18 Jul Glossary of Yiddish Terms
Use this glossary to learn the meanings of Yiddish words in the Patreon memoir series, or to brush up on the Yiddish you may already know! New words will be added as more chapters go up.
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Baales teshuva (BT)– Someone who returns to the faith
Bashefer– God, the Creator
Bashert— Predetermined; predestined partner
Bubby– Grandmother
Chumash– Bible, five books of Moses
Chutzpah-– insolence, cheek, audacity, or person with those traits
Dayin– Learned men
Farina– Meal made of grains or starchy roots
Frauerishe Kep– Womanly minds
Gatke– Men’s long johns
Gehenom– Hell
Goyishe-kup– Gentile mind (generally a term that implies a square, or a rule follower)
Kallah-maude– A woman of bridal age
Kim– Come
Kol Isha– A woman’s voice, especially when singing; it is forbidden for a woman’s voice to be heard by any men who aren’t in her immediate family
Kvitzes haderech– The belief that some holy men could miraculously travel long distances in a very short period of time
Lutzy– A pathetic person; the opposite of stylish and confident
Macher– A person who gets things done
Masmid– Studious from a young age
Meidel/Meidlech– Girl/Girls
Meshugah— Crazy
M’tur nisht– It’s not allowed
Negel vasser– Observance of washing hands directly after waking up
Rashi– Commentary on the Bible
Seforim– Jewish religious texts
Shidduch— An arranged marriage
Shkoyach– Thanks
Shtik– Gimmick
Spast nisht– It’s not appropriate
Stam– Just (as in “I am just browsing online.”)
Sukkah– Temporary shelter used for meals during Jewish fesitval of Sukkot
Tipshus– Idiocy
Veis nisht— Don’t know
Velt– World
Yidden– Jews
Yiddishkeit– Jewish way of life, customs, and practices
Yingel– Boy
Yungermanchik– Young man
Zaftig– Juicy (used to mean spicy)
Zah mir moichel– Please forgive me
Zeidy— Grandfather
Zeyer shayn– Very nice
Zug mir nisht– Don’t tell me
Zug nur– Say; an expression to begin a sentence or conversation
Chaim
Posted at 19:35h, 19 JulyMeidlech is girls.