Search results
Schlep — To carry or travel with difficulty, as in “We shlepped here all the way from New Jersey.”. Schmooze (shmooze)— Chat, make small talk, converse about nothing in particular. Schmuck (shmuck)—A jerk, or a self-made fool, but this word literally means penis. Shande (shanda, shonda)— A scandal, embarrassment.
- On Being A Mensch
- On Business
- On Determination
- On Love and Family
- On Common Sense
- On Character
- Curses
- GeneratedCaptionsTabForHeroSec
Jews use a Yiddish word to express the notion of being a full, honorable human being: Mensch. Here are some classic Yiddish insights into what constitutes menschlichkeit(being a mensch). Az ich vel zayn vi er, ver vet zayn vi ich? If I’m going to be like him, who will be like me? This saying echoes the words of Rabbi Hillel: “If I am not for myself...
The Torah cautions us to be scrupulously honest and honorable in business, and contains numerous rules and laws ensuring principled behavior. Yiddish reflects this ethic, offering penetrating advice on business matters. Ehren is fil tei’erer far gelt!Honor is dearer than money! Az me ken nit vi me vil, muz men vellen vi me ken. If you can’t do what...
Zog nisht keyn mol az du geyst dem letstn veg.Don’t ever say you’re traveling your last road. This saying comes from the “Partisan Song” by Hersh Glick, a Jewish partisan resistance fighter who was killed in 1944 at the age of 24. His Partisan Song became a rallying cry for Jews in the darkest days of the Holocaust and still inspires today.
Di liebe is zees, nor zi iz gut mit broyt.Love is good, but it’s good with bread. You can't live on love. Chosen-kalah hobn glezerne oygn.Bride and groom have glass eyes. We are blind to the faults of those we love. Eygene, az zey veynen nit, farkrimen zey zich chotshbe. Those who are close to you, even when they don't cry with you, at least they s...
“Seichel’ in Yiddish means common sense. It is actually the Hebrew word for intelligence. In his autobiography Songs My Mother Taught Me, Marlon Brando uses the word “seichel” to sum up his view of the Jewish people as a whole: “There’s a Yiddish word, seychel, that provides a key explaining the most profound aspect of Jewish culture. It means to p...
Az Got zol voynen af der erd, voltn im di mentschen di fenster oysgeshlogn!If God lived on earth, people would break His windows! Az der soyne falt, tor men zich nit freyen, ober me heybt im nit oyf!When your enemy falls, you shouldn’t gloat, but you don’t have to pick him up either!
Zolst vaksen vi a tsiba'le, mit kop in d'rerd! – You should grow like an onion, with your head in the ground! Zolst farlirn alle tseyner achuts eynem, un der zol dir vey ton! – All your teeth should fall out except one, and that one should hurt! Ich hob dich azoi lib, az ich volt dir mayn toit nit gezshalevit. I love you so much I would not even be...
Learn some classic Yiddish sayings and expressions on being a mensch, business, love, family, common sense and more. Yiddish is the traditional language of Eastern European Jews and originates from a German dialect mixed with Hebrew words and other languages.
- Lauren Le Vine
- Alterkaker. An old fart.
- Bupkis. Nothing (figurative) Extra credit: In Yiddish, bupkis comes from the word for goat turd. The usual Yiddish word for nothing is gornisht.
- Chutzpah. Supreme self-confidence. Extra credit: Keep in mind that chutzpah is a breath-taking audacity (something that is not valued in Yiddish culture, but is highly praised in the United States).
- Klutz. In English, klutz has come to mean accident-prone. Extra credit: However, in Yiddish the “clumsy” sense of klutz comes from its primary meaning of wooden beam, which was extended to refer to really awkward questions (klutz kashes), the kind of questions that stop a conversation like a wooden beam in the middle of the road.
Learn how to greet, introduce, and communicate in Yiddish, a Jewish language with influences from German, Hebrew, and Slavic languages. Find recordings, translations, and examples of common phrases in Yiddish and English.
Learn how to greet, introduce yourself, ask for help, and express gratitude in Yiddish with this table of phrases and examples. Find out how to use Yiddish words and expressions in everyday conversations and situations.
Dec 26, 2022 · Learn the meaning and usage of 18 common Yiddish words and phrases, from oy vey to schmooze, with examples and origin stories. Duolingo also offers a free Yiddish course for those who want to learn more.
Jan 24, 2024 · Explore 335 Yiddish proverbs, sayings, insults, curses, and idioms, with YIVO transliteration and English translation. See examples of Yiddish humor, wisdom, and culture in this online gallery.
People also ask
Is Yiddish a Jewish language?
What are some great Yiddish sayings & expressions?
Are all expressions presented in Yiddish?
How do Yinglish words differ from Yiddish words?
