SILManuscript IPA93SILManuscript IPA931 KeyContent1.&# A Glossary of Yiddish Expressions ,# Copyright by Michael Fein, michael@pass.toA biselA little A biseleh A very littleA broch!Oh hell! Damn it!! A curse!!!A broch tsu dir!A curse on you! A brocheh A blessingA deigeh hob ichI don't care. I should worry.A farshlepteh krenkA chronic ailmentA feier zol im trefenHe should burn up!A gezunt ahf dein kop!3Good health to you (Lit., Good health on your head)A glick ahf dir!TGood luck to you (Sometimes used sarcastically about minor good fortunes) Big thing!A glick hot dir getrofen!;Big deal! Sarcastic (Lit., A piece of luck happened to you)A klog iz mir! Woe is me!A klog tzu meineh somin!A curse on my enemies!A leben ahf dir!+You should live! And be well and have more!A lung un leber oyf der nozZStop talking yourself into illness! (Lit., Don't imagine a lung and a liver upon the nose)"A mentsh on glik is a toyter mensh#An unlucky person is a dead person.A metsieh fun a ganef,It's a steal (Lit., A bargain from a thief.)A nechtiker tog! Forget it! A nishtikeit! A nobody!A shandeh un a charpehA shame and a disgraceA shtik naches A great joy A sof! A sof!Let's end it ! End it! Abi gezunt!As long as you're healthy! Achrahyes ResponsibleAhf mir gezogt!!I wish it could be said about me! Ahf tsores In trouble Ahntoisht Disappointed Ahzes ponimImpudent fellowAidelCultured or finickyAidim Son-in-law Aiver butelAbsent minded; mixed upAlaichem sholomTo you be peace Alef-bais6Alphabet; the first two letters of the Jewish alphabetAlevei! It should happen to me (to you)! Alteh moidSpinster, old maid Alteh bocherBachelor Alter KuckerA lecherous old manAn alteh machashaifeh An old witchAn alter bakahnterAn old acquaintanceAn alter trombenick An old bumAreinCome in! Arumgeflickt!Plucked! Milked! Arumloifer%Street urchin; person who runs aroundAz a yor ahf mir.I should have such good luck.Az och un vai! Touch luck! Too bad! Misfortune!Azoy?Really? Azoy gait es!That's how it goes! Azoy gich?So soon? Azoy vert dos kichel tzekrochen!That's how the cookie crumbles!BadchanJester, 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 mannerBagrobenTo buryBaitsim TesticlesBalebatisheh yidenERespectable Jews, men of substance and good standing in the community BalhabostehMistress of the houseBalnesMiracle-worker Bal ToyrehLearned man, scholar Bareden yenem To gossip Baren (taboo)Fornicate: bother, annoyBarimerBraggart, show-offBaroygisAngry, petulantBashertFated or predestined Bashert zeinTo be destinedBehaimeh@Animal, cow (when referring to a human deing, means dull-witted)Bentshen lechtARecite prayer over lit candles on Sabbath eve or Holy Day candlesBeryehEfficient, competent housewife Bes medresh SynagogueBillikCheap, inexpensiveBist meshugeh?Are you crazy?BitehPleaseBlondjenTo wander, be lostBobkes4Small things, triflings, peanuts, nothing, worthlessBohmer Bum (masc.) Bohmerkeh Bum (fem.)Borsht Beet soupBorsht circuitHotels in the Catskill Mountain, New York area, with an almost entirely Jewish clientele, who are fond of borsht; term is used by entertainersBris CircumcisionBristenBreasts BroitgeberHead of familyBronfenWhiskeyB'sulehVirginBubee"Friendly term for anybody you likeBulvan2Man built like an ox; boorish, coarse, rude person ChaleshenTo faint Chaloshes"Nausea, faintness, unconsciousnessChamoyer du ainer!!You blockhead! You dope, You ass! Chap a gang!*Beat it! (Lit., Catch a way, catch a road) Chap nit!-Take it easy! Not so fast! (Lit., Don't grab)Chas v'cholileh! G-d forbid!ChazenCantor ChazentehWife of chazen (cantor)ChazzerA pig (one who eats like a pig) Chazzerei4Swill; pig's feed; anything bad, unpalatable, rottenCheiZEighteen; life; word formed by the combination of Hebrew letters meaning eighteen and lifeChei kuck (taboo)ANothing, infinitesimal, worthless, unimportant (Lit., human dung) Chmalyeh!Bang, punch; Slam! Wallop!Chochem attick A wise guyChochmeh Wisdom, bright saying, witticism CholeryehCholera; a curse, plagueChoshever mentsh8Man of worth and dignity; elite person; respected personChosid Rabid fanChossen BridegroomChossen-kallehBride and groom; engaged coupleChoyzik machenMake fun of, ridiculeChropenSnoreChupahDCanopy under which a bride and groom stand during marriage ceremony.ChutzpehBrazenness, gall, baitzim ChutzpenikImpudent fellow CristiyahEnema Danken Got! Thank G-d!DavenenPray Deigeh nisht! Don't worry! Derech eretsRespect7Dershtikt zolstu veren! -You should choke on it! Dingen"Bargain, hire, engage, lease, rentDos gefelt mirThis pleases meGDos hartz hot mir gezogt -My heart told me. I predicted it. Dos iz alts That's all. Dos zelbehLikewiseDrai mir nit kain kop!,Don't bother me! (Lit., Don't twist my head) Drai zich! Keep moving!Draikop ScatterbrainDrekjHuman dung, feces, manure or excrement; inferior merchandise or work; insincere talk or excessive flatteryDruchus The sticks (way out in the wild)Du fangst shoyn on?Are you starting up again?Dumkop!Dumbbell, dunce (Lit., Dumb head)DybbukSoul condemned to wander for a time in this world because of it's sins. (To escape the perpetual torments inflicted upon it by evil spirits, the dybbul 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 exclamationEfsherMaybe, could beEi! Ei!3Yiddish exclamation equivalent to the English "Oh!" EingeshpahrtStubborn EingetunkenDipped, dunkedEinhoreh The evil eyeEizel Fool, dopeEk veltEnd of the worldEmes The truthEr bolbet narishkeitenHe 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.Swollen, puffed up (Also applied to person with haughty pride)GetDivorceGevaldikeh Zach!$A terrible thing! (often ironically)Gezunteh moid!Brunhilde, a big healthy dameGezunt vi a ferdStrong as a horse GezunterhaitIn good healthGib mir nit kain einorah!FDon't give me a canary! (Americanism, Lit., Don't give me an evil eye)Gib zich a traisel Get a move on Gleichvertel3Wisecrack, pun, saying, proverb, bon mot, witticism Glezel tai Glass of teaGlickLuck, piece of luck Gloib mir! Believe me!G'nossen tsum emess!The sneeze confirmed the truth!Goldeneh chassenehFiftieth wedding anniversaryGornishtNothingGot in himmel!>G-d in heaven! (said in anguish, despair, fear or frustration)Got tsu danken Thank G-dGot zol ophiten! G-d forbid! Gotteniu!Oh G-d! (anguished cry)GoyAny person who is not JewishGoyeh Gentile womanGoyimGroup of non-Jewish personsGreps Blech; a burp if it's a mild oneGrob#Coarse, crude, profane, rough, rudeGroberCoarse, uncouth, crude person Grois-halterShow-off, conceited personGroisseh gedilleh!Big deal! (said sarcastically)Groisser gornishtBig good-for-nothingGroisser potz! (taboo)/Big penis! Big prick! (derogatory or sarcastic) Gut far him!Serves him right!G'virRich man Haimish ponemA friendly face Haiseh vannehHot bathHaken a tsheinikpBoring, long-winded and annoying conversation; talking for the sake of talking (Lit., To bang on the tea-kettle) Hak flaish Chopped meatHak mir nit in kop!3Stop bending my ear (Lit.; Stop banging on my head)Halevei! If only...Hamoyn Common peopleHandlenTo bargain; to do business Hartsvaitik Heart acheHeizel WhorehouseHekdish.Decrepit place, a slumhouse, poorhouse; a messHeldishBraveHert zich ein! Listen here! Hetsken zichShake and dance with joy Hikevater StammererHinten1Rear, rear parts, backside, buttocks; in the rear Hit zich! Look out!HitsikHotheadHitskopExcitable personHob derech erets Have respectHob nit kain deiges Don't worryHoben tsu zingen un tsu zogen1Have no end of trouble (Lit.,To sing and to talk) Hoizer gaierBeggarHoizirerPeddler (from house to house) HolishkesStuffed CabbageHost du bie mir an avleh!So I made a mistake. So what!Hulyen A hellraiser!Back to the top Ich bin ahntoishtI am disapointedIch 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 hurryIch feif oif dir!9I despise you! Go to the devil! (Lit., I whistle on you!) Ich hob dir!CDrop dead! Go flap you ears! (Lit., I have you....!) (Americanisn!)Ich hob dich in bod!7To hell with you! (Lit., I have you in the bath house!)Ich hob es in drerd!To hell with itIch hob im feint I hate himIch hob im in bod!To hell with himIch vaisI 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.OI should know as little about trouble (as I know about what you are asking me).IkerSubstance; people of substance In a noveneh!For a change; once in a blue moonIn di alteh guteh tseiten!In the good old days!In drerd mein gelt!TMy money went down the drain! (Lit., My money went to burial in the earth, to hell.)In miten drinenIn the middle of; suddenlyIpishBad odor, stinkIr 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 FloorshowKabtzen, kaptsenPauperKaddishA 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)KadochesFeverKadoches mit koshereh fodem!6Absolutely nothing! (Lit., fever with a kosher thread)Kaftan Long coat worn by religious JewsKain ein horeh0No evil eye! (Some say "don't give me a canary"; KakapitshiConglomeration KalamutnehDreary, gloomy, troubled Kalleh moidA girl of marriageable age Kallehniu Little brideKalyekeh?Cripple; misfit; also, anybody not good at their craft or sportKalyehBad, wrong, spoiled 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. SlowpokeKam vos er lebtHe's hardly (barely) alive. Kamtsoness To be miserlyKanehAn enemaKaporeh, (kapores):Atonement sacrifice; forgiveness; (slang) good for nothing KarabelnickCountry peddlerKargerMiser, tightwadKashehCGroats, mush cereal, buckwheat, porridge; a mess, mix-up, confusionKasheh varnishkes+Cooked groats and broad (or bowtie) noodlesKashress.Kosher condition; Jewish religious dietary lawKasnik, (keisenik)(Angry person; excitable person, hot headKasokeh Cross-eyed>Katshkedik (Americanism) -Ducky, swell, pleasant Katzisher kopForgetful (Lit., Cat head) KazatskehLively Russian danceKemferFighter (usually for a cause)Ken zeinMaybe, could be (To) Kibbitz*To offer unsolicited advice as a spectator KibbitzerMeddlesome spectatorKiddish (Borai pri hagofen)5Blessing over wine on the eve of Sabbath or FestivalsKimpet-tzettelChildbirth amulet or charm (from the German "kind-bet-tzettel" meaning childbirth label containing Psalm 121, names of angels, patriarchs Kimpetoren1Woman in labour or immediately after the delivery Kind un kait Young and old Kinderlech*Diminutive, affectionate term for children Kishef macher Magic-workerKishkehStuffed derma (Sausage shaped, stuffed with a mixture of flour, onions, salt, pepper and fat to keep it together, it is boiled, roasted and sliced) (A) KitselTickleKlainer gornisht$Little prig (Lit., A little nothing)Klemt beim hartzClutches at my heartstrings KlaperkehTalkative womanKlipeh"Gabby woman, shrew, a female demon KlogmuterComplainer, chronic complainer(A) Klog iz mir! Woe is me!Klop!Bang, a real hard punch or wallop Klotz (klutz)+Ungraceful, awkward, clumsy person; bungler Klotz kasheh$Foolish question; fruitless question Kloymersht/Not in reality, pretended (Lit., as if it were)K'nacker A big shotK'naidel (pl., k'naidlech)5Dumplings usually made of matzoh meal, cooked in soupK'nippelFButton, knot; hymen, virginity; money tied in a knot in a handkerchiefK'nish (taboo)VaginaK'nishes9Baked dumplings filled with potato, meat, liver or barley KochalainFSummer boarding house with cooking privileges (Lit., cook by yourself)KochedikPetulant, excitable KochleffelEOne who stirs up trouble; gadabout, busy-body (Lit., a cooking ladle) KolboynikRascally know-it-all(A) Kop oif di plaitses!4Good, common sense! (Lit., A head on the shoulders!) KopvaitikHeadacheKosher}Jewish dietary laws based on "cleanliness". Also referring to the legitimacy of a situation. "This plan doesn't seem kosher".Koved"Respect, honour, reverence, esteemKrankSick Krank-heitSickness KrassavitsehBeauty, a doll, beautiful womanKrechts Groan, moan KrechtserBlues singer, a moanerKreplachSmall pockets of dough filled with chopped meat which look like ravioli, or won ton, and are eaten in soup; (slang) nothing, valuelessKroivim RelativesKuck im on (taboo)#Defecate on him! The hell with him!Kuck zich oys! (taboo)Go take a shit for yourself!KugelPudding Kuk im on! Look at him!Kumen tsu gastTo visitKuntzenTricks Kunyehlemel=Naive, clumsy, awkward person; nincompoop; Casper MilquetoastKurvehWhore, prostituteKush in toches arein! (taboo)6Kiss my behind! (said to somebody who is annoying you) KushinyerkehdCheapskate; woman who comes to a store and asks for a five cents' worth of vinegar in her own bottleK'vatsh:Boneless person, one lacking character; a whiner, weaklingK'velen1Glow with pride and happiness, beam; be delightedK'vetsh%Whine, complain; whiner, a complainerK'vitshShriek, scream, screechPLachen mit yash-tsherkes -Forced or false laugh; laugh with anguish Laidik-gaier Idler, loaferLamden$Scholar, erudite person, learned manLang leben zolt ir!Long may you live!Lantsman:Countryman, neighbour, fellow townsman from "old country".LapehBig hand(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.) Lebst a chazerishen tog! -Living high off the hog! L'chei-im, le'chayim!=To life! (the traditional Jewish toast); To your health, skol Leibtzudekel?Sleeveless shirt (like bib) with fringes, worn by orthodox JewsLeiden To suffer LemeshkehMilquetoast, bunglerLeveiyehFuneral Lig in drerd!+Get lost! Drop dead! (Lit., Bury yourself!)LignerLiarLitvakLithuanian; 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.LochHole Loch in kopHole in the head.LokshenNoodlesLoz mich tzu ru!+Leave me alone! (Lit., Let me be in peace!) Luftmentsh7Person who has no business, trade, calling, nor income. Luch in kup8A hole in the head ( " I need this like a luch in kup"). MachareikehGimmick, contraptionMacher?big shot, person with access to authorities, man with contacts.Magilla Long storyMaidelUnmarried girl, teenagerMaidelehLittle girl (affectionate term)MaivenExpert, connoisseur, authorityMakehPlague, wound, boil, curseMamoshesSubstance, people of substance.Manzer'Bastard, disliked person, untrustworthy MashgiachFInspector, overseer or supervisor of Kashruth in restaurants & hotels.MashuggaCrazy Mazel Tov Good LuckMe ken brechen!You can vomit from this!Cluttered, disordered, scribbled, sloppy, muddled, overly-done Ongeshtopt Very wealthyOngeshtopt mit gelt(Very wealthy; (Lit., stuffed with money) OngetrunkenDrunk OngetshepterBothersome hanger-on OngevarfenCluttered, disordered Onshikenish Hanger-on Onshikenish Pesty nagger OnzaltsenEGiving you the business; bribe; soft-soap; sweet-talk (Lit., to salt) Opgeflickt!Done in! Suckered! Milked! Opgehitener Pious person OpgekrochenShoddyOpgekrocheneh schoirehShoddy merchandise Opgelozen(er)Careless dresserOpgenartCheated, fooledOpnarerTrickster, shady operator Opnarerei DeceptionOrehmanPoor man, without meansOremkeitPovertyOybershter in himmel G-d in heavenOych a bashefenishKAlso 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!IMuch ado about nothing! Impossible! (Lit., In heaven there's a big fair!) OyfgekumenerCome upper, upstart Oys shiddechThe marriage is off! OysgedartSkinny, emaciated Oysgehorevet Exhausted OysgematertTired out, worn out OysgemutshetWorked to death, tired out Oysgeputst&Dressed up, overdressed; overdecorated Oysgeshprait Spread outOysvurfOutcast, bad personPaigeren zol er!He should drop dead!Pamelech Slow, slowlyParechLow-life, a bad man Parnosseh Livelihood Parshiveh Mean, cheapParshoinHe-man PartatshnekInferior merchandise or workParveh=Neutral food, neither milchidik (dairy) nor flaishidik (meat)Paskudnik, paskudnyak*Ugly, revolting, evil person; nasty fellow Past nit.It isn't proper.PatshSlap, smack on the cheekPatshkies around3Anglicized characterization of one who wastes time.Patteren tseitTo lounge around; waste timePetseleh Little penisPhooey! fooey, pfui(Designates disbelief, distaste, contemptPipekNavel, belly button PishechtzUrinePisher&Male infant, a little squirt, a nobodyPisk>Slang, for mouth; insultingly, it means a big mouth, loudmouth Pisk-MalochehDBig talker-little doer! (man who talks a good line but does nothing) PitshetshChronic complainerPitsel Wee, tiny PitsvinikLittle nothingPlagen"Work hard, sweat out a job, suffer Plagen zich To sufferPlaplenChatterPlats!,Burst! Bust your guts out! Split your guts!! PlyotkenitzehA gossipPreplenTo mutter, mumble PrietztehMPrincess; finicky girl; (having airs, giving airs; being snooty) prima donna!ProstCoarse, common, vulgar ProstachesLow class peopleProstak(Ignorant boor, coarse person, vulgar man Prosteh leitBSimple people, common people; vulgar, ignorant, "low class" peopleProster mentshVulgar man, common manPtshaCows feet in jellyPunimFacePupik.Navel, belly button, gizzard, chicken stomachs PupiklechDish of chicken gizzardsPushkehLittle box for coins Pustunpasnik Loafer, idlerPyesseh A play, dramaSaichel)Common sense, good sense; tact, diplomacy S'art eich?2What does it matter to you? Does it matter to you? 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!Sha! (gently said)Please keep quiet. Shabbes goyWSomeone doing the dirty work for others (Lit;, gentile doing work for a Jew on Sabbath)ShadchenMatchmaker 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)ShaigitzNon-Jewish boy; wild Jewish boyShaigetz ainer!CBerating term for irreligious Jewish boy, one who flouts Jewish lawShain vi di zibben veltenBeautiful as the seven worldsShaineh maidel pretty girlShainer gelechter,Hearty laugh (sarcastically, Some laughter!) ShainkeitBeautyShaitel, (sheitel)eWig (at the wedding the ultra-orthodox bride has her hair cut off and she wears a shaitel ever after)Shalach mohnes3Customary gifts exchanges on Purim, usually goodiesShalom"Peace (a watchword and a greeting)ShammesvSexton, beadle of the synagogue, also, the lighter taper used to light other candles on a menorah, a policeman (slang) ShandhoizBrothel, whorehouseShat, shat! Hust!Quiet! Don't get excitedShatnesEProscription against wearing clothes that are mixed of wool and linen Shemevdik Bashful, shy Shepen naches?Enjoy; gather pleasure, draw pleasure, especially from children?Shidech (pl., shiduchim) -Match, marriage, betrothal Shihi-pihi Mere nothings Shik-yingel MessengerShikkerDrunkardShiksehNon-Jewish girlShivaHMourning period of seven days observed by family and friends of deceasedShkapehA hag, a mare; worthlessShkotz'Berating term for mischivous Jewish boyShlakBApoplexy; a wretch, a miserable person; shoddy; shoddy merchandiseShlang1Snake, serpent; a troublesome wife; penis (taboo)Shlatten shammes)Communal busybody, tale bearer; messengerShlechtBad Shlecht veibShrew (Lit., a bad wife)Shlemiel>Clumsy bunglar, an inept person, butter-fingered; dopey personShlepsDrag, carry or haul, particularly unnecessary things, parcels or baggage; to go somewhere unwillingly or unwantedlyShleppenTo drag, pull, carry, haulShlepperBSponger, panhanddler, hanger-om; 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!)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 upShlokA curse; apoplexyShlosserMechanicShlubEA jerk; a foolish, stupid or unknowing person, second rate, inferior.ShlumpDCareless dresser, untidy person; as a verb, to idle or lounge around ShlumperdikUnkempt, sloppyShmaltzGGrease or fat; (slang) flattery; to sweet talk, overly praise, dramaticShmaltzySentimental, cornyShmattehRag, anything worthlessShmeis Bang, wallop Shmek tabik)Nothing of value (Lit., a pinch of snuff)Shmeer