A lexicon of Yiddish

• (A) Kitsel - Tickle
• (A) Klog iz mir! - Woe is me!
• (A) Kop oif di plaitses! - Good - common sense! (Lit. - A head on the shoulders!)
• (A) Lebedikeh velt! - A lively world!
• (A) Lebediker - Lively person
• (A) Leben ahf dein kop! - Words of praise like; Well said! Well done! (Lit. - A long life upon your head.)
• (A) Nechtiker tog! - He's (it's) gone! Forget it! Nonsense! (Lit. - a yesterday's day)
• (A) Shtunk - A guy who doesn't smell too good; a stink (bad odor) a lousy human
• (A) Yung mit bainer! - A powerhouse! Strongly built person
• A bisel - A little
• A biseleh - A very little
• A broch tzu dir! - A curse on you!
• A broch! - Oh hell! Damn it!! A curse!!!
• A brocheh - A blessing
• A chorbn - Oh - what a disaster (Oh S**T! an expletive)
• A kappore - A catastrophe.
• A langer lucksh - A tall person (a long noodle)
• A nishtikeit! - A nobody!
• A shtik naches - A great joy
• A sof! A sof! - Let's end it ! End it!
• Abi gezunt! - As long as you're healthy!
• Achrahyes - Responsibility
• Achrahyes - Responsible
• Ahntoisht - Disappointed
• Aidel - Cultured or finicky
• Aidim - Son-in-law
• Ainikle - Grandchild
• Aitzeh - Advice
• Alef-bais - Alphabet; the first two letters of the Jewish alphabet
• Alevei! - It should happen to me (to you)!
• Alrightnik - One who has succeeded
• Alrightnikeh - Feminine form of "alrightnik."
• Alteh moid - Spinster - old maid
• Alter bocher - Bachelor
• Apikoros - An unbeliever - a skeptic - an athiest
• Arbit - Work
• Arein - Come in!
• Aroisgevorfen - Thrown out - wasted - (wasted opportunities)
• Arumgeflickt! - Plucked! Milked!
• Arumloifer - Street urchin; person who runs around
• Aydem - Son-in-law
• Azoy gich? - So soon?
• Azoy? - Really?
• Babka - Coffee cake style pastry
• Badchan - Jester - merry maker or master of ceremonies at a wedding; at the end of the meal he announces the presents - lifting them up and praising the giver and the gift in a humorous manner
• Bagroben - To bury
• Baitsim - Testicles
• Bal Toyreh - Learned man - scholar
• Balbatish - Quiet - respectable - well mannered
• Balebatim - Persons of high standing
• Balebatisheh yiden - Respectable Jews - men of substance and good standing in the community
• Baleboosteh - Mistress of the house. A compliment to someone who is a terrific housekeeper. "She is some baleboosteh!"
• Balegoola - Truckdriver or sloppy person of low standing.
• Balhabosteh - Mistress of the house
• Balmalocha - An expert (sometimes used sarcastically- Oy - is he an expert!)
• Balnes - Miracle-worker
• Balt- Sure
• Bandit - Menace - outlaw - pain-in-the-neck
• Bankes - Small suction cups - usually the size of a common shot glass - used to cure many ills in the past. Some people still swear by the effectiveness of this treatment.
• Bareden yenem - To gossip
• Baren (taboo) - Fornicate: bother - annoy
• Barimer - Braggart - show-off
• Baroygis - Angry - petulant
• Bashert - Fated or predestined
• Bashert zein - To be destined
• Batampte - Tasty - delicious
• Batlan - Someone without a trade or a regular means of livelihood
• Becher - Wine goblet
• Behaimeh - Animal - cow (when referring to a human being - means dull-witted)
• Benken - "To yearn for" or "to long for."
• Benkshaft - Homesickness - nostalgia
• Bentsh - To bless - to recite a blessing
• Bentshen lecht - Recite prayer over lit candles on Sabbath eve or Holy Day candles
• Beryeh - Efficient - competent housewife
• Bes medresh - Synagogue
• Bialy - Named for the Polish city of Bialystock - the bialy is of Jewish origin. A Bialy is a fairly large (about 6 inches) chewy round yeast roll. Somewhat similar to a bagel - it has a depression rather than a hole in the centre - and is sprinkled with chopped sauteed onion before baking.
• Billik - Cheap - inexpensive
• Bist meshugeh? - Are you crazy?
• Biteh - Please
• Blondjen - To wander - be lost
• Boarderkeh - A female boarder
• Bobkes - Small things - triflings - peanuts - nothing - worthless
• Boch - A punch
• Bohmer - Bum (masc.)
• Bohmerkeh - Bum (fem.)
• Boorvisser fiss - Barefoot
• Borekes - Pastries with cheese inside
• Borsht - Beet soup
• Borsht circuit - Hotels in the Catskill Mountains of New York State - with an almost entirely Jewish clientele - who are fond of borsht; term is used by entertainers
• Borviss - Barefoot
• Boychik - Young boy (term of endearment)
• Boykh - Stomach - abdomen
• Boykhvehtig - Stomachache
• Breeye - Creature - animal
• Breire - choice
• Bris - Circumcision
• Bristen - Breasts
• Broitgeber - Head of family
• Broitgeber - Head of family (Lit. - Bread giver)
• Bronfen - Whiskey
• Broygis - Not on speaking terms
• B'suleh - Virgin
• Bubbe maisse - Grandmother's tale.
• Bubbee - Friendly term for anybody you like
• Bubbeh - Grandmother
• Bubee - Friendly term for anybody you like
• Bubeleh - Endearing term for anyone you like regardless of age
• Bulvan - Man built like an ox; boorish - coarse - rude person
• Bupkis - Nothing. Something totally worthless (Lit. - Beans)
• Butchke - chat - tete-a-tete - telling tales
• Chai - Hebrew word for LIFE - comprised of the two Hebrew letters - Chet and Yod. There is a sect of Jewish mysticism that assigns a numeric value to each letter in the Hebrew alphabet and is devoted to finding hidden meanings in the numeric values of words. The letter "Chet" has the numeric value of 8 - and the letter "Yod" - has the value of 10 - for a total of 18.
• Chaider - Religious School
• Chaim Yonkel - any Tom - Dick or Harry
• Chaleria - Evil woman. Probably derived from cholera.
• Chaleshen - Faint
• Chaleshen - To faint
• Challa - Ceremonial "egg" bread. Either round or shaped long. Used on Shabbat and most religious observances with the exception of Pesach (Passover)
• Chaloshes - Nausea - faintness - unconsciousness
• Chamoole - Donkey - jackass - numbskull - fool
• Chamoyer du ainer! - You blockhead! You dope - You ass!
• Chanukah - Also known as the "Festival of Lights" - commemorates the rebuilding of the temple in Jerusalem. Chanukah is celebrated for 8 days during which one additional candle is added to the menorah on each night of the holiday.
• Chap a gang! - Beat it! (Lit. - Catch a way - catch a road)
• Chap nit! - Take it easy! Not so fast! (Lit. - Don't grab)
• Chaptsem - Catch him!
• Chas v'cholileh! - G-d forbid!
• Chassene - Wedding
• Chassene machen - To plan and execute a wedding.
• Chavver - Friend
• Chaye - Animal
• Chazen - Cantor
• Chazenteh - Wife of chazen (cantor)
• Chazzer - A pig (one who eats like a pig)
• Chazzerei - Swill; pig's feed; anything bad - unpalatable - rotten
• Chazzershtal - Pigpen; slovenly kept room or house.
• Chei - Eighteen; life; word formed by the combination of Hebrew letters meaning eighteen and life
• Chei kuck (taboo) - Nothing - infinitesimal - worthless - unimportant (Lit. - human dung)
• Chev 'r' mann - Buddy
• Chmalyeh! - Bang - punch; Slam! Wallop!
• Chochem - A wise man (Slang: A wise guy)
• Chochem attick - A wise guy
• Chochmeh - Wisdom - bright saying - witticism
• Choleryeh - Cholera; a curse - plague
• Choshever mentsh - Man of worth and dignity; elite person; respected person
• Chosid - Rabid fan
• Chossen - Bridegroom
• Chossen-kalleh - Bride and groom; engaged couple
• Choyzik machen - Make fun of - ridicule
• Chrain - Horseradish
• Chropen - Snore
• Chub Rachmones - "Have pity"
• Chug - Activity group
• Chupah - Canopy under which a bride and groom stand during marriage ceremony.
• Chutzpeh - Brazenness - gall - baitzim
• Chutzpenik - Impudent fellow
• Chvalye - Ocean wave
• Cristiyah - Enema
• Danken Got! - Thank G-d!
• Davenen - Pray
• Deigeh nisht! - Don't worry!
• Der oyg - Eye
• Der universitet - University
• Der zokn - Old man
• Derech erets - Respect
• Derlebn - To live to see (I should only live to see him get married - already!)
• Dershtikt zolstu veren! - You should choke on it!
• Di skeyne - Old woman
• Di skeynim - Old men
• Dingen - Bargain - hire - engage - lease - rent
• Dos gefelt mir - This pleases me
• Dos hartz hot mir gezogt - My heart told me. I predicted it.
• Dos iz alts - That's all.
• Dos zelbeh - Likewise
• Dos zelbeh - The same
• Drai mir nit kain kop! - Don't bother me! (Lit. - Don't twist my head)
• Drai zich! - Keep moving!
• Draikop - Scatterbrain
• Dreidal - Spinning top used in a game that is associated with the holiday of Chanukah.
• Drek - Human dung - feces - manure or excrement; inferior merchandise or work; insincere talk or excessive flattery
• Druchus - The sticks (way out in the wild)
• Du fangst shoyn on? - Are you starting up again?
• Dumkop - Dumbbell - dunce (Lit. - Dumb head)
• Durkhfall - A flop or failure
• Dybbuk - Soul condemned to wander for a time in this world because of its sins. (To escape the perpetual torments inflicted upon it by evil spirits - the dybbuk seeks refuge in the body of some pious man or woman over whom the demons have no power. The dybbuk is a Cabalistic conception)
• Ech - A groam - a disparaging exclamation
• Ech mir (eppes) - Humorous - disparaging remark about anything. e.g. "American Pie ech mir a movie?"
• Efsher - Maybe - could be
• Ei! Ei! - Yiddish exclamation equivalent to the English "Oh!"
• Eingeshpahrt - Stubborn
• Eingetunken - Dipped - dunked
• Einhoreh - The evil eye
• Eizel - Fool - dope
• Ek velt - End of the world
• Emes - The truth
• Emitzer - Someone
• Enschultig meir - "Well excuuuuuuse ME!" (Can also bu used in a non-sarcastic manner depending on the tone of voice and situation.)
• Entoisht - Disappointed
• Eppes - Something
• Er bolbet narishkeiten - He talks nonsense
• Er est vi noch a krenk. - He eats as if he just recovered from a sickness.
• Er frest vi a ferd. - He eats like a horse.
• Er hot a makeh. - He has nothing at all (Lit. - He has a boil or a minor hurt.)
• Er hot nit zorg. - He hasn't got a worry.
• Er iz a niderrechtiker kerl! - He's a low down good-for-nothing.
• Er iz shoyn du - der nudnik! - The nuisance is here already!
• Er macht a tel fun dem. - He ruins it.
• Er zitst oyf shpilkes. - He's restless. (Lit. - He sits on pins and needles.)
• Er zol vaksen vi a tsibeleh - mit dem kop in drerd! - He should grow like an onion - with his head in the ground!
• Eretz Yisroel - Land of Israel
• Es brent mir ahfen hartz. - I have a heartburn.
• Es gait nit! - It doesn't work! It isn't running smoothly!
• Es gefelt mir. - I like it. (Lit. - It pleases - me.)
• Es hot zich oysgelohzen a boydem! - Nothing came of it! (Lit. - There's nothing up there but a small attic.)
• Es iz (tsu) shpet. - It is (too) late.
• Es iz a shandeh far di kinder! - It's a shame for the children!
• Es ken gemolt zein. - It is conceivable. It is imaginable.
• Es macht mir nit oys. - It doesn't matter to me.
• Es past nit. - Is is not becoming. It is not fitting.
• Es tut mir a groisseh hanoeh! - It gives me great pleasure!(often said sarcastically
• Es tut mir bahng. - I'm sorry. (Lit. - It sorrows me)
• Es tut mir vai - It hurts me.
• Es vert mir finster in di oygen. - I am fainting! (Lit. - It's getting dark in my eyes.)
• Es vet gornit helfen! - Nothing will help!!
• Es vet helfen vi a toiten bahnkes! - It won't help (any)! (Lit. - It will help like blood-cupping on a dead body.)
• Ess gezunterhait - Eat in good health
• Essen - To eat
• Essen mitik - Dine
• Essen teg - Yeshiva students would arrange to be fed by various householders on a daily basis in different houses. (Lit. - Eat days)
• Fahrshvindn - Disappeared
• Faigelah - Bird (also used as a deragatory reference to a gay person).
• Fantazyor - Man who builds castles in the air
• Far Knaft - Engaged
• Far zikher - For sure
• Farbissener - Embittered; bitter person
• Farblondzhet - Lost - bewildered - confused
• Farblujet - Bending your ear
• Farbrecher - Crook - conman
• Fardeiget - Distressed - worried - full of care - anxiety
• Fardinen a mitzveh - Earn a blessing or a merit (by doing a good deed)
• Fardrai zich dem kop! - Go drive yourself crazy!
• Fardross - Disappointment - sorrow
• Fardross - Resentment - disappointment - sorrow
• Farfolen - Lost
• Farfoylt - Mildewed - rotten - decayed
• Farfroyren - Frozen
• Fargessen - Forgot
• Farkakte (taboo) - Dungy - shitty
• Farklempt - Too emotional to talk. Ready to cry. (See "Verklempt)
• Farkuckt (taboo) - Dungy - shitty
• Farmach dos moyl! - Shut up! Quiet. (Lit. - Shut your mouth.)
• Farmatert - Tired
• Farmisht - Befuddled
• Farmutshet - Worn out - fatigued - exhausted
• Farpitzed - To get all dressed up to the "nines."
• Farschimmelt - Moldy or rotten. An analogous meaning could be that a person's mind has become senile.
• Farshlepteh krenk - Fruitless - endless matter (Lit. - A sickness that hangs on)
• Farshlugginer - Refers to a mixed-up or shaken item. Generally indicates something of little or dubious value.
• Farshmeieter - Highly excitable person; always on the go
• Farshnickert - Drunk - high as a kite
• Farshnoshket - Loaded - drunk
• Farshtaist? - You understand?
• Farshtopt - Stuffed
• Farshtunken - Smeels bad - stinks
• Farshvitst - sweaty
• Fartik - finished - ready - complete
• Far-tshadikt - Confused - bewildered - befuddled - as if by fumes - gas
• Fayeke (F) Fayeker (M) - Capable
• Feh! - Fooey - It stinks - It's no good
• Feinkochen- Omelet - scrambled eggs
• Feinshmeker - Hi falutin'
• Fendel - pan
• Ferd - Horse - (slang) a fool
• Fet - Fat - obese
• Fetter - Uncle (also onkel)
• Finster un glitshik - Miserable (Lit. - Dark and slippery)
• Fisfinger - Toes
• Fisslach - (chickens'/duck's) feet - often in ptsha
• Fliegel - Fowl's wing
• Focha - Fan
• Foigel - Smart guy (Lit: bird)
• Foiler - Lazy man
• Foilishtik - Foolishness
• Folg mich! - Obey me!
• Fonfen - Speak through the nose
• For gezunterhait! - Bon voyage! Travel in good health!
• Forshpeiz - Appetizer
• Fortz - Fart
• Frageh - Question
• Frailech - Happy
• Frassk - Slap in the face
• Freint - Friend - Mr.
• Fremder - Stranger
• Fress - Eat....pig out.
• Fressen - Eat like a pig - devour
• Fressing - Gourmandizing (By adding the English suffix "ing" to the Yiddish word "fress" - a new English word in the vocabulary of American Jews has been created.)
• Froy - Woman - Mrs.
• Frum - (frimer) - Pious - religious - devout
• Funfeh - Speaker's fluff - error
• Gai avek! - Go away
• Gai feifen ahfen yam! - Go peddle your fish elsewhere!
• Gai gezunterhait! - Go in good health
• Gai in drerd arein! - Go to hell!
• Gai kucken ahfen yam! - Get lost
• Gai platz! - Go split your guts!
• Gai shlog dein kup en vant! - Go bang your head against the wall
• Gai shoyn - gai. - Scram! also - Don't be silly!
• Gai strasheh di vantzen - You don't frighten me! (Lit. - Go threaten the bed bugs)
• Gai tren zich. (taboo) - Go fuck yourself
• Gait - gait! - Come now!
• Gait es nit! - It doesn't work!
• Galitsianer - Jewish native of Galicia
• Ganef - Crook - thief - burglar - swindler - racketeer
• Gants gut - Very good
• Gantseh K'nacker! - "Big Shot"
• Gantseh Macher - "Big shot."
• Gantseh megilleh - Big deal! (derisive)
• Gantseh mentsh - Manly - a whole man - a complete man; an adult; a fellow who assumes airs
• Gantser k'nacker! - Big shot!
• Gantser mentsh - Manly - a whole man - a complete man; an adult; a fellow who assumes airs
• Gatkes - Long winter underwear
• Gatns gut - Quite well
• Geben shoychad - To bribe
• Gebentsht mit kinder - Blessed with children
• Gebentshte boych - Literally-blesses stomach (womb) (Said of a lady with a fabulous child or children
• Gebrenteh tsores - Utter misery
• Gebrochener english - Fractured English
• Gedainkst? - Remember?
• Gedempte flaysh - Mystery meat
• Gedicht - Thick - full - ample
• Geferlech - Dangerous
• Geharget zolstu veren! - Drop dead! (Lit. - You should get killed.)
• Gelaimter - Person who drops whatever he touches
• Gelibteh - Beloved
• Gelt - Money
• Gelt gait tzu gelt. - Money goes to money.
• Gembeh! - Big mouth!
• Gemitlich - Slowly - unhurried - gently
• Genaivisheh shtiklech - Tricky - sharp - crooked actions or doings
• Genevishe oigen - Shifty eyes
• Genug iz genug. - Enough is enough!
• Gesheft - Business
• Geshmak - Tasty - delicious
• Geshtorben - The state of being dead.
• Geshtroft - Cursed - accursed; punished
• Geshvollen - Swollen - puffed up (Also applied to person with haughty pride)
• Get - Divorce
• Getchke - Statue
• Gevaldikeh Zach! - A terrible thing! (often ironically)
• Gevalt! - Heaven Forbid! (Exclamatory in the extreme.)
• Gezunde tzores - Healthy troubles. Troubles one should not take too seriously.
• Gezunt vi a ferd - Strong as a horse
• Gezunteh moid! - Brunhilde - a big healthy dame
• Gezunterhait - In good health
• Gib mir nit kain einorah! - Don't give me a canary! (Americanism - Lit. - Don't give me an evil eye)
• Gib zich a traisel - Get a move on
• Gitte neshomah - good soul
• Gleichvertel - Wisecrack - pun - saying - proverb - bon mot - witticism
• Glezel tai - Glass of tea
• Glezel varms - comforting or soothing (Lit: Glass of warmth)
• Glick - Luck - piece of luck
• Gloib mir! - Believe me!
• Glustiyah - Enema
• G'nossen tsum emess! - The sneeze confirmed the truth!
• Goldeneh chasseneh - Fiftieth wedding anniversary
• Goniff - Crook - thief - burglar - swindler - racketeer
• Gopel - Fork
• Gornisht - Nothing
• Gornisht Helfin - Nothing will help
• Got in himmel! - G-d in heaven! (said in anguish - despair - fear or frustration)
• Got tsu danken - Thank G-d
• Got zol ophiten! - G-d forbid!
• Gote-Vorte - A good piece of information or short concise Torahy commentary.
• Gotteniu! - Oh G-d! (anguished cry)
• Goy - Any person who is not Jewish
• Goyeh - Gentile woman
• Goyim - Group of non-Jewish persons
• Goyishe kop - Opposite of Yiddishe kop. Generally used to indicate someone who is not particularly smart or shrewd. (Definitely offensive.)
• Greps - Blech; a burp if it's a mild one
• Grob - Coarse - crude - profane - rough - rude
• Grober - Coarse - uncouth - crude person
• Grober finger - Thumb
• Grois-halter - Show-off - conceited person
• Groisseh gedilleh! - Big deal! (said sarcastically)
• Groisser gornisht - Big good-for-nothing
• Groisser potz! (taboo) - Big penis! Big prick! (deragatory or sarcastic)
• Grooten - To take after - to favour.
• Groyser finger - Middle finger
• Guggle muggle - A concoction made of warm milk and honey for sore throats
• Gunsel - A young goose. Also used to describe a young man who accompanies a tramp or a young tramp.
• Gut far him! - Serves him right!
• Gut gezugt - Well said
• Gut Shabbos - Good Sabbath
• Gut Yontif - Happy Holiday
• G'vir - Rich man
• Haimish ponem - A friendly face
• Haiseh vanneh - Hot bath
• Haissen - To hate
• Hak flaish - Chopped meat
• Hak mir nit in kop! - Stop bending my ear (Lit.; Stop banging on my head)
• Haken a tsheinik - Boring - long-winded and annoying conversation; talking for the sake of talking (Lit. - To bang on the tea-kettle)
• Halevei! - If only...
• Hamoyn - Common people
• Handlen - To bargain; to do business
• Hanoe hobn - to enjoy
• Harte mogen - constipation
• Hartsvaitik - Heart ache
• Hecher - Louder
• Hefker - A mess
• Heizel - Whorehouse
• Hekdish - Decrepit place - a slumhouse - poorhouse; a mess
• Heldish - Brave
• Heldzel - Stuffed neck flesh; sort of a neck-kishke
• Hendl - Chicken
• Hert zich ein! - Listen here!
• Hetsken zich - Shake and dance with joy
• Hikevater - Stammerer
• Hinten - Rear - rear parts - backside - buttocks; in the rear
• Hit zich! - Look out!
• Hitsik - Hothead
• Hitskop - Excitable person
• Hob derech erets - Have respect
• Hob nit kain deiges - Don't worry
• Hoben tsu zingen un tsu zogen - Have no end of trouble (Lit.
• Hoizer gaier - Beggar
• Hoizirer - Peddler (from house to house)
• Holishkes - Stuffed Cabbage
• Host du bie mir an avleh! - So I made a mistake. So what!
• Hulyen - A hellraiser
• Ibberbuttle - Senile
• Ich bin ahntoisht - I am disapointed
• Ich bin dich nit mekaneh - I don't envy you
• Ich darf es ahf kapores - It's good for nothing! I have no use for it. (Lit. - I need it for a [useless] fowl sacrifice)
• Ich darf es vi a loch in kop! - I need it like a hole in the head!
• Ich eil zich (nit) - I am (not) in a hurry
• Ich feif oif dir! - I despise you! Go to the devil! (Lit. - I whistle on you!)
• Ich hob dich in bod! - To hell with you! (Lit. - I have you in the bath house!)
• Ich hob dir! - Drop dead! Go flap you ears! (Lit. - I have you....!) (Americanisn!)
• Ich hob es in drerd! - To hell with it
• Ich hob im feint - I hate him
• Ich hob im in bod! - To hell with him
• Ich vais - I know
• Ich vais nit. - I don't know.
• Ich vel dir geben kadoches! - I'll give you nothing! (Lit. - I'll give you malaria or a fever.)
• Ich yog zich nit. - I'm not in a hurry.
• Ich zol azoy vissen fun tsores. - I should know as little about trouble (as I know about what you are asking me).
• Iker - Substance; people of substance
• In a noveneh - For a change; once in a blue moon
• In di alteh guteh tseiten! - In the good old days!
• In di oygn - To one's face
• In drerd mein gelt! - My money went down the drain! (Lit. - My money went to burial in the earth - to hell.)
• In miten drinen - In the middle of; suddenly
• Ipish - Bad odor - stink
• Ir gefelt mir zaier. - You please me a great deal.
• Iz brent mir ahfen hartz. - I have a heartburn.
• Kaas (in kaas oyf) - Angry (with)
• Kabaret forshtelung - Floorshow
• Kabtzen - kaptsen - Pauper
• Kaddish - A mourner's prayer
• Kaddishel - Baby son; endearing term for a boy or man (Derived from word "kaddish" which is a prayer for the dead that only males recite)
• Kadoches - Fever
• Kadoches mit koshereh fodem! - Absolutely nothing! (Lit. - fever with a kosher thread)
• Kaftan - Long coat worn by religious Jews
• Kain ein horeh - No evil eye! (Some say "don't give me a canary";
• Kakapitshi - Conglomeration
• Kalamutneh - Dreary - gloomy - troubled
• Kalekeh - A new bride who cannot even boil an egg.
• Kalleh - Bride
• Kalleh moid - A girl of marriageable age
• Kallehniu - Little bride
• Kalta neshomeh - A cold soul
• Kalyeh - Bad - wrong - spoiled
• Kalyekeh - Cripple; misfit; also - anybody not good at their craft or sport
• Kam derlebt - Narrowly achieved (Lit. - hardly lived to see)
• Kam mit tsores! - Barely made it! (Lit. - with some troubles) The word "Kam," also is pronounced "Kom" or "Koim" depending on the region people come from.
• Kam vos er kricht - Barley able to creep; Mr. Slowpoke
• Kam vos er lebt - He's hardly (barely) alive.
• Kamtsoness - To be miserly
• Kaneh - An enema
• Kaporeh - (kapores) - Atonement sacrifice; forgiveness; (slang) good for nothing
• Kaptsen - Penniless person
• Karabeinik - Country peddler
• Karabelnick - Country peddler
• Karger - Miser - tightwad
• Kaseer - enema
• Kasheh - Groats - mush cereal - buckwheat - porridge; a mess - mix-up - confusion
• Kasheh varnishkes - Cooked groats and broad (or bowtie) noodles
• Kashress - Kosher condition; Jewish religious dietary law
• Kasnik - (keisenik) - Angry person; excitable person - hot head
• Kasokeh - Cross-eyed
• Katchka - Duck (quack - quack)
• Katshkedik (Americanism) - Ducky - swell - pleasant
• Katzisher kop - Forgetful (Lit. - Cat head)
• Kaynahorah - Lit: the evil eye. Pronounced in order to ward of the evil eye - especially when speaking of one's good fortune. "Everyone in the family is happy and healthy kaynahorah."
• Kazatskeh - Lively Russian dance
• Kemfer - Fighter (usually for a cause)
• Ken zein - Maybe - could be
• Ketzele - Kitten
• Kibbitzer - Meddlesome spectator
• Kiddish (Borai pri hagofen) - Blessing over wine on the eve of Sabbath or Festivals
• Kimpetoren - Woman in labour or immediately after the delivery
• Kimpet-tzettel - Childbirth amulet or charm (from the German "kind-bet-tzettel" meaning childbirth label containing Psalm 121 - names of angels - patriarchs
• Kind un kait - Young and old
• Kinderlech - Diminutive - affectionate term for children
• Kishef macher - Magic-worker
• Kishkeh - Stuffed derma (Sausage shaped - stuffed with a mixture of flour - onions - salt - pepper and fat to keep it together - it is boiled - roasted and sliced)
• Klainer gornisht - Little prig (Lit. - A little nothing)
• Klaperkeh - Talkative woman
• Klemt beim hartz - Clutches at my heartstrings
• Klipeh - Gabby woman - shrew - a female demon
• Klog- Plague
• Klogmuter - Complainer - chronic complainer
• Kloolye - A curse
• Klop - Bang - a real hard punch or wallop
• Klotz (klutz) - Ungraceful - awkward - clumsy person; bungler
• Klotz kasheh - Foolish question; fruitless question
• Kloymersht - Not in reality - pretended (Lit. - as if it were)
• Knacker - A big shot
• Knackerke - The distaff k'nacker - but a real cutie-pie.
• Knaidel (pl. - k'naidlech) - Dumplings usually made of matzoh meal - cooked in soup
• Knippel - Button - knot; hymen - virginity; money tied in a knot in a handkerchief
• Knish (taboo) - Vagina
• K'nishes - Baked dumplings filled with potato - meat - liver or barley
• Kochalain - Summer boarding house with cooking privileges (Lit. - cook by yourself)
• Kochedik - Petulant - excitable
• Kochleffel - One who stirs up trouble; gadabout - busy-body (Lit. - a cooking ladle)
• Kolboynik - Rascally know-it-all
• Komisch - Funny
• Kopvaitik - Headache
• Kosher - Jewish dietary laws based on "cleanliness". Also referring to the legitimacy of a situation. "This plan doesn't seem kosher".
• Koved - Respect - honour - reverence - esteem
• Krank - Sick
• Krank-heit - Sickness
• Krassavitseh - Beauty - a doll - beautiful woman
• Krechts - Groan - moan
• Krechtser - Blues singer - a moaner
• Kreplach - Small pockets of dough filled with chopped meat which look like ravioli - or won ton - and are eaten in soup; (slang) nothing - valueless
• Kroivim - Relatives
• Krolik - Rabbit
• Kuch leffel - A person who mixes into other people's business (cooking spoon)
• Kuck im on (taboo) - Defecate on him! The hell with him!
• Kuck zich oys! (taboo) - Go take a shit for yourself!
• Kugel - Pudding
• Kuk im on! - Look at him!
• Kumen tsu gast - To visit
• Kuni leml - A nerd
• Kuntzen - Tricks
• Kunyehlemel - Naive - clumsy - awkward person; nincompoop; Casper Milquetoast
• Kuppe drek- A piece of fecal matter (s--t)
• Kurveh - Whore - prostitute
• Kush in toches arein! (taboo) - Kiss my behind! (said to somebody who is annoying you)
• Kushinyerkeh - Cheapskate; woman who comes to a store and asks for a five cents' worth of vinegar in her own bottle
• K'vatsh - Boneless person - one lacking character; a whiner - weakling
• K'velen - Glow with pride and happiness - beam; be delighted
• K'vetsh - Whine - complain; whiner - a complainer
• K'vitsh - Shriek - scream - screech
• Lachen mit yash-tsherkes - Forced or false laugh; laugh with anguish
• Laidik-gaier - Idler - loafer
• Lakeh - A funnel
• Lamden - Scholar - erudite person - learned man
• Lamed Vovnik - Refers to the Hebrew number "36" and traditionally each generation produces 36 wise and righteous persons who gain the approbation of "lamed vovnik."
• Lang leben zolt ir! - Long may you live!
• Lange loksch - A very tall thin person - A long tall drink of water.
• Lantslaite - Plural of lantsman
• Lantsman - Countryman - neighbour - fellow townsman from "old country".
• Lapeh - Big hand
• Layseh mogen - Diarrhea
• L'chei-im - le'chayim! - To life! (the traditional Jewish toast); To your health - skol
• Lebst a chazerishen tog! - Living high off the hog!
• Leck - shmeck - Done superficially (lick - smell)
• Leffel - Spoon
• Leibtzudekel - Sleeveless shirt (like bib) with fringes - worn by orthodox Jews
• Leiden - To suffer
• Lemechel - Milquetoast - quiet person
• Lemeshkeh - Milquetoast - bungler
• Leshem shomaim - Idealistically - "for the sake of heaven."
• Leveiyeh - Funeral
• Lezem gayne - leave them be
• Lig in drerd! - Get lost! Drop dead! (Lit. - Bury yourself!)
• Ligner - Liar
• Litvak - Lithuanian; Often used to connote shrewdness and skepticism - because the Lithuanian Jews are inclined to doubt the magic powers of the Hasidic leaders; Also - a person who speaks with the Northeastern Yiddish accent.
• Lobbus - Little monster
• Loch - Hole
• Loch in kop - Hole in the head.
• Loksch - An Italian gentleman.
• Lokshen - Noodles - but often meaning 'nonsense' or bullshit
• Lokshen strop - a "cat- o- nine tails"
• Lominer gaylen - Clumsy fool (a golem-Frankenstein monster -- created by the Lominer rebbe)
• Loz mich tzu ru! - Leave me alone! (Lit. - Let me be in peace!)
• Luch in kup - A hole in the head ( " I need this like a luch in kup").
• Luftmentsh - Person who has no business - trade - calling - nor income.
• Machareikeh - Gimmick - contraption
• Macher - big shot - person with access to authorities - man with contacts.
• Machshaifeh - Witch
• Magilla - Long story
• Maidel - Unmarried girl - teenager
• Maideleh - Little girl (affectionate term)
• Maisse - A story
• Maiven - Expert - connoisseur - authority
• Makeh - Plague - wound - boil - curse
• Mameleh - Mother dear
• Mamelushen - Mother language (Yiddish)
• Mamoshes - Substance - people of substance.
• Mamzer - Bastard - disliked person - untrustworthy
• Mamzerook - A naughty little boy
• Manzer - Bastard - disliked person - untrustworthy
• Mashgiach - Inspector - overseer or supervisor of Kashruth in restaurants & hotels.
• Mashugga - Crazy
• Matkes - Underpants
• Maynster - Mechanic - repairman - workshop proprietor
• Mayster - Master craftsman - champion
• Mazel Tov - Good Luck (lit) Generally used to convey "congratulations".
• Me ken brechen! - You can vomit from this!
• Me ken lecken di finger! - It's delicious!
• Me lost nit leben! - They don't let you live!
• Me redt zich oys dos hartz! - Talk your heart out!
• Me zogt - They say; it is said.
• Mecheieh - A great pleasure
• Mechutainista - Mother-In-Law
• Mechuten - In-Law
• Mechutonim - In-Laws (The parents of your child's spouse)
• Megillah - A long story
• Mein bobbeh's ta'am - Bad taste! Old fashioned taste!
• Mein cheies gait oys! - I'm dying for it!
• Mekheye - An extreme pleasure - orgasmic - out of this world wonderful!
• Mekler - Go-between
• Menner vash tsimmer - Men's room
• Mentsh - A special man or person. One who can be respected.
• Menuvel - A person who is always causing grief - can get nothing right - and is always in the way.
• Meshpokha - Extended family
• Meshugass - Madness - insanity - craze
• Meshugeh - Crazy
• Meshugeh ahf toit! - Crazy as a loon. Really crazy!
• Meshugeneh - Mad - crazy - insane female.
• Meshugener - Mad - crazy - insane man
• Meshugoyim - Crazy people
• Messer - Knife
• Mezinka - A special dance for parents whose last child is getting married
• Mezuzah - Tiny box affixed to the right side of the doorway of Jewish homes containing a small portion of Deuteronomy - handwritten on parchment.
• Mies - Ugly
• Mieskeit - Ugly thing or person.
• Mikveh - Ritual bath used by women just prior to marriage as well as after each monthly cycle. This represents a "spiritual cleansing after a potential to create a new life was not actualized. There are some religious men who also use mikvehs prior to festivals and the Sabbath. Some Chassidim immerse every morning before praying.
• Minyan - Quorum of ten men necessary for holding public worship (must be over 13 years of age)
• Mirtsishem - G-d willing
• Mitn derinnen - All of a sudden - suddenly
• Mitn grobn finger - Quibbling - stretching a point
• Mitten derinnen - All of a sudden - suddenly
• Mitzvah - Good deed
• Mizinik - The youngest child in an immediate family
• Mogen Dovid - Star of David
• Moisheh kapoyer - Mr. Upside-Down! A person who does everything backwards
• Mosser - Squealer
• Mossik - Mischief maker - prankster - naughty little boy - imp
• Moyel - Person (usually a rabbi) who performs circumcisions.
• Mr. Fremder - Stranger
• Mrs. Frum - (frimer) - Pious - religious - devout
• Mutek - Brave
• Mutshen zich - To sweat out a job
• Muttelmessig - Meddlesome person - kibbitzer
• Na! - Here! Take it. There you have it.
• Naches - Joy: Gratification - especially from children.
• Nacht falt tsu. - Night is falling; twilight
• Nadan - Dowry
• Nafkeh - Prostitute
• Nafkeh bay-is - Whorehouse
• Naidlechech - Rare thing
• Nar - Fool
• Nar ainer! - You fool - you!
• Narish - Foolish
• Narishkeit - Foolishness
• Narvez - Nervous
• Nebach - It's a pity. Unlucky - pitiable person.
• Nebbish - A nobody - simpleton - weakling - awkward person
• Nebechel - Nothing - a pitiful person; or playing role of being one
• Nechuma - Consolation
• Nechvenin - To masturbate
• Nem zich a vaneh! - Go take a bath! Go jump in the lake!
• Neshomeh - Soul - spirit
• Neshomeleh - Sweetheart - sweet soul
• Nifter-shmifter - a leben macht er? - What difference does it make as long as he makes a living? (Lit. - nifter means deceased.)
• Nishkosheh - Not so bad - satisfactory. (This has nothing to do with the word "kosher," but comes from the Hebrew and means "hard - heavy," thus "not hard" as in "not bad."
• Nisht do gedacht! - It shouldn't happen! G-d forbid! (Lit. - May we be saved from it! [sad event] )
• Nisht geferlech - Not so bad - not too shabby (Lit. not dangerous.)
• Nisht gefloygen - nisht getoygen - It doesn't matter
• Nisht gefonfit! - Don't hedge. Don't fool around. Don't double-talk.
• Nisht getrofen! - So I guessed wrong!
• Nisht gut - Not good - lousy
• Nisht naitik - Not necessary
• Nishtgedeiget - Don't worry; doesn't worry
• Nishtgutnick - No-good person
• Nishtikeit! - A nobody!
• Nishtkefelecht - No big deal!
• Nishtu gedacht! - It shouldn't happen! G-d forbid!
• Nit ahin - nit aher - Neither here nor there
• Nit gidacht gevorn. - It shouldn't come to pass.
• Nit gidacht! - It shouldn't happen! (Same as nishtu gedacht)
• Nit heint - nit morgen! - Not today - not tomorrow!
• Nit kain farshloffener - A lively person
• Nit kosher - Impure food. Also - slang - anything not good
• Nito farvos! - You're welcome!
• Nitsn - To use
• Noch a mool - One more time
• Noch nisht - Not yet
• Nochshlepper - Hanger-on - unwanted follower
• Nor Got vaist - Only G-d knows.
• Nosh - Snack
• Nosherie - Snack food
• Nu - shoyn! - Move - already! Hurry up! Let's go! Aren't you finished?
• Nu? - So? Well?
• Nudje - Annoying person - badgerer (Americanism)
• Nudjen - Badger - annoy persistently
• Nudnik - Pesty nagger - nuisance - a bore - obnoxious person
• N'vayle - Shroud; inept person
• Ober yetzt? - So now? (Yetzt is also spelled itzt)
• Obtshepen - Get rid of
• Och un vai! - Alas and alack: woe be to it!
• Oder a klop - oder a fortz (taboo) - Either too much or not enough (Lit. - either a wallop or a fart)
• Ohmain - Amen
• Oi - a shkandal! - Oh - what a scandal!
• Oi - gevald - Cry of anguish - suffering - frustration or for help
• Oi - Vai! - Dear me! Expression of dismay or hurt
• Oi vai iz mir! - Woe is me!
• Oi!! - Yiddish exclamation to denote disgust - pain - astonishment or rapture
• Oif tsalooches - For spite
• Oisgeshtrobelt! - Overdressed woman.
• Oisgeshtrozelt - Decorated (beautiful)
• Oisgevapt - Flat (as in "the fizz has gone out of it.)
• Ois-shteler - Braggart
• Oiver botel - Absentminded: getting senile
• Okurat - That's right! Ok! Absolutely! (Sarcastically: Ya' sure!) Okuratner mentsh - Orderly person
• Okuratner mentsh - Orderly person
• Olreitnik! - Nouveau riche!
• On langeh hakdomes! - Cut it short! (Lit. - without long introductions.)
• Ongeblozzen - Conceited: peevish - sulky - pouting
• Ongeblozzener - Stuffed shirt
• Ongematert - Tired out
• Ongepatshket - Cluttered - disordered - scribbled - sloppy - muddled - overly-done
• Ongeshtopt - Very wealthy
• Ongeshtopt mit gelt - Very wealthy; (Lit. - stuffed with money)
• Ongetrunken - Drunk
• Ongetshepter - Bothersome hanger-on
• Ongevarfen - Cluttered - disordered
• Onshikenish - Hanger-on
• Onshikenish - Pesty nagger
• Onzaltsen - Giving you the business; bribe; soft-soap; sweet-talk (Lit. - to salt)
• Opgeflickt! - Done in! Suckered! Milked!
• Opgehitener - Pious person
• Opgekrochen - Shoddy
• Opgekrocheneh schoireh - Shoddy merchandise
• Opgelozen(er) - Careless dresser
• Opgenart - Cheated - fooled
• Opnarer - Trickster - shady operator
• Opnarerei - Deception
• Orehman - Poor man - without means
• Oremkeit - Poverty
• ortz - Fart
• Ot azaih - That's how - just like that
• Ot gaist du - There you go (again)
• Ot kimm ich - Here I come!
• Oybershter in himmel - G-d in heaven
• Oych a bashefenish - Also a V.I.P.! A big person! (said derogatorily - sarcastically - or in pity)
• Oych mir a leben! - This too is a living! This you call a living?
• Oyfen himmel a yarid! - Much ado about nothing! Impossible! (Lit. - In heaven there's a big fair!)
• Oyfgekumener - Come upper - upstart
• Oyfn oyg - Roughly - approximately
• Oyg oyf oyg - In private - face-to-face
• Oys shiddech - The marriage is off!
• Oysergeveynlekh - Unusual (sometimes used as "great.")
• Oysgedart - Skinny - emaciated
• Oysgehorevet - Exhausted
• Oysgematert - Tired out - worn out
• Oysgemutshet - Worked to death - tired out
• Oysgeposhet - "Well grazed," in the sense of being fat.
• Oysgeputst - Dressed up - overdressed; over decorated
• Oysgeshprait - Spread out
• Oysgevapt - A bubbly drink that has lost its fizz.
• Oysvurf - Outcast - bad person
• Oysznoygn fun finger - Concoct - invent (a story)
• Paigeren - To die (animal)
• Paigeren zol er! - He should drop dead!
• Pamelech - Slow - slowly
• Parech - Low-life - a bad man
• Parnosseh - Livelihood
• Parshiveh - Mean - cheap
• Parshoin - He-man
• Partatshnek - Inferior merchandise or work
• Parveh - Neutral food - neither milchidik (dairy) nor flaishidik (meat)
• Paskidnye - Rotten - terrible
• Paskudnik - paskudnyak - Ugly - revolting - evil person; nasty fellow
• Past nit. - It isn't proper.
• Patsh - Slap - smack on the cheek
• Patshkies around - Anglicized characterization of one who wastes time.
• Patteren tseit - To lounge around; waste time
• Pavolyeh - Slow (derived from Polish)
• Payess - Long side-curls worn by Hasidic and other ultra-Orthodox Jewish men.
• Payets - Clowns
• Petseleh - Little penis
• Phooey! fooey - pfui - Designates disbelief - distaste - contempt
• Pinkt kahpoyer - Upside down; just the opposite
• Pipek - Navel - belly button
• Pishechtz - Urine
• Pisher - Male infant - a little squirt - a nobody
• Pisk - Slang - for mouth; insultingly - it means a big mouth - loudmouth
• Pisk-Malocheh - Big talker-little doer! (man who talks a good line but does nothing)
• Pitsel - Wee - tiny
• Pitseler - Toddler - small child
• Pitshetsh - Chronic complainer
• Pitsvinik - Little nothing
• Plagen - Work hard - sweat out a job - suffer
• Plagen zich - To suffer
• Plaplen - Chatter
• Plats! - Burst! Bust your guts out! Split your guts!!
• Plimenik - Nephew
• Plimenitse - Niece
• Plotz - To burst
• Pluchet - Heavy rain (from Polish "Plucha")
• Plyoot - Bull-shitter; Loudmouth
• Plyotkenitzeh - A gossip
• Ponem - Face
• Pooter veren - Getting rid of (Lit: making butter)
• Poseyakh - Rolling out dough
• Potchke - Fool around or "mess" with
• Potzevateh - Dimwit - someone who is "out of it."
• Praven - Celebrate
• Preplen - To mutter - mumble
• Prezhinitse - Scrambled eggs with milk added.
• Prietzteh - Princess; finicky girl; (having airs - giving airs; being snooty) prima donna!
• Pripitchok - Long - narrow wood-burning stove
• Prost - Coarse - common - vulgar
• Prostaches - Low class people
• Prostak - Ignorant boor - coarse person - vulgar man
• Prosteh leit - Simple people - common people; vulgar - ignorant - "low class" people
• Proster chamoole - Low-class shithead
• Proster mentsh - Vulgar man - common man
• Ptsha - Cows feet in jelly
• Pulke - The upper thigh
• Punim - Face
• Pupik - Navel - belly button - gizzard - chicken stomachs
• Pupiklech - Dish of chicken gizzards
• Pushkeh - Little box for coins
• Pustunpasnik - Loafer - idler
• Putz - Slang word for "penis." Also used when describing someone someone as being "a jerk."
• Pyesseh - A play - drama
• Rachmones - Compassions - mercy - pity
• Rav - Rabbi - religious leader of the community
• Reb - Mr. - Rabbi; title given to a learned and respected man
• Rebiniu - "Rabbi dear!" Term of endearment for a rabbi
• Rebitsin - Literally - the rabbi's wife (often sarcastically applied to a woman who gives herself airs - or acts excessively pious) ; pompous woman
• Rechielesnitseh - Dowdy - gossipy woman
• Redlshtul - Wheelchair
• Reich - Rich - wealthy
• Reissen - To tear
• Retsiche - Murder
• Richtiker chaifetz - The real article! The real McCoy!
• Rirevdiker - A lively person
• Rolleh - Role in a play
• Rooshisher - Definitely NOT a Litvak; coming from Ukraine - White Russia; the Crimea - Russia itself.
• Roseh - Mean - evil person
• Rossel flaysh - Yiddish refritos
• Ruktish - Portable table
• Saichel - Common sense - good sense; tact - diplomacy
• S'art eich? - What does it matter to you? Does it matter to you?
• Saykhel - Common sense
• Schmeikel - To swindle - con - fast-talk.
• Schochet - A ritual slaughterer of animals and fowl.
• Se brent nit! - Don't get excited! (Lit. - It's not on fire!)
• Se shtinkt! - It stinks!
• Se zol dir grihmen in boych! - You should get a stomach cramp!
• Sh' gootzim - Plural of shaigetz
• Sha! (gently said) - Please keep quiet.
• Shabbes goy - Someone doing the dirty work for others (Lit; - gentile doing work for a Jew on Sabbath)
• Shabbes klopper - A resident of a neighbourhood who's job it was to "klop" or bang on the shutters of Jewish homes to announce the hour of sundown on Friday
• Shadchen - Matchmaker or marriage broker; (There is the professional type who derives his living from it - but many Jewish women used to engage in matchmaking without compensation only from religious motives)
• Shaigetz ainer! - Berating term for irreligious Jewish boy - one who flouts Jewish law
• Shaigitz - Non-Jewish boy; wild Jewish boy
• Shaile - A question
• Shain vi der lavoone - As pretty as the moon
• Shain vi di zibben velten - Beautiful as the seven worlds
• Shaineh maidel - pretty girl
• Shainer gelechter - Hearty laugh (sarcastically - Some laughter!)
• Shainkeit - Beauty
• Shaitel - (sheitel) - Wig (at the wedding the ultra-orthodox bride has her hair cut off and she wears a shaitel ever after)
• Shalach mohnes - Customary gifts exchanges on Purim - usually goodies
• Shalom - Peace (a watchword and a greeting)
• Shammes - Sexton - beadle of the synagogue - also - the lighter taper used to light other candles on a menorah - a policeman (slang)
• Shamus - Sexton - beadle of the synagogue - also - the lighter taper used to light other candles on a menorah - a policeman (slang)
• Shandeh - Shame or disgrace
• Shandhoiz - Brothel - whorehouse
• Shat - shat! Hust! - Quiet! Don't get excited
• Shatnes - Proscription against wearing clothes that are mixed of wool and linen
• Shav - Cold spinach soup - sorrel grass soup - sour leaves soup
• Shayneh kepeleh - Pretty head (lit) Good looking - good thoughts
• Shemevdik - Bashful - shy
• Shepen naches - Enjoy; gather pleasure - draw pleasure - especially from children
• Shidech (pl. - shiduchim) - Match - marriage - betrothal
• Shihi-pihi - Mere nothings
• Shikker - Drunkard
• Shikseh - Non-Jewish girl
• Shik-yingel - Messenger
• Shissel - A basin or bowl
• Shitter - Sparse - lean - meager
• Shitteryne - To cook without a recipe. Add a little of this - a little of that - a little of something else - without measuring.
• Shiva - Mourning period of seven days observed by family and friends of deceased
• Shkapeh - A hag - a mare; worthless
• Shkotz - Berating term for mischievous Jewish boy
• Shlak - Apoplexy; a wretch - a miserable person; shoddy; shoddy merchandise
• Shlang - Snake - serpent; a troublesome wife; penis (taboo)
• Shlatten shammes - Communal busybody - tale bearer; messenger
• Shlecht - Bad
• Shlecht veib - Shrew (Lit. - a bad wife)
• Shlemiel - Clumsy bunglar - an inept person - butter-fingered; dopey person
• Shlep - Drag - carry or haul - particularly unnecessary things - parcels or baggage; to go somewhere unwillingly or unwantedly
• Shleppen - To drag - pull - carry - haul
• Shlepper - Sponger - panhanddler - hanger-om; dowdy - gossipy woman - free-loader
• Shlepper - Sponger - panhandler - hanger-on; dowdy - gossipy woman - free-loader
• Shlimazel - Luckless person. Unlucky person; one with perpetual bad luck (it is said that the shlemiel spills the soup on the shlimazel!)
• Shlissel - A key
• Shlog zich kop in vant. - Break your own head! (Lit. - bang your head on the wall)
• Shlog zich mit Got arum! - Go fight City Hall! (Lit. - Go fight with God.)
• Shlogen - To beat up
• Shlok - A curse; apoplexy
• Shlooche - Slut
• Shloof - Sleep - nap
• Shlosser - Mechanic
• Shlub - A jerk; a foolish - stupid or unknowing person - second rate - inferior.
• Shlump - Careless dresser - untidy person; as a verb - to idle or lounge around
• Shlumperdik - Unkempt - sloppy
• Shmaltz - Grease or fat; (slang) flattery; to sweet talk - overly praise - dramatic
• Shmaltzy - Sentimental - corny
• Shmatteh - Rag - anything worthless
• Shmeer - The business; the whole works; to bribe - to coat like butter
• Shmegegi - Buffoon - idiot - fool
• Shmeichel - To butter up
• Shmeis - Bang - wallop
• Shmek tabik - Nothing of value (Lit. - a pinch of snuff)
• Shmendrik - nincompoop; an inept or indifferent person; same as shlemiel
• Shmo(e) - Naive person - easy to deceive; a goof (Americanism)
• Shmok (taboo) - Self-made fool; obscene for penis: derisive term for a man
• Shmontses -Trifles - folly
• Shmooz; (shmuess) - Chat - talk
• Shmuck (tabboo) - Self-made fool; obscene for penis: derisive term for a man
• Shmulky! - A sad sack!
• Shmuts - Dirt - slime
• Shmutzik - Dirty - soiled
• Shnapps - Whiskey - same as bronfen
• Shnecken - Little fruit and nut coffee rolls
• Shneider - Tailor; in gin rummy card game - to win game without opponent scoring
• Shnell - Quick - quickly
• Shnook - A patsy - a sucker - a sap - easy-going - person easy to impose upon - gullible
• Shnorrer - A beggar who makes pretensions to respectability; sponger - a parasite
• Shnur - Daughter-in-law
• Shokklen - To shake
• Shoymer - Watchman; historically refers also to the armed Jewish watchman in the early agricultural settlements in the Holy Land
• Shoymer mitzves - Pious person
• Shoyn ainmol a' metsei-eh! - Really a bargain
• Shoyn fargessen? - You have already forgotten?
• Shoyn genug! - That's enough!
• Shpatzir - A walk without a particular destination
• Shpiel - Play
• Shpilkes - Pins and needles
• Shpits - end - the heel of the bread
• Shpitsfinger - Toes
• Shpitzik - Pointed sense of humour - witty - sarcastic - caustic
• Shpogel nei - Brand-new
• Shreklecheh zach - A terrible thing
• Shtarben - To die
• Shtark - shtarker - Strong - brave
• Shtark gehert - Smelled bad (used only in reference to food; Lit. - strongly heard)
• Shtark vi a ferd - Stong as a horse
• Shtetl - Village or small town (in the "old country")
• Shtik - Piece - bit: a special bit of acting
• Shtik drek (taboo) - Piece of shit; shit-head
• Shtik goy - Idiomatic expression for one inclined to heretical views - or ignorance of Jewish religious values
• Shtik naches - Grandchild - child - or relative who gives you pleasure; a great joy
• Shtikel - Small bit or piece; a morsel
• Shtiklech - Tricks; small pieces
• Shtilinkerait - Quietly
• Shtimm zich- Shut up!
• Shtoltz - Pride; unreasonably and stubbornly proud - excessive self-esteem
• Shtrafeeren - To threaten
• Shtrudel - Sweet cake made of paper-thin dough rolled up with various fillings
• Shtuk - Trouble
• Shtum - Quiet
• Shtup - Push - shove; vulgarism for sexual intercourse
• Shtup es in toches! (taboo) - Shove (or stick) it up your rectum (ass)!
• Shtuss - A minor annoyance that arises from nonsense
• Shudden - A big mess
• Shul - Colloquial Yiddish for synagogue
• Shule - School
• Shushkeh - A whisper; an aside
• Shutfim - Associates
• Shvach - Weak - pale
• Shvachkeit - Weakness
• Shvantz - tail - penis
• Shvartz - Black
• Shvegerin - Sister-in-law
• Shvengern - Be pregnant
• Shver - Father-in-law; heavy - hard - difficult
• Shvertz azayan Yid - It's hard to be a Jew
• Shviger - Mother-in-law
• Shvindel - Fraud - deception - swindle
• Shvindeldik - Dizzy - unsteady
• Shvitz - Sweat - sweating
• Shvitz bod - Steam bath
• Shvoger - Brother-in-law
• Sidder - Jewish prayer book for weekdays and Saturday
• Simantov - A good sign (lit) Often used with mazel tov to wish someone good luck or to express congratulations
• Simcheh - Joy; also refers to a joyous occasioin
• Sitzfleish - Patience that can endure sitting (Lit. - sitting flesh)
• Smetteneh - Sour cream; Cream
• Sobaka killev - Very doggy dog
• Sof kol sof - Finally
• Sonem - Enemy - or someone who thwarts your success.
• S'teitsh! - Listen! Hold on! How is that? How is that possible? How come?
• Stikel - Small bit or piece; a morsel
• Strasheh mich nit! - Don't threaten me!
• Ta'am - Taste - flavor; good taste
• Tachlis - Practical purpose - result
• Tahkeh - Really! Is that so? Certainly!
• Tahkeh a metsieh - Really a bargain! (usually said with sarcasm)
• Taiglech - Small pieces of baked dough or little cakes dipped in honey
• Tallis - Rectangular prayer-shawl to whose four corners - fringes are attached
• Talmud - The complete treasury of Jewish law interpreting the Torah into livable law
• Talmud Torah - The commandment to study the Law; an educational institution for orphans and poor children - supported by the community; in the United States - a Hebrew school for children
• Tamavate - Feebleminded
• Tamaveter - Feebleminded person
• Tandaitneh - Inferior
• Tararam - Big noise - big deal
• Tashlich - Ceremony of the casting off of sins on the Jewish New Year (crumbs of bread symbolizing one's sins are cast away into a stream of water in the afternoon of the Jewish New Year - Rosh Hashoneh)
• Tateh - tatteh - tatteh - tatteleh - tatinka - tatteniu - Father - papa - daddy - pop
• Tateh-mameh - papa-mama - Parents
• Tatenui - Father dear (The suffix "niu" in Yiddish is added for endearing intimacy; also - G-d is addressed this way by the pious; Tateniu-Foter means G-d - our Father
• Tchotchkes - Little playthings - ornaments - bric-a-brac - toys
• Teier - Dear - costly - expensive
• Tei-yerinkeh! - Sweetheart - dearest
• Temp - Dolt
• Temper kop - Dullard
• Tinef - Junk - poorly made
• T'noim - Bethrothal - engagement
• T'noim - Betrothal - engagement
• Toches - Buttocks - behind - fanny (ass)
• Toches ahfen tish! - Put up or shut up! Let's conclude this! (Lit. - Asses on the table!)
• Toches-lecker - Brown-noser - apple-polisher - ass-kisser
• Togshul - Day school
• Toig ahf kapores! - Good for nothing! It's worth nothing!
• Traif - Forbidden food - impure - contrary to the Jewish dietary laws - non-kosher
• Traifeneh bicher - Forbidden literature
• Traifener bain - Jew who does not abide by Jewish law (derisive - scornful expression
• Traifnyak - Despicable person; one who eats non-kosher food
• Trenen - To tear - rip
• Trepsverter - Lit. step words. The zinger one thinks of in retreat. The perfect retort one summons after mulling over the insult.
• Trog gezunterhait! - Wear it in good health!
• Trogedik - Pregnant
• Trombenik - A bum - no-good person - ne'er-do-well; a faker
• Tsaddik - Pious - righteous person
• Tsalooches - Spite
• Tsaloochesnik - Spiteful person
• Tsatskeh - Doll - plaything; something cute; an overdressed woman; a sexy girl
• Tsatskeleh der mamehs! - Mother's favorite! Mother's pet!
• Tsebrech a fus! - Break a leg!
• Tsedokeh - Spirit of philantrophy; charity - benevolence
• Tsedrait - Nutty - crazy - screwy
• Tsedraiter kop - Bungler
• Tseereh - Face (usually used as put-down)
• Tseeshvimmen - Blurred
• Tsegait zich in moyl - It melts in the mouth - delicious - yummy-yummy
• Tsemishnich - Confusion
• Tsemisht - Confused - befuddled - mixed-up
• Tsevishen-shtotisheh telefonistkeh - Long distance operator
• Tshatshki - Toy - doo-dad; pretty girl
• Tshepen - To annoy - irk - plague - bother - attack
• Tsigeloisen - Compassionate - rather nice
• Tsiklen zich - The cantor's ecstatic repetition of a musical phrase
• Tsimmes - Sweet carrot compote; (slang) a major issue made out of a minor event
• Tsitsa makher - A person who is always upset and disappointed. "Commonly - elderly Jews who are often disappointed in life - sit around all day saying "Tsi Tsa - Tsi Tsa - Tsi Tsa"." (One comedian described it as sounding like a swarm of grasshoppers.)
• Tsitskeh - Breast - teat - udder
• Tsivildivit - Crazy - wild - overwhelmed with too many choices
• Tsnueh - Chaste
• Tsores - Troubles - misery
• Tsum glik - tsum shlimazel - For better - for worse
• Tsumakhn an oyg - To fall asleep
• Tsutsheppenish - Hanger-on; unwanted companion; pest; nuisance
• Tsvilling - Twins
• Tu mir a toiveh. - Do me a favor.
• Tu mir nit kain toives. - Don't do me any favors.
• Tumel - Confusion - noise - uproar
• Tumler - A noise-maker (person); an agitator
• Tut vai dos harts - Heartbroken
• Tzadrait - Scattered
• Tzedakeh - Spirit of philanthropy; charity - benevolence
• Tziginner bobkes - Jocular - truly valueless. Also used to describe black olives. Lit: goat droppings
• Tziter - To tremble
• Tziterdik - Tremulous or trembling
• Tzitzis - Fringes attached to the four corners of the tallis
• Tzufil! - Too much! Too costly!
• Umgeduldik - Petulant
• Umglick - A misfortune; (masc) A born loser; an unlucky one
• Ummeglich! - Impossible!
• Umshteller - Braggart
• Umzist - For nothing
• Umzitztiger fresser - free loader - especially one who shows up only to eat (and EAT!)
• Un langeh hakdomes! - Cut it short! (lit. - Without a long introduction)
• Unger bluzen - Bad mood. Swollen with anger.
• Ungerissen beheiman - A totally stupid person. Lit. - an untamed animal. Not wild - just dumb.
• Unter fir oygn - Privately
• Unterkoifen - To bribe
• Untershmeichlen - To butter up
• Untervelt mentsh - Racketeer
• Untn - Below
• Utz - To goad - to needle
• Vai is mir! - Woe is me!
• Vai! - Woe - pain; usually appears as "oy vai!"
• Vais ich vos - Stuff and nonsense! Says you! (Lit. - Know from what)
• Vaitik - An ache
• Valgeren zich - Wander around aimlessly
• Valgerer - Homeless wanderer
• Vaneh - Bath - bathtub
• Vannit - Where (from) "Fon vannit kimmt ihr?" (Where do you come from?)
• Vantz - Bedbug; (slang) a nobody
• Varenikehs - Round shaped noodle dough stuffed with meat - potato - etc. and fried
• Varfen an oyg - To look out for; to guard; to mind (Lit. - To throw an eye at)
• Varnishkes - Kasha and noodles
• Vart! - Wait! Hold on!
• Vash-tsimmer - Bathroom - washroom
• Vechter - Watchman
• Veibernik - Debauchee
• Veibershe shtiklach - Female tricks
• Vek-zaiger - Alarm clock
• Vemen barestu? - (taboo) Whom are you kidding? (Lit. - Whom are you screwing?)
• Vemen narstu? - Whom are you fooling?
• Ver derharget! - Get killed! Drop dead! (Also "ver geharget)
• Ver dershtikt! - Choke yourself!
• Ver farblondjet! - Get lost! Go away!
• Ver tsuzetst - "Go to hell" (or its equivalent)
• Ver vaist? - Who knows?
• Veren a tel - To be ruined
• Veren ferherret - To get married
• Verklempt - Extremely emotional. On the verge of tears. (See "Farklempt")
• Vi a barg - Large as a mountain
• Vi gaits? - How goes it? How are things? How's tricks?
• Vi haistu? - What's your name?
• Vi ruft men...? - What is the name of...?
• Viazoy? - How come?
• Vifil? - How much?
• Vilder chaiah - Wild animal or out of control child or adult
• Vilder mentsh - A wild one; a wild person
• Vilstu - Do you want...
• Vo den? - What else?
• Voglen - To wander around aimlessly
• Voiler yung! - Roughneck (sarcastic expression)
• Voncin - Bed bug
• Vortshpiel - Pun - witticism
• Vos heyst - what does it mean?
• Vos iz? - What's the matter?
• Vos noch? - What else? What then?
• Vund - Wound
• Vursht - Bologna
• Vyzoso - Idiot (named after youngest son of Haman - archenemy of Jews in Book of esther); also - penis
• Yachneh - A coarse - loud-mouthed woman; a gossip; a slattern
• Yachsen - Man of distinguished lineage - highly connected person - privileged character
• Yahrtzeit - Anniversary of the day of death of a loved-one.
• Yarmelkeh - Traditional Jewish skull cap - usually worn during prayers; worn at all times by observant Orthodox Jews.
• Yashir koyech - May your strength continue
• Yatebedam - A man who threatens; one who thinks he's a "big shot"; a blusterer
• Yedies - News; cablegrams; announcements
• Yefayfiyeh - Beauty; woman of great beauty
• Yeneh velt - The other world; the world to come
• Yenems - Someone else's; (the brand of cigarettes moochers smoke!)
• Yente telebente - Mrs. National Enquirer
• Yenteh - Gabby - talkative woman; female blabbermouth
• Yentzen (taboo) - To fornicate - to whore
• Yeshiveh - Jewish traditional higher school - talmudical academy
• Yeshiveh bocher - Student of talmudic academy
• Yeshuvnik - Farmer - rustic
• Yichus - Pedigree - ancestry - family background - nobility
• Yiddisher kop - Jewish head
• Yiddishkeit - Having to do with all things relating to Jewish culture.
• Yingeh tsats-keh! - A young doll! A living doll!
• Yiskor - Prayer in commemoration of the dead (Lit. - May God remember.)
• Yom Kippur - Day of Atonement (the most holy of holy days of the Jewish calendar)
• Yontefdik - Festive - holiday-ish; sharp (referring to clothes)
• Yortseit - Anniversary of the day of death of parents or relatives; yearly remembrance
• Yoysher - Justice - fairness - integrity
• Yukel - Buffoon
• Yung un alt - Young and old
• Yungatsh - Street-urchin - scamp - young rogue
• Yungermantshik - A young - vigorous lad; A newlywed
• Yusoimeh - Orphan
• Zaft - Juice
• Zaftik - Pleasantly plump and pretty. Sensuous looking (Lit. - juicy)
• Zaftikeh moid! - Sexually attractive girl
• Zaideh - Grandfather
• Zaier gut - O.K. (Lit. - very good)
• Zei (t) gezunt - Be well! Goodbye! Farewell
• Zei nit a nar! - Don't be a fool!
• Zeit (mir) moychel - Excuse me! Be so good as...Forgive me!
• Zeit azoy gut - Please (Lit. - Be so good)
• Zelig - Blessed (used mostly among German Jews in recalling a beloved deceased ----- mama zelig)
• Zeltenkeit - Rare thing
• Zetz - Shove - push - bang! Also slang for a sexual experience (taboo)
• Zhaleven - To be sparing - miserly
• Zhlob - A jerk; slob - uncouth
• Zhulik - Faker
• Zindik nit - Don't complain. Don't tempt the Gods.
• Zingen - To sing
• Ziseh neshomeh - Sweet soul
• Ziseh raidelech - Sweet talk
• Ziskeit - Sweetness - sweetheart - (Also endearing term for a child)
• Zitsen ahf shpilkes - Sitting on pins and needles; to fidget
• Zitsen shiveh - Sit in mourning (Shiveh means 7 which is the number of days in the period of mourning
• Zitsflaish - Patience (Lit. - Sitting meat)
• Zog a por verter - Say a few words!
• Zogen a ligen - Tell a lie
• Zogerkeh - Woman who leads the prayers in the women's section in the synagogue
• Zoineh - Prostitute
• Zol zein azoy! - O.K.! Let it be so!
• Zol zein gezunt! - Be well!
• Zol zein shah! - Be quiet. Shut up!!
• Zol zein shtil! - Silence! Let's have some quiet!
• Zol zein! - Let it be! That's all!
• Zorg zich nit! - Don't worry!
• Zuninkeh! - Dear son! Darling son!