Glossary of Yiddish Terms

18 Jul Glossary of Yiddish Terms

Posted at 13:53h in Language by Frieda Vizel 1 Comment

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 are published.

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Baal Shem Tov– Polish Jewish mystic and healer born in 1698, regarded as the founder of Hasidic Judaism

Baales teshuva (BT)– Someone who returns to the faith

Bashefer– God, the Creator

Bashert— Predetermined; predestined partner

Bubby– Grandmother

Cholent– Traditional Jewish stew simmered overnight and eaten on Shabbos

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

Farrikt–Insane

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)

Grisha– A divorcee;  carries an extremely negative connotation, like a marked woman

Gut in himel– God in heaven

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; the term can also be used when someone is fast: “So you had kvitzes haderech?”

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

Misik— An idea; a clue

M’tur nisht– It’s not allowed

Munkatch Hasidic Sect– Hasidic sect of mostly Hungarian Jews, with large communities in Boro Park, Williamsburg, and Monsey

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

Yetzer Horah– Evil will

Yetzer Tov– Good will

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; pray tell; an expression to begin a sentence or conversation