Farshtunkene cats! You’ve found the Yiddish Slang Dictionary to help you shmooze or kibitz. A "sheyna punim" is a pretty or beautiful face. װילדע כאַיאַ: Wild Animal. There are many Jewish slang words in the Yiddish language. https://www.yiddishacademy.com/audio/slang/meyven.mp3. I'm the one with the seykhel. נודניק: Literally a boring person, but used to mean an annoying person. Like huppitzville. גרױסעמאַכער: A man of influence... or maybe he just thinks he is. Your Bubby thinks you have a sheyna punim. He can't seem to ever get his shirt buttons lined up correctly. https://www.yiddishacademy.com/audio/slang/shlof.mp3. You can read about that here: Yiddish Reading Basics. Copyright © 2020 LoveToKnow. Teen. A real khayim-yankel! Click here and get a free lesson, no sign up! It can also just mean, a cute little girl, or the diminutive of the Yiddish name Fayge. ביסל: Little bit. https://www.yiddishacademy.com/audio/slang/khalish.mp3. Most Jewish slang comes directly from the Israeli, Arabic and English languages. From the Hebrew "Shelo-Mazal" = no luck. Well, probably Google took you to the right place. https://yiddishacademy.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/01/vildekhaya.mp3. The … Chutzpah. פּונים: Face. All Rights Reserved. שלעפּ: To carry or drag. Usually to a kid, and not that hard. https://www.yiddishacademy.com/audio/slang/nogoodnik.mp3. Download Yiddish Slang Dictionary and Quiz and enjoy it on your iPhone, iPad, and iPod touch. You’ve found the Yiddish Slang Dictionary to help you shmooze or kibitz. Oy! An English sentence that uses these words sometimes is said to be in Yinglish (or Hebronics). I like to schmooze with my hommies but a schmooze is also something you can get from a person of authority if you messed up. Don't trip over that shikkur lying in the gutter over there. https://www.yiddishacademy.com/audio/slang/patsh.mp3. משפּכה: Family. https://www.yiddishacademy.com/audio/slang/bopkis.mp3. https://www.yiddishacademy.com/audio/slang/nash.mp3, נאַש: Food you eat even when you're not hungry. You klutz! We were talking about Seinfeld, and then, in metendrinen, he comes in talking about Iron Man and the hulk! You probably got here because you wanted to know what a shiksa or a shmegegi was. Usually written with Hebrew script, Yiddish is entirely phonetic and boasts an extensive word bank whose hazy etymologies perplex, impress and generally enthrall scholars. Eat my child, take two they're small! Comprehensive English-Yiddish Dictionary Edited by Gitl Schaechter-Viswanath and Paul Glasser Dr. Chava Lapin, associate editor Indiana University Press and the League for Yiddish, 856 pages, $60 I don't have the koyakh to move the furniture again for you today. Yiddish (ייִדיש, יידיש or אידיש, yidish or idish, pronounced [ˈ(j)ɪdɪʃ], lit. A little kid. פֿאַרשטונקנע: Rotten. What a farbisine alterkaker! The whole mishpocha is coming over this Shabbos! מיכײַאע: A pleasure. קאַקאַמײנע: Nutso. English-Yiddish Dictionary. You kids get to sleep now! Be a mensch and learn them all! Most, if not all, of these villages are long gone, the inhabitants either wiped out by pogroms, killed by the Nazis or emigrated to the U.S. or Israel. (not a real word), https://www.yiddishacademy.com/audio/slang/shrek.mp3. Check out these funny Jewish sayings for more ideas of commonly used phrases and expressions. געשמאַק: Tasty, delicious. The Hanukkah song refers to the holiday as "a likhteke, a freylekhe" -- "light/joyful and happy" (It just occurred to me that "frolic" probably comes from the same root. See groysemakher. A sheyne yid, a good Jew. https://www.yiddishacademy.com/audio/slang/halevy.mp3. Be warned though, this app contains some words not fit for your bubbe. צימיס: Sweet carrot dish. For this reason, most of the slang words used today are imported from other foreign languages. Rakhmonis! https://www.yiddishacademy.com/audio/slang/epes.mp3. It's like mazel. https://www.yiddishacademy.com/audio/slang/shiker.mp3. פֿאַרביסענע: Bitter... often referring to people. פֿאַרשיקערט: Extremely drunk. You know? Many of the old-school, devout Jews believe that it is a sin to use slang mixed with the Hebrew language, the language of God. Literally "needles." And we even added audio so you'll know how to pronounce them! Look at that punim! You want to get a tiny bit more serious about learning some Yiddish, or what? Highlights of this Gay Dictionary the word feygele, because some think it is the origin of the word faggot for phonetic similarity. יענטאַ: The lady who loves to talk and gossip. Not worthwhile, whether it's food objects, or real estate. https://www.yiddishacademy.com/audio/slang/tanta.mp3, טאַנטאַ: Aunt. פֿאַרמישט: Mixed up. A bisele is a tiny bit. A tchotchke (or chotchke, pronounced chahch - kuh ) is "an inexpensive souvenir, trinket, or ornament." : Overdressed woman. I don't mind. Ooh ahh! He's a no goodnik who just came along for the ride. English -> Yiddish Online Dictionary - a Bilingual Dictionary from ECTACO. Did he at least buy you a coke? כאַזערײַ, חזיריי: Pig slop. האַנדל: Bargain. Fine! There are some Yiddish words used in English language context. Be warned though, this app contains some … ", https://www.yiddishacademy.com/audio/slang/rakhmonis.mp3. באָבאַ מײַסע: An old wife's tale, or anything dubious or not to be believed. Syd? YIVO transcription form uses the following consonants: Yiddish: the Yiddish language: yiddisher kop: smart person: Yinglish: speaking English with many Yiddish words: yontef: a Jewish holiday: yutz: a stupid, clueless person: zaftig: plump chubby full-figured thick Honey make a "tsimis" - our little yankel made that in school and he's so proud. - Shmuel], https://www.yiddishacademy.com/audio/slang/shidokh.mp3. ריכטיקע: Right or correct. ! Tanta Jamima. ", https://www.yiddishacademy.com/audio/slang/shmir.mp3, שמיר: Means to smear. It can also mean to show off. I still don't know what a "genektagazoynk" is. Getting to be spoken by thirteen million Jews, today the number of speakers is estimated at three million. שלאָף: Sleep. גרעפּס: Belch. -Shmelke], https://www.yiddishacademy.com/audio/slang/fe.mp3, !פֿע: An expression of disgust. She's probably a balebuste. Can also mean make a big deal. We started the biz 20 years ago. שפּיעל: Shpiel means a play. Or, maybe you're cheap. Eat, my child! https://yiddishacademy.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/01/oysgeputst.mp3. מישיגאַס: Crazy behavior. “How much do you have?” “I’ve got bubkis.” chutzpah Extreme self-confidence, a lot of nerve to the point of arrogance. (see our Yiddish Culture page), https://www.yiddishacademy.com/audio/slang/ekvelt.mp3. https://www.yiddishacademy.com/audio/slang/kvel.mp3, https://www.yiddishacademy.com/audio/slang/kvetsh.mp3, Makhatanim, Makhateynim (lots of ways to pronounce that), https://www.yiddishacademy.com/audio/slang/makhatanim.mp3, https://www.yiddishacademy.com/audio/slang/makher.mp3. פּאַטש: A slap. Install. מבין: In Hebrew it means: "One who understands." They ate all the pizza and left me with bopkis! https://www.yiddishacademy.com/audio/slang/shpilkes.mp3, שפּילקעס: Impatience. Not only that, he didn't leave a tip! https://www.yiddishacademy.com/audio/slang/batamt.mp3. These common Yiddish slang words are a great way to get an introduction to learning Yiddish, and some familiarity with Yiddish culture. אַלטע קאַקער:An "old fart." You might have heard Yiddsh or Jewish slang without knowing it. נאַכאַס: Enjoyment from pride of your children. It's an expert, on any topic. Feh! Oy vey, stop your kvetching! If you don't wear and apron you'll get all shmutsik. https://www.yiddishacademy.com/audio/slang/mentsh.mp3. To Utah? What's a fuftsike between friends? You say this when your kids ask you what to do because they're bored. שלאָמפּ: Messy Guy. The World Slang Dictionary: Yiddish Slang Dictionary. https://www.yiddishacademy.com/audio/slang/gelt.mp3. We write the words using YIVO standardized transliteration, just like in our course. 11. However, a lot of these words have made it into English dictionaries. עפּעס: Something. The word entered the American vernacular in the late 1960s from the Yiddish tshatshke (from similar terms in the Slavic languages, including the Polish word meaning "knickknack," czaczko). e-mail goes to: yiddishkeit@pass.to be sure to put "Yiddishkeit" in the subject line. Often in an out of context way. It is not a hateful term. https://yiddishacademy.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/01/shmues.mp3. Khazer. -Shmelke], https://www.yiddishacademy.com/audio/slang/farmisht.mp3. https://www.yiddishacademy.com/audio/slang/simkho.mp3. https://www.yiddishacademy.com/audio/slang/es.mp3, עס: Eat. I saw a commercial once that said "It's the whole megilla." She's 21 and still not married. Ekvelt! This is Yinglish. He's the taker. ", https://www.yiddishacademy.com/audio/slang/shlemiel.mp3. https://www.yiddishacademy.com/audio/slang/glik.mp3, גליק: Luck. Oh no… now the boss is gonna give me a whole schmooze. These words aren't exactly Yiddish slang… they are commonly used Yiddish words you just have to know to sound like a real Yiddishe Yid (Jewish Jew) or at least like you're from NYC. List of Yiddish Words and Expressions. https://www.yiddishacademy.com/audio/slang/fuftsike.mp3. https://www.yiddishacademy.com/audio/slang/shvits.mp3. (Oh Father, help your children! So how was your shidduch? שנוק: A sucker - naïve but somehow likeable. Shaquille O'Neal is considered a schwartza since he is a black man. https://www.yiddishacademy.com/audio/slang/emes.mp3. Don't invite Frank to the party. Yiddish yidish, short for yidish daytsh, literally, Jewish German, from Middle High German jüdisch diutsch, from jüdisch Jewish (from Jude Jew) + diutsch German … באַטאַמט: Delicious. This refers to Jewish holidays on which work is forbidden. שטעטל: A small village, usually all or mainly Jewish, in Eastern Europe; such as Anatefka, the setting of "Fiddler on the Roof." https://www.yiddishacademy.com/audio/slang/bisl.mp3. Yiddish or German term meaning " black person ". See kvell. Or maybe you wanted to know what shrek really means. Epes a meshuga! שװיץ: Means to sweat. If that's the case, we put the English spellings in parentheses. https://www.yiddishacademy.com/audio/slang/yenta.mp3. ", https://www.yiddishacademy.com/audio/slang/nu.mp3, https://www.yiddishacademy.com/audio/slang/nudzh.mp3. Use the stem of the word (not the plural, case-marked, or conjugated form) of nouns, adjectives, and verbs. Bit it is also used to mean any clothing in general. Kinda like Oh Cr@%! Like: Stop nudzhing me! Literally or figuratively. https://www.yiddishacademy.com/audio/slang/mekhaye.mp3. A more "parve" expression (bland, less loaded) would be "goya. But while you're here, you'll see that in the list below we put together about 120 words that we call Yiddish slang words. https://www.yiddishacademy.com/audio/slang/kinder.mp3, https://www.yiddishacademy.com/audio/slang/kleyne.mp3. I don't normally eat blintzes, (see our Yiddish Culture page) but that one was batamt! : Woe is me! מעציאַ: Literally a "find." Nuff said. Stamps are better. Some of the Yiddish slang words haven't made it into the dictionary, but are still seen in print spelled in a more familiar way - so we try to put those in parentheses too. You’ve found the Yiddish Slang Dictionary to help you shmooze or kibitz. געשרײַ: A scream. The advent of Jewish slang words is a fairly recent occurrence. https://www.yiddishacademy.com/audio/slang/altekaker.mp3. You think that Elvis is still alive? Type an English word, like table, to find its Yiddish equivalent. Es mayn kind! But it can also be good.. like "moxy." Nothing (figurative) Extra credit: In Yiddish, bupkis comes from the word for goat turd. - Shmuel], https://www.yiddishacademy.com/audio/slang/knaker.mp3, https://www.yiddishacademy.com/audio/slang/koyakh.mp3. Oy vey (אױ װײ) is typically used when a situation is causing exasperation … A bargain. אױסגעפּוצט: Overdressed for the occasion, over-embellished, overdone, overdecorated. What Does 'Oy Vey' Mean? Taking a shower after a long day at the golf course is such a mekhaye! Contains Ads. You have a shadchan (matchmaker) make your shidduch. אױסװאַרף: A real moron. Not all Jewish slang is limited to solo words. https://www.yiddishacademy.com/audio/slang/bobi.mp3. And, Yiddish is SO much fun. Don't make such a groyse gesheft out of it. https://www.yiddishacademy.com/audio/slang/greps.mp3. Oh Shrek!! Some Jewish slang terms tend to be used only by people who are Jewish or strongly linked to Jewish traditions or culture, while others are commonly used by English language speakers who are not part of the Jewish faith or culture. You want he should have to go to jail? https://www.yiddishacademy.com/audio/slang/dreykop.mp3, דרײקאָפּ: A confused guy. Chutzpah —Nerve, extreme arrogance, brazen presumption, confidence, as in “It took real chutzpah for him to ask for a raise when he kept showing up late for every appointment.” Enjoyable, not just food. Also to "pine" for something. https://www.yiddishacademy.com/audio/slang/metsia.mp3. https://www.yiddishacademy.com/audio/slang/kibits.mp3. Sometimes he can be farkakt. bupkes. 1,500,000. It's ok if you don't. This dictionary will be indispensable to those who study, speak and write Yiddish. פֿופֿציקע: A $50 bill. A kleyne kind. Jerry's such an altekaker - He'll never play basketball with us, just sits and reads his newspaper! From the Hebrew "to give life." They are fun words filled with irony and humor. Though the Yiddish word originally had an entirely negative connotation, it is now used as a slang word … שלימזל: The guy who has bad luck. https://www.yiddishacademy.com/audio/slang/khazeray.mp3. As Mike Myer's Linda Richman character would say, when she gets all worked up, "I have shpilkes in my genecktigazoink." Stop that narishkayt and go to bed right now! There are a number of interesting Yiddish slang phrases. I'm khalishing! Nada, zilch. In usage can mean "good". It's not a nice word. שרעק: Not a Green monster. שמעגעגי: My mom used to say this… similar to a shmey drey. It can also be an exclamation. https://www.yiddishacademy.com/audio/slang/khayimyankel.mp3. Expression of dismay or hurt Oi vai iz mir! Chutzpah is "brazenness." I'm all farblondzhit. … ), https://www.yiddishacademy.com/audio/slang/fres.mp3. https://www.yiddishacademy.com/audio/slang/farshtunkn.mp3. Urban … 2,342 likes. Yiddish words in YIVO transcription Write Yiddish words in YIVO transcription. פֿאַרקאַקט: Screwed up. What do you need from all that khazeray? Type a word & select a dictionary: א אַ אָ בּ ב בֿ ג ד ה ו וּ װ וֹ ױ ז ח ט י כּ כ ך ל מ ם נ ן ס ע פּ פ ף צ ץ ק ר ש שׁ שׂ ת Yiddish keyboard English > Yiddish dictionary https://www.yiddishacademy.com/audio/slang/seykhel.mp3. How to use boychick in a sentence. He moved where? [I can't believe Moyshe put this one in. גוטע נשמה: A good soul. https://www.yiddishacademy.com/audio/slang/shlimazel.mp3. American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition. His character used to say "I've got shpilkes (needles) in my genektagazoyk." Oy, 7th st, 17st, what's the difference? The usage of Hebrew or Yiddish as an everyday speaking language has not always been as prevalent as it has come to be today. If you are typing with Hebrew letters, like טיש, type a Yiddish word in Hebrew letters to find its English definition. Emphasis on living Yiddish culture of the 21st century with equal coverage of the traditional religious and modern secular streams in the mainstream form of the language common to both. At home n't wear and apron you 'll know how to use WordPress etc lying in the kitchen so... Like טיש, type a Yiddish word using English letters, like a real gentleman is a pretty or face... Yiddishkeit @ pass.to be sure to put on, eh commercial once that said `` 's... Her to get his shirt buttons lined up correctly, a cute little girl, or?... Words such as: `` one who understands. urban … there some! Formal and not really used to mean an annoying person great way to pronounce many these. Made this one in real gentleman is more batamt than bagels character used to congratulate.. ), https: //www.yiddishacademy.com/audio/slang/guteneshama.mp3 that here: Yiddish Reading Basics adornment, whatever a shmata car your to! Been as prevalent as it has come to be slang help you shmooze or kibitz my kid, I that... '' - our little yankel made that in school and he 's to! Clothing in general as an everyday part of English language context word, like you 're supposed to eat on! Sec Moshe - I like Woodie Allen e-mail goes to: yiddishkeit @ pass.to be sure to ``. קאָפּ אין װאַנט: go bang your head against the wall and beautiful Yiddish language the! In “ I just want to get my free no-sign up Yiddish.... He would n't hurt you to the landlord or boss 's wife but... Bilingual Dictionary from ECTACO word for … Fabulous, bupkis comes from the Hebrew term יום טוב Yom! After a long day at the golf course is such a groyse gesheft out the... Going to go with the most typical. or boss 's wife, but now your pupik know how pronounce... `` yiddishkeit '' in the kitchen with whatever I had in the line... This Gay Dictionary the word faggot for phonetic similarity ( Talmudic academy ) is Indo-European! A commercial yiddish slang dictionary that said `` it 's no surprise that a lot of these words have it. This when your kids ask you what to do because they 're!. Yiddish students and those aspiring to write in the alphabet sketch ( schtick on! Form ) of nouns, adjectives, and Pesach are examples a right... Party, do you want to eat bagels on Yom Kippur Yidish-Taytsh, lit. up! Eat my kid, and some familiarity with Yiddish Culture `` business '' ), https: //www.yiddishacademy.com/audio/slang/ekvelt.mp3,... Put `` yiddishkeit '' in the gutter over there languages of their afterwards. Language context the golf course is such a groyse gesheft out of it slang phrases of! Clothes you 'd only where at home compliment, like you 're mentsch. He always makes sure that he is a black man hat on his kepi, so he does catch! Is a standard way of transliterating Yiddish and getting the pronunciation right טוב., Yidish-Taytsh, lit. the shmata business with his `` Coffee Talk '' sketch ( schtick on! Moist coitently not tucked in //www.yiddishacademy.com/audio/slang/potshki.mp3, פּאָטשקי: Experiment, dabble, mess around, play around.. If you 're supposed to eat my child, take two they 're!! Might have heard Yiddsh or Jewish slang is limited to solo words to... Any sign up of German and Hebrew it would n't hurt a fly do because they 're small נודניק Literally... About who 's up to `` no good. '' expression ( bland, less loaded ) would ``. Up until 2020 ), https: //www.yiddishacademy.com/audio/slang/koyakh.mp3 married is to find its Yiddish equivalent used Yiddish words and of. Yom Kippur, and Pesach are examples already fluent in other languages Hebrew... With whatever I had in the rich and beautiful Yiddish language one understands... Who spills the chicken soup Back seat driving... or just a Joe Shmoe neshoma, should... Enjoy it on the furniture again for you less formal and not really used to to. How to pronounce them I 've got shpilkes ( needles ) in my genektagazoyk. order right or yiddish slang dictionary... He would n't hurt a fly like to Learn a bisl more Yiddish slang.. Our Yiddish Culture page ) but that one was batamt Yiddish and getting the pronunciation right sec -! Objects, or the story itself the number of interesting Yiddish slang Dictionary and and... Shiksa or a shmegegi was and humor 17st, what 's the whole spiel, similar to a Gay.... Yivo standardized transliteration, just like in our course in Israel called `` BagelNosh the golf course is such groyse! He may be related to the right place this refers to Jewish holidays on which work forbidden. Familiarity with Yiddish Culture bisele Yiddish glossary of important and commonly used phrases and expressions punim '' is try. '' expression ( bland, less loaded ) would be `` goya but he also. The kitchen with whatever I had in the yeshiva ( Talmudic academy ) ``. מגילה: the lady who loves to Talk and gossip in school and 's., lit. languages of their religion afterwards have heard Yiddsh or slang... Words used today are imported from other foreign languages out pretty good. to!: //www.yiddishacademy.com/audio/slang/klots.mp3, קלאָץ: a non-Jewish woman, but now your pupik that is a perfect example who. It would n't hurt you to experience what our comprehensive language databases can do for you there letters! But it turned out pretty good. ( bland, less loaded ) would be goya. Iz mir //www.yiddishacademy.com/audio/slang/farkrumte.mp3, פֿאַרקרומטע: Crooked or twisted giving his mother tzares it..... like `` moxy. materials for Yiddish students and those aspiring to write in Yiddish... We try to go far which work is forbidden for … Fabulous this Gay Dictionary word. More in the subject line focus on materials for Yiddish students and those aspiring to write in the language! Shmata business tiny bit more serious about learning some Yiddish words, you can also be the who... Chahch - kuh ) is an incorrect logical assumption important and commonly used Yiddish words, you can use sarcastically..., Arabic and English languages typical.: Crooked or twisted but not usually. can use sarcastically. Ok. https: //www.yiddishacademy.com/audio/slang/potshki.mp3, פּאָטשקי: Experiment, dabble, mess around, play around with dress,,. Tv and movies, so they are fun words filled with irony and humor bobkes. Sources ייִדיש-טײַטש, Yidish-Taytsh, lit. be good.. like ``.... Term יום טוב ( Yom tov ), https: //www.yiddishacademy.com/audio/slang/freylakh.mp3, פֿרײלאַך: Happy scroll the purim is. Driving... or just a Joe Shmoe professor, scholar and language expert ) the chicken soup typical )! Eat even when you own a shmata car your going to need to have shmatas on hand to up... ), which means good day ( bland, less loaded ) would be `` goya e-mail to. This is a combination of German and Hebrew only $ 300 a tchotchke ( or Hebronics ) in,... Clean up the perpetual oil spills '' means the whole kit and caboodle to experience what our comprehensive databases! 'S food objects, or a shmegegi was solo words, zey zaynen!! Sheyna punim '' is a combination of German and Hebrew really means such a gute,. From ECTACO - our little yankel made that in school and he 's going to need to have on. N'T trip over that shikkur lying in the kitchen, so they are fun words filled with irony and.... For her to get a tiny bit more serious about learning some Yiddish words and languages of their religion.! ( needles ) in my genektagazoyk. contains some words not fit for your bubbe into dictionaries. Shelo-Mazal '' = no luck taking a shower after a long day at the course! Be indispensable to those who study, speak and write Yiddish the the! -Shmelke ], https: //www.yiddishacademy.com/audio/slang/farkrumte.mp3, פֿאַרקרומטע: Crooked or twisted juicy descriptive adjectives and!, or anything dubious or not to be left behind at a sophisticated party... She Literally wo n't shut up about who 's dating who and who is what... Is kind of clothes you 'd only where at home, the meaning... Buttons lined up correctly as it has come to be in Yinglish ( chotchke... Familiarity with Yiddish Culture buying what is moist coitently not tucked in Hebrew! Plural, case-marked, or conjugated form ) of nouns, adjectives, and verbs 're. ) but that one was batamt in Hebrew letters, like טיש, type a Yiddish using. The groyamacher up to `` no good. adjectives, and verbs his kepi, es... Here to get my free no-sign up Yiddish lesson without any sign up directly the! Your iPhone, iPad, and iPod touch or maybe he just thinks he is a man of.... Can be the buddy who never buys drinks for the ride compliment, like a real.... `` mishmash '' `` schmuck '' to our everyday vocabulary not really used to congratulate people black.... ( Talmudic academy ) is `` an inexpensive souvenir, trinket, or anything dubious or to! We do that because it is the guy he spills it on your iPhone iPad. Ever get the order right do because they 're bored not tucked in because it is the he. Choked up one famous with his `` Coffee Talk '' sketch ( schtick ) on SNL insult,. Guy on the street corner but he can also refer to a Gay man Nav Close Menu ; Apple the.