Lot’s of Fun with Yiddish Words

By Neal Walters

While Sephardic Jews are known for Ladino, a mix of Spanish and HEbrew, Ashkenazi Jews are known for their language, Yiddish, which goes back to the 10th or 11th century in the Rhineland. It spread to central and Eastern Europe, and then to America and anywhere Ashkenazi Jews have settled. Besides Hebrew and German, Yiddish also borrows words from both Russian and Polish.

Today it’s called “Mame-loshen” which literally means “mother-tongue”, as opposed to “LASHON KODESH” (or LOSHEN KOYDESH) – the “Holy Tongue”. “LASHON” is the Hebrew word for “tongue” or “language”. “MAME” is obviously a cognate for “MAMA” or “Mother”. Yiddish is written in Hebrew letters.

The English language has absorbed dozens of Hebrew and Yiddish words into the English language. For example, shlep (carry something burdensome), shalom (peace/hello), and shnook (a dolt).

Let’s now dig into several interesting Yiddish phrases. Es iz a shandeh far di kinder! = It’s a shame for the children. Onegeblozzen means conceited, but ongepatshket means cluttered or muddled.

Words like “Milchiks”, “Flaishik” and “Pushkey” are specific to Judaism, “Milchiks” (similar to our word “milk”) refers to dairy foods and cooking utensils (as Jews separate meat from milk). On the other hand, “flaishik” means “meet” foods (compare to the English word “flesh”). A “Mechalel Shabbes” is one who works on or violates the Shabbat rest. —

Several phrases begin with “OY”. “Oy Vey” is a famous saying that means “Dear me”. Another is “Oy gevald”, a cry of anguish, and yet another is “Oy a shkandal” means “What a scandal!”

The word “NIT” is a cognate of our word “NOT”. “Nit gidacht!” means “It shouldn’t happen”. “Nit heint, nit morgen!” means “not today, and not tomorrow.” Simlary, “NISHT” is another word that means “no” or “not”, as in “Nisht Naitik” (not necessary).

Some of the “SH” words are interesting. A “shnorrer” is someone who is a parasite, always glad to ask for money. A “shtarker” is a tough guy, and to “shushkey” means to whisper or gossip. A “shvegerin” is a sister-in-law, and to “shvindel” means to “swindel” or fraud.

Last but not least, here are some “Z” words and phrases. “Zindit nit” = “Don’t complain”. “Zitsen ahf shpilkes” means “sitting on pins and needles” or “fidgety”. You probably guess the “Shpilkes” is similar to the English “spikes”. Probably one of the funniest phrases is “Zol vaksen tzibbelis fun pipek” – which means “Onions should grow from your navel!”.

Neal Walters offers Yiddish and Hebrew products. Visit his Beginning Hebrew website (http://HebrewResources.com) for more information.

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