German ''schwarz''). (OED)
★ 'Shabbos' or 'Shabbes' : Shabbat (Yiddish ''Shabes'', from Hebrew ''Å abbÄth'') (AHD)
★ 'shammes' : the beadle or sexton of a synagogue (Yiddish ''shames'', from Hebrew שמש ''Å¡ammÄÅ¡'' 'attendant') (OED, MW)
★ 'shamus': a detective (possibly from ''shammes'', or possibly from the Irish name ''Seamus'') (OED)
★ 'shegetz' : (derogatory) a young non-Jewish male (Yiddish שגץ or שײגעץ ''sheygets'', from Hebrew '' 'blemish') (AHD)
★ 'shemozzle' (slang) quarrel, brawl (perhaps related to ''schlimazel'', q.v.) (OED)
: This word is commonly used in Ireland to describe confused situations during the Irish sport of hurling, e.g. 'There was a shemozzle near the goalmouth'. In particular, it was a favourite phrase of t.v. commentator Miceal O'Hehir who commentated on hurling from the 1940s to the 1980s.
★ 'shicker' or 'shickered' : drunk (adjective or noun) (Yiddish ''shiker'' 'drunk', from Hebrew ''Å¡ikkÅr'') (OED)
★ 'shiksa' : (often derogatory) a young non-Jewish woman (Yiddish שיקסע ''shikse'', a derivative of the above שײגעץ ''sheygets'') (AHD)
★ 'shtetl' : a small town with a large Jewish population in pre-Holocaust Eastern Europe (Yiddish שטעטל ''shtetl'' 'town', diminutive of שט×ָט ''shtot'' 'city'; cf. German ''Städtl'', South German colloquial diminutive of ''Stadt'', city) (AHD)
★ 'shtick' : comic theme; a defining habit or distinguishing feature (from Yiddish שטיק 'piece'; cf. German ''Stück'' 'piece') (AHD)
★ 'spiel' : a sales pitch or speech intended to persuade (from Yiddish שפּיל ''shpil'' 'play' or German ''Spiel'' 'play'') (AHD)
★ 'tchotchke': knickknack, trinket, curio (from Yiddish טש×ַטשקע ''tshatshke'', from obsolete Polish ''czaczko'') (OED, MW)
★ 'tref' or 'trayf' or 'traif' : not kosher (Yiddish ''treyf'', from Hebrew '' 'carrion') (AHD)
★ 'tsimmes' : a sweet stew of vegetables and fruit; a fuss, a confused affair, a to-do (Yiddish צימעס ''tsimes'') (OED, MW)
★ 'tsuris' : troubles (from Yiddish צרות ''tsores'') (AHD)
★ 'tuchus' : buttocks, rear end (from Yiddish תּחת ''tokhes'', from Hebrew תחת '' 'underneath') (OED)
★ 'tummler' : an entertainer or master of ceremonies, especially one who encourages audience interaction (from Yiddish ''tumler'', from ''tumlen'' 'make a racket'; cf. German ''(sich) tummeln'' 'go among people, cavort') (OED, MW)
★ 'tush' : butt, rear end (from ''tuchus'') (OED, MW)
★ 'yarmulke' : round cloth skullcap worn by observant Jews (etymology unclear) (OED, MW)
★ 'Yekke' : (mildly derogatory) a German Jew (Yiddish יעקע ''Yeke'') (OED)
★ 'yenta' : a talkative woman; a gossip; a scold (from Yiddish ×™×¢× ×˜×¢, from a given name) (OED, MW)
★ 'Yiddish' : the Yiddish language (from Yiddish ''Yidish'' 'Jewish', cf. German ''jüdisch'') (AHD)
★ 'yontef' also 'yom tov' : a Jewish holiday on which work is forbidden, eg. Rosh Hashanah, Yom Kippur, Pesach (from Yiddish יו×- טובֿ ''yontef'' 'holiday', from Hebrew ×™×•× ×˜×•×‘ '' 'good day') (OED)
★ 'zaftig' : plump, chubby, full-figured, as a woman (from Yiddish ''zaftik'' 'juicy'; cf. German ''saftig'' 'juicy') (OED, MW)
| Contents |
| Note |
| See also |
| External links |
Note
1. Bartleby on Yiddish
2. The difference between a ''schlemiel'' and a ''schlimazel'' is described through the aphorism, "The ''schlemiel'' spills his soup on the ''schlimazel''." Also, the words ''schlemiel'' and ''schlimazel'' appear prominently in the ''Laverne and Shirley'' theme song.
3. BBC news
4. http://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/schnorren
See also
★ Lists of English words of international origin
★ List of English words of Hebrew origin
★ List of German expressions in English
External links
★ How to Speak Recording Studio Yiddish
This article provided by Wikipedia. To edit the contents of this article, click here for original source.
psst.. try this: add to faves
Featured Companies
| Great Time Travel | |
| Sheraton Vancouver Airport Hotel | |
| Optimum 1 Travel | |
| Aquaworld Cancun |
Newest Companies
List of English words of Yiddish origin Travel Deals
