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A

A bisel ... A little

A biseleh ... A very little

A broch ... Oh hell. Damn it. A curse.

A broch tsu dir ... A curse on you.

A brocheh ... A blessing

A deigeh hob ich ... I don't care. I should worry.

A farshlepteh krenk ... A chronic ailment

A feier zol im trefen ... He should burn up.

A gezunt ahf dein kop ... Good health to you (Lit., Good health on your head)

A glick ahf dir ... Good luck to you (Sometimes used sarcastically about minor good fortunes)

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 noz ... Stop 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 charpeh ... A shame and a disgrace

A shtik naches ... A great joy

A sof. A sof ... Let's end it . End it.

Abi gezunt ... As long as you're healthy.

Achrahyes ... Responsible

Ahf mir gezogt ... I wish it could be said about me.

Ahf tsores ... In trouble

Ahntoisht ... Disappointed

Ahzes ponim ... Impudent fellow

Aidel ... Cultured or finicky

Aidim ... Son-in-law

Aiver butel ... Absent minded; mixed up

Alaichem sholom ... To you be peace

Alef-bais ... Alphabet; the first two letters of the Jewish alphabet

Alevei ... It should happen to me (to you).

Alteh moid ... Spinster, old maid

Alteh bocher ... Bachelor

Alter Kucker ... A lecherous old man

An alteh machashaifeh ... An old witch

An alter bakahnter ... An old acquaintance

An alter trombenick ... An old bum

Arein ... Come in.

Arumgeflickt ... Plucked. Milked.

Arumloifer ... Street urchin; person who runs around

Az 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.

B

Badchan ... Jester, 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 manner

Bagroben ... To bury

Balebatisheh yiden ... Respectable Jews, men of substance and good standing in the community

Balhabosteh ... Mistress of the house

Balnes ... Miracle-worker

Bal Toyreh ... Learned man, scholar

Bareden yenem ... To gossip

Baren ... Bother, annoy

Barimer ... Braggart, show-off

Baroygis ... Angry, petulant

Bashert ... Fated or predestined

Bashert zein ... To be destined

Behaimeh ... Animal, cow (when referring to a human deing, means dull-witted)

Bentshen lecht ... Recite prayer over lit candles on Sabbath eve or Holy Day candles

Beryeh ... Efficient, competent housewife

Bes medresh ... Synagogue

Billik ... Cheap, inexpensive

Bist meshugeh? ... Are you crazy?

Biteh ... Please

Blondjen ... To wander, be lost

Bobkes ... Small things, triflings, peanuts, nothing, worthless

Bohmer ... Bum (masc.)

Bohmerkeh ... Bum (fem.)

Borsht ... Beet soup

Borsht circuit ... Hotels in the Catskill Mountain, New York area, with an almost entirely Jewish clientele, who are fond of borsht; term is used by entertainers Bris ... Circumcision

Bristen ... Breasts

Broitgeber ... Head of family

Bronfen ... Whiskey

B'suleh ... Virgin

Bubee ... Friendly term for anybody you like

Bulvan ... Man built like an ox; boorish, coarse, rude person

C

Chaleshen ... To faint

Chaloshes ... Nausea, faintness, unconsciousness

Chamoyer 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.

Chazen ... Cantor

Chazenteh ... Wife of chazen (cantor)

Chazzer ... A pig (one who eats like a pig)

Chazzerei ... Swill; pig's feed; anything bad, unpalatable, rotten

Chei ... Eighteen; life; word formed by the combination of Hebrew letters meaning eighteen and life

Chei kuck (taboo) ... Nothing, infinitesimal, worthless, unimportant (Lit., human dung)

Chmalyeh ... Bang, punch; Slam. Wallop.

Chochem attick ... A wise guy

Chochmeh ... Wisdom, bright saying, witticism

Choleryeh ... Cholera; a curse, plague

Choshever mentsh ... Man of worth and dignity; elite person; respected person

Chosid ... Rabid fan

Chossen ... Bridegroom

Chossen-kalleh ... Bride and groom; engaged couple

Choyzik machen ... Make fun of, ridicule

Chropen ... Snore

Chupah ... Canopy under which a bride and groom stand during marriage ceremony.

Chutzpeh ... Brazenness, gall, baitzim

Chutzpenik ... Impudent fellow

Cristiyah ... Enema

D

Danken Got ... Thank G-d.

Davenen ... Pray

Deigeh nisht ... Don't worry.

Derech erets ... Respect

Dershtikt zolstu veren ... You should choke on it.

Dingen ... Bargain, hire, engage, lease, rent

Dos gefelt mir ... This pleases me

Dos hartz hot mir gezogt ... My heart told me. I predicted it.

Dos iz alts ... That's all.

Dos zelbeh ... Likewise

Drai mir nit kain kop ... Don't bother me. (Lit., Don't twist my head)

Drai zich ... Keep moving.

Draikop ... Scatterbrain

Drek ... Human dung, feces, manure or excrement; inferior merchandise or work; insincere talk or excessive flattery

Druchus ... The sticks (way out in the wild)

Du fangst shoyn on? ... Are you starting up again?

Dumkop ... Dumbbell, dunce (Lit., Dumb head)

Dybbuk ... Soul 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)

E

Ech ... A groam, a disparaging exclamation

Efsher ... Maybe, could be

Ei! Ei! ... Yiddish exclamation equivalent to the English "Oh!" (See Oy!)

Eingeshpahrt ... Stubborn

Eingetunken ... Dipped, dunked

Einhoreh ... The evil eye

Eizel ... Fool, dope

Ek velt ... End of the world

Emes ... The truth

Er bolbet narishkeiten ... He 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 ... He has nothing at all (Lit., He has a boil or a minor hurt.)

Er hot nit zorg ... He hasn't got a worry.

Er iz a niderrechtiker kerl ... He's a low down good-for-nothing.

Er iz shoyn du, der nudnik ... The nuisance is here already.

Er macht a tel fun dem ... He ruins it.

Er zitst oyf shpilkes ... He's restless. (Lit., He sits on pins and needles.)

Er zol vaksen vi a tsibeleh, mit dem kop in drerd ... He should grow like an onion, with his head in the ground.

Eretz Yisroel ... Land of Israel

Es brent mir ahfen hartz ... I have a heartburn.

Es gait nit ... It doesn't work. It isn't running smoothly.

Es gefelt mir ... I like it. (Lit., It pleases, me.)

Es hot zich oysgelohzen a boydem ... Nothing came of it. (Lit., There's nothing up there but a small attic.)

Es iz a shandeh far di kinder ... It's a shame for the children.

Es iz (tsu) shpet ... It is (too) late.

Es ken gemolt zein ... It is conceivable. It is imaginable.

Es macht mir nit oys ... It doesn't matter to me.

Es past nit ... Is is not becoming. It is not fitting.

Es tut mir a groisseh hanoeh ... It gives me great pleasure.(often said sarcastically

Es tut mir bahng ... I'm sorry. (Lit., It sorrows me)

Es tut mir vai ... It hurts me.

Es vert mir finster in di oygen ... I am fainting. (Lit., It's getting dark in my eyes.)

Es vet gornit helfen ... Nothing will help..

Es vet helfen vi a toiten bahnkes ... It won't help (any). (Lit., It will help like blood-cupping on a dead body.)

Ess gezunterhait ... Eat in good health

Essen mitik ... Dine

Essen teg ... Yeshiva students would arrange to be fed by various householders on a daily basis in different houses. (Lit., Eat days)

F

Faigelah ... Bird

Fantazyor ... Man who builds castles in the air

Farbissener ... Embittered; bitter person

Farblondzhet ... Lost, bewildered, confused

Farblujet ... Bending your ear

Fardeiget ... Distressed, worried, full of care, anxiety

Fardinen a mitzveh ... Earn a blessing or a merit (by doing a good deed)

Fardrai zich dem kop ... Go drive yourself crazy.

Fardross ... Disappointment, sorrow

Farfolen ... Lost

Farfoylt ... Mildewed, rotten, decayed

Farfroyren ... Frozen

Farmach dos moyl ... Shut up. Quiet. (Lit., Shut your mouth.)

Farmatert ... Tired

Farmisht ... Befuddled

Farmutshet ... Worn out, fatigued, exhausted

Farshlepteh krenk ... Fruitless, endless matter (Lit., A sickness that hangs on)

Farshmeieter ... Highly excitable person; always on the go

Farshnoshket ... Loaded, drunk

Farshtaist? ... You understand?

Farshtopt ... Stuffed

Farshtunken ... Smeels bad, stinks

Farshvitst ... sweaty

Far-tshadikt ... Confused, bewildered, befuddled, as if by fumes, gas

Feinkochen ... Omelet, scrambled eggs

Feinshmeker ... Hi falutin'

Ferd ... Horse, (slang) a fool

Fet ... Fat, obese

Finster un glitshik ... Miserable (Lit., Dark and slippery)

Fisfinger ... Toes

Focha ... Fan

Foigel ... Smart guy

Foiler ... Lazy man

Folg mich ... Obey me.

Fonfen ... Speak through the nose

For gezunterhait ... Bon voyage. Travel in good health.

Forshpeiz ... Appetizer

Fortz ... Fart

Frageh ... Question

Frailech ... Happy

Frassk ... Slap in the face

Freint ... Friend, Mr.

Fremder ... Stranger

Fress ... Eat....pig out.

Fressen ... Eat like a pig, devour

Fressing ... Gourmandizing (By adding the English suffix "ing" to the Yiddish word "fress," a new English word in the vocabulary of American Jews has been created.)

Froy ... Woman, Mrs.

Frum, (frimer) ... Pious, religious, devout

Funfeh ... Speaker's fluff, error

G

Gai avek ... Go away

Gai feifen ahfen yam ... Go peddle your fish elsewhere.

Gai gezunterhait ... Go in good health

Gai in drerd arein ... Go to hell.

Gai kucken ahfen yam ... Get lost

Gai platz ... Go split your guts.

Gai shlog dein kup en vant ... Go bang your head against the wall

Gai shoyn, gai ... Scram. also, Don't be silly.

Gai strasheh di vantzen ... You don't frighten me. (Lit., Go threaten the bed bugs)

Gai tren zich. (taboo) ... Go f**k yourself

Gait, gait ... Come now.

Gait es nit ... It doesn't work.

Galitsianer ... Jewish native of Galicia

Ganef ... Crook, thief, burglar, swindler, racketeer

Gatns gut ... Quite well

Gantseh megilleh ... Big deal. (derisive)

Gantser k'nacker ... Big shot.

Gantser mentsh ... Manly, a whole man, a complete man; an adult; a fellow who assumes airs

Gatkes ... Long winter underwear

Geben shoychad ... To bribe

Gebentsht mit kinder ... Blessed with children

Gebrenteh tsores ... Utter misery

Gebrochener english ... Fractured English

Gedainkst? ... Remember?

Geferlech ... Dangerous

Geharget zolstu veren ... Drop dead. (Lit., You should get killed.)

Gelaimter ... Person who drops whatever he touches

Gelibteh ... Beloved

Gelt ... Money

Gelt gait tzu gelt ... Money goes to money.

Gembeh ... Big mouth.

Gemitlich ... Slowly, unhurried, gently

Genaivisheh shtiklech ... Tricky, sharp, crooked actions or doings

Genug iz genug ... Enough is enough.

Gesheft ... Business

Geshmak ... Tasty, delicious

Geshtroft ... Cursed, accursed; punished

Geshvollen ... Swollen, puffed up (Also applied to person with haughty pride)

Get ... Divorce

Gevaldikeh Zach ... A terrible thing. (often ironically)

Gezunteh moid ... Brunhilde, a big healthy dame

Gezunt vi a ferd ... Strong as a horse

Gezunterhait ... In good health

Gib mir nit kain einorah ... Don't give me a canary. (Americanism, Lit., Don't give me an evil eye)

Gib zich a traisel ... Get a move on

Gleichvertel ... Wisecrack, pun, saying, proverb, bon mot, witticism

Glezel tai ... Glass of tea

Glick ... Luck, piece of luck

Gloib mir ... Believe me.

G'nossen tsum emess ... The sneeze confirmed the truth.

Goldeneh chasseneh ... Fiftieth wedding anniversary

Gornisht ... Nothing

Got in himmel ... G-d in heaven. (said in anguish, despair, fear or frustration)

Got tsu danken ... Thank G-d

Got zol ophiten ... G-d forbid.

Gotteniu ... Oh G-d. (anguished cry)

Goy ... Any person who is not Jewish

Goyeh ... Gentile woman

Goyim ... Group of non-Jewish persons

Greps ... Blech; a burp if it's a mild one

Grob ... Coarse, crude, profane, rough, rude

Grober ... Coarse, uncouth, crude person

Grois-halter ... Show-off, conceited person

Groisseh gedilleh ... Big deal. (said sarcastically)

Groisser gornisht ... Big good-for-nothing

Groisser potz. (taboo) ... Big penis. Big prick. (deragatory or sarcastic)

Gut far him ... Serves him right.

G'vir ... Rich man

H

Haimish ponem ... A friendly face

Haiseh vanneh ... Hot bath

Haken a tsheinik ... Boring, long-winded and annoying conversation; talking for the sake of talking (Lit., To bang on the tea-kettle)

Hak flaish ... Chopped meat

Hak mir nit in kop ... Stop bending my ear (Lit.; Stop banging on my head)

Halevei ... If only...

Hamoyn ... Common people

Handlen ... To bargain; to do business

Hartsvaitik ... Heart ache

Hekdish ... Decrepit place, a slumhouse, poorhouse; a mess

Heldish ... Brave

Hert zich ein ... Listen here.

Hetsken zich ... Shake and dance with joy

Hikevater ... Stammerer

Hinten ... Rear, rear parts, backside, buttocks; in the rear

Hit zich ... Look out.

Hitsik ... Hothead

Hitskop ... Excitable person

Hob derech erets ... Have respect

Hob nit kain deiges ... Don't worry

Hoben tsu zingen un tsu zogen ... Have no end of trouble (Lit.,To sing and to talk)

Hoizer gaier ... Beggar

Hoizirer ... Peddler (from house to house)

Holishkes ... Stuffed Cabbage

Host du bie mir an avleh ... So I made a mistake. So what.

Hulyen ... A hellraiser

I

Ich bin ahntoisht ... I am disapointed

Ich 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 hurry

Ich feif oif dir ... I despise you. Go to the devil. (Lit., I whistle on you.)

Ich hob dir ... Drop dead. Go flap you ears. (Lit., I have you.....) (Americanisn.)

Ich hob dich in bod ... To hell with you. (Lit., I have you in the bath house.)

Ich hob es in drerd ... To hell with it

Ich hob im feint ... I hate him

Ich hob im in bod ... To hell with him

Ich vais ... I 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 ... I should know as little about trouble (as I know about what you are asking me).

Iker ... Substance; people of substance

In a noveneh ... For a change; once in a blue moon

In di alteh guteh tseiten ... In the good old days.

In drerd mein gelt ... My money went down the drain. (Lit., My money went to burial in the earth, to hell.)

In miten drinen ... In the middle of; suddenly

Ipish ... Bad odor, stink

Ir gefelt mir zaier ... You please me a great deal.

Iz brent mir ahfen hartz ... I have a heartburn.

K

Kaas (in kaas oyf) ... Angry (with)

Kabaret forshtelung ... Floorshow

Kabtzen, kaptsen ... Pauper

Kaddish ... A 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)

Kadoches ... Fever

Kadoches mit koshereh fodem ... Absolutely nothing. (Lit., fever with a kosher thread)

Kaftan ... Long coat worn by religious Jews

Kain ein horeh ... No evil eye. (Some say "don't give me a canary";

Kakapitshi ... Conglomeration

Kalamutneh ... Dreary, gloomy, troubled

Kalleh moid ... A girl of marriageable age

Kallehniu ... Little bride

Kalyekeh ... Cripple; misfit; also, anybody not good at their craft or sport

Kalyeh ... Bad, 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. Slowpoke

Kam vos er lebt ... He's hardly (barely) alive.

Kamtsoness ... To be miserly

Kaneh ... An enema

Kaporeh, (kapores) ... Atonement sacrifice; forgiveness; (slang) good for nothing

Karabelnick ... Country peddler

Karger ... Miser, tightwad

Kasheh ... Groats, mush cereal, buckwheat, porridge; a mess, mix-up, confusion

Kasheh varnishkes ... Cooked groats and broad (or bowtie) noodles

Kashress ... Kosher condition; Jewish religious dietary law

Kasnik, (keisenik) ... Angry person; excitable person, hot head

Kasokeh ... Cross-eyed

Katshkedik (Americanism) ... Ducky, swell, pleasant

Katzisher kop ... Forgetful (Lit., Cat head)

Kazatskeh ... Lively Russian dance

Kemfer ... Fighter (usually for a cause)

Ken zein ... Maybe, could be

Kibbitz (To Kibbitz) ... To offer unsolicited advice as a spectator

Kibbitzer ... Meddlesome spectator

Kiddish (Borai pri hagofen) ... Blessing over wine on the eve of Sabbath or Festivals

Kimpet-tzettel ... Childbirth amulet or charm (from the German "kind-bet-tzettel" meaning childbirth label containing Psalm 121, names of angels, patriarchs

Kimpetoren ... Woman in labour or immediately after the delivery

Kind un kait ... Young and old

Kinderlech ... Diminutive, affectionate term for children

Kishef macher ... Magic-worker

Kishkeh ... Stuffed derma (Sausage shaped, stuffed with a mixture of flour, onions, salt, pepper and fat to keep it together, it is boiled, roasted and sliced)

Kitsel ... Tickle

Klainer gornisht ... Little prig (Lit., A little nothing)

Klemt beim hartz ... Clutches at my heartstrings

Klaperkeh ... Talkative woman

Klipeh ... Gabby woman, shrew, a female demon

Klogmuter ... Complainer, chronic complainer

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 shot

K'naidel (pl., k'naidlech) ... Dumplings usually made of matzoh meal, cooked in soup

K'nippel ... Button, knot; hymen, virginity; money tied in a knot in a handkerchief

K'nish (taboo) ... Vagina

K'nishes ... Baked dumplings filled with potato, meat, liver or barley

Kochalain ... Summer boarding house with cooking privileges (Lit., cook by yourself)

Kochedik ... Petulant, excitable

Kochleffel ... One who stirs up trouble; gadabout, busy-body (Lit., a cooking ladle)

Kolboynik ... Rascally know-it-all

Kop oif di plaitses ... Good, common sense. (Lit., A head on the shoulders.)

Kopvaitik ... Headache

Kosher ... Jewish dietary laws based on "cleanliness." Also referring to the legitimacy of a situation. "This plan doesn't seem kosher."

Koved ... Respect, honour, reverence, esteem

Krank ... Sick

Krank-heit ... Sickness

Krassavitseh ... Beauty, a doll, beautiful woman

Krechts ... Groan, moan

Krechtser ... Blues singer, a moaner

Kreplach ... Small pockets of dough filled with chopped meat which look like ravioli, or won ton, and are eaten in soup; (slang) nothing, valueless

Kroivim ... Relatives

Kuck im on (taboo) ... Defecate on him. The hell with him.

Kuck zich oys. (taboo) ... Go take a shit for yourself.

Kugel ... Pudding

Kuk im on ... Look at him.

Kumen tsu gast ... To visit

Kuntzen ... Tricks

Kunyehlemel ... Naive, clumsy, awkward person; nincompoop; Casper Milquetoast

Kurveh ... prostitute

Kushinyerkeh ... Cheapskate; woman who comes to a store and asks for a five cents' worth of vinegar in her own bottle

K'vatsh ... Boneless person, one lacking character; a whiner, weakling

K'velen ... Glow with pride and happiness, beam; be delighted

K'vetsh ... Whine, complain; whiner, a complainer

K'vitsh ... Shriek, scream, screech

L

Lachen mit yash-tsherkes ... Forced or false laugh; laugh with anguish

Laidik-gaier ... Idler, loafer

Lamden ... Scholar, erudite person, learned man

Lang leben zolt ir ... Long may you live.

Lantsman ... Countryman, neighbour, fellow townsman from "old country."

Lapeh ... Big hand

Lebedikeh velt ... A lively world.

Lebediker ... Lively person

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 Jews

Leiden ... To suffer

Lemeshkeh ... Milquetoast, bungler

Leveiyeh ... Funeral

Lig in drerd ... Get lost. Drop dead. (Lit., Bury yourself.)

Ligner ... Liar

Litvak ... Lithuanian; 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.

Loch ... Hole

Loch in kop ... Hole in the head.

Lokshen ... Noodles, but often meaning 'nonsense' or bullshit

Loz mich tzu ru ... Leave me alone. (Lit., Let me be in peace.)

Luftmentsh ... Person who has no business, trade, calling, nor income.

Luch in kup ... A hole in the head ( " I need this like a luch in kup").

M

Machareikeh ... Gimmick, contraption

Macher ... big shot, person with access to authorities, man with contacts.

Magilla ... Long story

Maidel ... Unmarried girl, teenager

Maideleh ... Little girl (affectionate term)

Maiven ... Expert, connoisseur, authority

Makeh ... Plague, wound, boil, curse

Mamoshes ... Substance, people of substance.

Manzer ... Bastard, disliked person, untrustworthy

Mashgiach ... Inspector, overseer or supervisor of Kashruth in restaurants & hotels.

Mashugga ... Crazy

Mazel Tov ... Good Luck

Me ken brechen ... You can vomit from this.

Me ken lecken di finger ... It's delicious.

Me lost nit leben ... They don't let you live.

Me redt zich oys dos hartz ... Talk your heart out.

Mecheieh ... A great pleasure

Mein bobbeh's ta'am ... Bad taste. Old fashioned taste.

Mein cheies gait oys ... I'm dying for it.

Mekler ... Go-between

Menner vash tsimmer ... Men's room

Mentsh ... A special man or person. One who can be respected.

Meshpucha ... Extended family

Meshugass ... Madness, insanity, craze

Meshugeh ... Crazy

Meshugeh ahf toit ... Crazy as a loon. Really crazy.

Meshugeneh ... Mad, crazy, insane female.

Meshugener ... Mad, crazy, insane man

Me zogt ... They say; it is said.

Mies ... Ugly

Mieskeit ... Ugly thing or person.

Mikveh ... Ritual bath

Minyan ... Quorum of ten men necessary for holding public worship (must be over 13 years of age)

Mirtsishem ... G-d willing

Mitten derinnen ... All of a sudden, suddenly

Mitzvah ... Good deed

Mogen Dovid ... Star of David

Moisheh kapoyer ... Mr. Upside-Down. A person who does everything backwards

Mosser ... Squealer

Moyel ... Person (usually a rabbi) who performs circumcisions.

Mutek ... Brave

Mutshen zich ... To sweat out a job

Muttelmessig ... Meddlesome person, kibbitzer

N

Na ... Here. Take it. There you have it.

Naches ... Joy: Gratification, especially from children.

Nacht falt tsu ... Night is falling; twilight

Nadan ... Dowry

Nafkeh ... Prostitute

Naidlechech ... Rare thing

Nar ... Fool

Nar ainer ... You fool, you.

Narish ... Foolish

Narishkeit ... Foolishness

Nebach ... It's a pity. Unlucky, pitiable person.

Nebbish ... A nobody, simpleton, weakling, awkward person

Nebechel ... Nothing, a pitiful person; or playing role of being one

Nechtiker tog ... He's (it's) gone. Forget it. Nonsense. (Lit., a yesterday's day)

Nem zich a vaneh ... Go take a bath. Go jump in the lake.

Neshomeh ... Soul, spirit

Neshomeleh ... Sweetheart, sweet soul

Nifter-shmifter, a leben macht er? ... What difference does it make as long as he makes a living? (Lit., nifter means deceased.)

Nishkosheh ... Not so bad, satisfactory. (This has nothing to do with the word "kosher," but comes from the Hebrew and means "hard, heavy," thus "not hard" as in "not bad."

Nisht do gedacht ... It shouldn't happen. G-d forbid. (Lit., May we be saved from it. [sad event] )

Nishtgedeiget ... Don't worry; doesn't worry

Nisht gefonfit ... Don't hedge. Don't fool around. Don't double-talk.

Nisht getrofen ... So I guessed wrong.

Nisht gut ... Not good, lousy

Nisht naitik ... Not necessary

Nishtgutnick ... No-good person

Nishtikeit ... A nobody.

Nishtu gedacht ... It shouldn't happen. G-d forbid.

Nit kain farshloffener ... A lively person

Nit ahin, nit aher ... Neither here nor there

Nit gidacht ... It shouldn't happen. (Same as nishtu gedacht)

Nit gidacht gevorn ... It shouldn't come to pass.

Nit kosher ... Impure food. Also, slang, anything not good

Nit heint, nit morgen ... Not today, not tomorrow.

Nito farvos ... You're welcome.

Noch nisht ... Not yet

Nochshlepper ... Hanger-on, unwanted follower

Nor Got vaist ... Only G-d knows.

Nosh ... Snack

Nosherie ... Snack food

Nu? ... So? Well?

Nu, shoyn ... Move, already. Hurry up. Let's go. Aren't you finished?

Nudnik ... Pesty nagger, nuisance, a bore, obnoxious person

Nudje ... Annoying person, badgerer (Americanism)

Nudjen ... Badger, annoy persistently

O

Ober yetzt? ... So now? (Yetzt is also spelled itzt)

Obtshepen ... Get rid of

Och un vai ... Alas and alack: woe be to it.

Oder a klop, oder a fortz (taboo) ... Either too much or not enough (Lit., either a wallop or a fart)

Ohmain ... Amen

Oy ... Yiddish exclamation to denote disgust, pain, astonishment or rapture

Oy, a shkandal ... Oh, what a scandal.

Oy, gevald ... Cry of anguish, suffering, frustration or for help

Oy vay ... Dear me. Expression of dismay or hurt

Oy vay iz mir ... Woe is me.

Oisgeshtrobelt ... Overdressed woman.

Oisgeshtrozelt ... Decorated (beautiful)

Ois-shteler ... Braggart

Oiver botel ... Absentminded: getting senile

Okuratner mentsh ... Orderly person

Olreitnik ... Nouveau riche.

On langeh hakdomes ... Cut it short. (Lit., without long introductions.)

Ongeblozzen ... Conceited: peevish, sulky, pouting

Ongeblozzener ... Stuffed shirt

Ongematert ... Tired out

Ongepatshket ... Cluttered, disordered, scribbled, sloppy, muddled, overly-done

Ongeshtopt ... Very wealthy

Ongeshtopt mit gelt ... Very wealthy; (Lit., stuffed with money)

Ongetrunken ... Drunk

Ongetshepter ... Bothersome hanger-on

Ongevarfen ... Cluttered, disordered

Onshikenish ... Hanger-on

Onshikenish ... Pesty nagger

Onzaltsen ... Giving you the business; bribe; soft-soap; sweet-talk (Lit., to salt)

Opgeflickt ... Done in. Suckered. Milked.

Opgehitener ... Pious person

Opgekrochen ... Shoddy

Opgekrocheneh schoireh ... Shoddy merchandise

Opgelozen(er) ... Careless dresser

Opgenart ... Cheated, fooled

Opnarer ... Trickster, shady operator

Opnarerei ... Deception

Orehman ... Poor man, without means

Oremkeit ... Poverty

Oybershter in himmel ... G-d in heaven

Oych a bashefenish ... Also 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 ... Much ado about nothing. Impossible. (Lit., In heaven there's a big fair.)

Oyfgekumener ... Come upper, upstart

Oys shiddech ... The marriage is off.

Oysgedart ... Skinny, emaciated

Oysgehorevet ... Exhausted

Oysgematert ... Tired out, worn out

Oysgemutshet ... Worked to death, tired out

Oysgeputst ... Dressed up, overdressed; overdecorated

Oysgeshprait ... Spread out

Oysvurf ... Outcast, bad person

P

Paigeren zol er ... He should drop dead.

Pamelech ... Slow, slowly

Parech ... Low-life, a bad man

Parnosseh ... Livelihood

Parshiveh ... Mean, cheap

Parshoin ... He-man

Partatshnek ... Inferior merchandise or work

Parveh ... Neutral food, neither milchidik (dairy) nor flaishidik (meat)

Paskudnik, paskudnyak ... Ugly, revolting, evil person; nasty fellow

Past nit ... It isn't proper.

Patsh ... Slap, smack on the cheek

Patshkies around ... Anglicized characterization of one who wastes time.

Patteren tseit ... To lounge around; waste time

Petseleh ... Little penis

Phooey. fooey, pfui ... Designates disbelief, distaste, contempt

Pipek ... Navel, belly button

Pishechtz ... Urine

Pisher ... Male infant, a little squirt, a nobody

Pisk ... Slang, for mouth; insultingly, it means a big mouth, loudmouth

Pisk-Malocheh ... Big talker-little doer. (man who talks a good line but does nothing)

Pitshetsh ... Chronic complainer

Pitsel ... Wee, tiny

Pitsvinik ... Little nothing

Plagen ... Work hard, sweat out a job, suffer

Plagen zich ... To suffer

Plaplen ... Chatter

Plats ... Burst. Bust your guts out. Split your guts.

Plyotkenitzeh ... A gossip

Preplen ... To mutter, mumble

Prietzteh ... Princess; finicky girl; (having airs, giving airs; being snooty) prima donna.

Prost ... Coarse, common, vulgar

Prostaches ... Low class people

Prostak ... Ignorant boor, coarse person, vulgar man

Prosteh leit ... Simple people, common people; vulgar, ignorant, "low class" people

Proster mentsh ... Vulgar man, common man

Ptsha ... Cows feet in jelly

Punim ... Face

Pupik ... Navel, belly button, gizzard, chicken stomachs

Pupiklech ... Dish of chicken gizzards

Pushkeh ... Little box for coins

Pustunpasnik ... Loafer, idler

Pyesseh ... A play, drama

S

Saichel ... Common sense, good sense; tact, diplomacy

S'art eich? ... What 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 goy ... Someone doing the dirty work for others (Lit;, gentile doing work for a Jew on Sabbath)

Shadchen ... Matchmaker 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)

Shaigitz ... Non-Jewish boy; wild Jewish boy

Shaigetz ainer ... Berating term for irreligious Jewish boy, one who flouts Jewish law

Shain vi di zibben velten ... Beautiful as the seven worlds

Shaineh maidel ... pretty girl

Shainer gelechter ... Hearty laugh (sarcastically, Some laughter.)

Shainkeit ... Beauty

Shaitel, (sheitel) ... Wig (at the wedding the ultra-orthodox bride has her hair cut off and she wears a shaitel ever after)

Shalach mohnes ... Customary gifts exchanges on Purim, usually goodies

Shalom ... Peace (a watchword and a greeting)

Shammes ... Sexton, beadle of the synagogue, also, the lighter taper used to light other candles on a menorah, a policeman (slang)

Shat, shat. Hust ... Quiet. Don't get excited

Shatnes ... Proscription 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 ... Messenger

Shikker ... Drunkard

Shikseh ... Non-Jewish girl

Shiva ... Mourning period of seven days observed by family and friends of deceased

Shkapeh ... A hag, a mare; worthless

Shkotz ... Berating term for mischivous Jewish boy

Shlak ... Apoplexy; a wretch, a miserable person; shoddy; shoddy merchandise

Shlang ... Snake, serpent; a troublesome wife; penis (taboo)

Shlatten shammes ... Communal busybody, tale bearer; messenger

Shlecht ... Bad

Shlecht veib ... Shrew (Lit., a bad wife)

Shlemiel ... Clumsy bunglar, an inept person, butter-fingered; dopey person

Shlep ... Drag, carry or haul, particularly unnecessary things, parcels or baggage; to go somewhere unwillingly or unwantedly

Shleppen ... To drag, pull, carry, haul

Shlepper ... Sponger, 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 G-d.)

Shlogen ... To beat up

Shlok ... A curse; apoplexy

Shlosser ... Mechanic

Shlub ... A jerk; a foolish, stupid or unknowing person, second rate, inferior.

Shlump ... Careless dresser, untidy person; as a verb, to idle or lounge around

Shlumperdik ... Unkempt, sloppy

Shmaltz ... Grease or fat; (slang) flattery; to sweet talk, overly praise, dramatic

Shmaltzy ... Sentimental, corny

Shmatteh ... Rag, anything worthless

Shmeis ... Bang, wallop

Shmek tabik ... Nothing of value (Lit., a pinch of snuff)

Shmeer ... The business; the whole works; to bribe, to coat like butter

Shmegegi ... Buffoon, idiot, fool

Shmeichel ... To butter up

Schmeikel ... To swindle, con, fast-talk.

Shmendrik ... nincompoop; an inept or indifferent person; same as shlemiel

Shmo ... Naive person, easy to deceive; a goof (Americanism)

Shmok (taboo) ... Self-made fool; obscene for penis: derisive term for a man

Shmontses -Trifles, folly

Shmooz; (shmuess) ... Chat, talk

Shmulky ... A sad sack.

Shmuts ... Dirt, slime

Shmutzik ... Dirty, soiled

Shnapps ... Whiskey, same as bronfen

Shnecken ... Little fruit and nut coffee rolls

Shneider ... Tailor; in gin rummy card game, to win game without opponent scoring

Shnell ... Quick, quickly

Shnook ... A patsy, a sucker, a sap, easy-going, person easy to impose upon, gullible

Shnorrer ... A beggar who makes pretensions to respectability; sponger, a parasite

Shnur ... Daughter-in-law

Shoymer ... Watchman; historically refers also to the armed Jewish watchman in the early agricultural settlements in the Holy Land

Shoymer mitzves ... Pious person

Shoyn ainmol a' metsei-eh ... Really a bargain

Shoyn fargessen? ... You have already forgotten?

Shoyn genug ... That's enough.

Shpilkes ... Pins and needles

Shpitsfinger ... Toes

Shpogel nei ... Brand-new

Shreklecheh zach ... A terrible thing

Shtark, shtarker ... Strong, brave

Shtark gehert ... Smelled bad (used only in reference to food; Lit., strongly heard)

Shtark vi a ferd ... Stong as a horse

Shav ... Cold spinach soup, sorrel grass soup, sour leaves soup

Shtik ... Piece, bit: a special bit of acting

Shtik drek (taboo) ... Piece of shit; shit-head

Shtik goy ... Idiomatic expression for one inclined to heretical views, or ingnorance of Jewish religious values

Shtik naches ... Grandchild, child, or relative who gives you pleasure; a great joy

Stikel ... Small bit or piece; a morsel

Shtiklech ... Tricks; small pieces

Shtilinkerait ... Quietly

Shtoltz ... Pride; unreasonably and stubbornly proud, excessive self-esteem

Shtrudel ... Sweet cake made of paper-thin dough rolled up with various fillings

Shtunk ... A guy who doesn't smell too good; a stink (bad odor) a lousy human

Shtup ... Push, shove; vulgarism for sexual intercourse

Shtup es in toches. (taboo) ... Shove (or stick) it up your rectum (ass).

Shul ... Colloquial Yiddish for synagogue

Shule ... School

Shushkeh ... A whisper; an aside

Shutfim ... Associates

Shvachkeit ... Weakness

Shvegerin ... Sister-in-law

Shvengern ... Be pregnant

Shver ... Father-in-law; heavy, hard, difficult

Shviger ... Mother-in-law

Shvindel ... Fraud, deception, swindle

Shvindeldik ... Dizzy, unsteady

Shvitz bod ... Steam bath

Shvoger ... Brother-in-law

Sidder ... Jewish prayer book for weekdays and Saturday

Simcheh ... Joy; also refers to a joyous occasioin

Sitzfleish ... Patience that can endure sitting (Lit., sitting flesh)

Smetteneh ... Sour cream; Cream

Sof kol sof ... Finally

S'teitsh ... Listen. Hold on. How is that? How is that possible? How come?

Strasheh mich nit ... Don't threaten me.

T

Ta'am ... Taste, flavor; good taste

Tahkeh ... Really. Is that so? Certainly.

Tahkeh a metsieh ... Really a bargain. (usually said with sarcasm)

Taiglech ... Small pieces of baked dough or little cakes dipped in honey

Tallis ... Rectangular prayer-shawl to whose four corners, fringes are attached

Talmud ... The complete treasury of Jewish law interpreting the Torah into livable law

Talmud Torah ... The commandment to study the Law; an educational institution for orphans and poor children, supported by the community; in the United States, a Hebrew school for children

Tandaitneh ... Inferior

Tararam ... Big noise, big deal

Tashlich ... Ceremony of the casting off of sins on the Jewish New Year (crumbs of bread symbolizing one's sins are cast away into a stream of water in the afternoon of the Jewish New Year, Rosh Hashoneh)

Tateh, tatteh, tatteh, tatteleh, tatinka, tatteniu ... Father, papa, daddy, pop

Tateh-mameh, papa-mama ... Parents

Tatenui ... Father dear (The suffix "niu" in Yiddish is added for endearing intimacy; also, G-d is addressed this way by the pious; Tateniu-Foter means G-d, our Father

Teier ... Dear, costly, expensive

Tei-yerinkeh ... Sweetheart, dearest

Temp ... Dolt

Temper kop ... Dullard

T'noim ... Bethrothal, engagement

Toches ... Buttocks, behind, fanny (ass)

Toches ahfen tish ... Put up or shut up. Let's conclude this. (Lit., Asses on the table.)

Toches-lecker ... Brown-noser, apple-polisher, ass-kisser

Togshul ... Day school

Toig ahf kapores ... Good for nothing. It's worth nothing.

Traif ... Forbidden food, impure, contrary to the Jewish dietary laws, non-kosher

Traifener bain ... Jew who does not abide by Jewish law (derisive, scornful expression

Traifeneh bicher ... Forbidden literature

Traifnyak ... Despicable person; on who eats non-kosher food

Trenen ... To tear, rip

Trogedik ... Pregnant

Trog gezunterhait ... Wear it in good health.

Trombenik ... A bum, no-good person, ne'er-do-well; a faker

Tsaddik ... Pious, righteous person

Tsatskeh ... Doll, plaything; something cute; an overdressed woman; a sexy girl

Tsatskeleh der mamehs ... Mother's favorite. Mother's pet.

Tsebrech a fus ... Break a leg.

Tsedokeh ... Spirit of philantrophy; charity, benevolence

Tsedrait ... Nutty, crazy, screwy

Tsedraiter kop ... Bungler

Tsemisht ... Confused, befuddled, mixed-up

Tshatshki ... Toy, doo-dad; pretty girl

Tshepen ... To annoy, irk, plague, bother, attack unwantedly

Tsevishen-shtotisheh telefonistkeh ... Long distance operator

Tsegait zich in moyl ... It melts in the mouth, delicious, yummy-yummy

Tsemishnich ... Confusion

Tsiklen zich ... The cantor's ecstatic repetition of a musical phrase

Tsimmes ... Sweet carrot compote; (slang) a major issue made out of a minor event

Tsitskeh ... Breast, teat, udder

Tsnueh ... Chaste

Tsores ... Troubles, misery

Tsutsheppenish ... Hanger-on; unwanted companion; pest; nuisance

Tsum glik, tsum shlimazel ... For better, for worse

Tu mir a toiveh ... Do me a favor.

Tu mir nit kain toives ... Don't do me any favors.

Tumel ... Confusion, noise, uproar

Tumler ... A noise-maker (person); an agitator

Tut vai dos harts ... Heartbroken

Tzitzis ... Fringes attached to the four corners of the tallis

Tzufil ... Too much. Too costly.

Y

Yachneh ... A coarse, loud-mouthed woman; a gossip; a slattern

Yachsen ... Man of distinguished lineage, highly connected person, privileged character

Yarmelkeh ... Traditional Jewish skull cap, usually worn during prayers; worn at all times by observant Orthodox Jews.

Yashir koyech ... May your strength continue

Yatebedam ... A man who threatens; one who thinks he's a "big shot"; a blusterer

Yedies ... News; cablegrams; announcements

Yefayfiyeh ... Beauty; woman of great beauty

Yenems ... Someone else's

Yeneh velt ... The other world; the world to come

Yenteh ... Gaggy, talkative woman; female blabbermouth

Yeshiva ... Jewish traditional higher school, talmudical academy

Yeshiveh bocher ... Student of talmudic academy

Yeshuvnik ... Farmer, rustic

Yichus ... Pedigree, ancestry, family background, nobility

Yiddisher kop ... Jewish head

Yingeh tsats-keh ... A young doll. A living doll.

Yiskor ... Prayer in commemoration of the dead (Lit., May G-d remember.)

Yom Kippur ... Day of Atonement (the most holy of holy days of the Jewish calendar)

Yontefdik ... Festive, holiday-ish; sharp (referring to clothes)

Yortseit ... Anniversary of the day of death of parents or relatives; yearly remembrance

Yoysher ... Justice, fairness, integrity

Yukel ... Buffoon

Yung mit bainer ... A powerhouse. Strongly built person

Yung un alt ... Young and old

Yungatsh ... Street-urchin, scamp, young rogue

Yungermantshik ... A young, vigorous lad; A newlywed