Modern Jewish Life
The Best Yiddish Words
"If you don't have anything nice to say, say it in Yiddish!" ~ Yiddish Proverb
Yiddish is arguably the most fun language ever. It's both humorous, dark, and largely insulting. Spoken by Ashkenazi Jews, Yiddish is similar to German, with some Hebrew and other Slavic languages thrown in for kicks. How many ways to call someone an “idiot” does one person need? Apparently a lot! Here are some of the best Yiddish words ever:
- Balaboosta: The ultimate Jewish homemaker — she cooks, she cleans, she fries latkes.
- Bubbe: Grandmother.
- Bubbeleh: A term of endearment, darling.
- Bupkis: Worthless or nada.
- Chutzpah: Nerve. As in, “It took a lot of chutzpah for you to take the last bagel!”
- Klutz: A clumsy person.
- Kvell: To beam with pride.
- Kvetch: To complain.
- Mazel Tov: Literally means “good luck” but it's an expression for “congratulations”.
- Mensch: A good person.
- Meshugina: Craziness.
- Nosh: To snack.
- Oy vey: An expression of dismay.
- Plotz: To collapse.
- Putz / Schmuck: An idiot.
- Schlep: To drag.
- Shlemiel: A clumsy person.
- Shlimazel: Someone with bad luck.
- Shmooze: To make small talk.
- Schmutz: Dirt.
- Shvitz: Sweat.
- Tchatchke: A knick-knack.
- Yenta: A female gossip.
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7 comments
I want to find out what some of the meanings of Yiddish proverbs and slang mean form the book I have. For instance: Thunder in winter is a sign of plenty.
Do you know? Or do know where I can glean such information? Thanks Sophia
Wonderful language, very coloful.
I grew up in Yididhkite. It’s my first language. Unfortunately, I don’t read neither Yiddish or Hebrew. But my oral Yiddish isn’t that bad. I have lots of fave Yiddishe words. As an example: a mihae, tanykea nahes, cheripanivke ( variation of gossiper). I can go on and on.
Hocking my chinik.
Funny as one would expect even if some are Yinglish-it’s how a language changes, but lots of fun none the less