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The 22 Best Yiddish Words to Know. A brief glossary of important and commonly used Yiddish words and phrases. By My Jewish Learning
- baleboste. A good homemaker, a woman who’s in charge of her home and will make sure you remember it.
- bissel. Or bisl – a little bit.
- bubbe. Or bobe. It means Grandmother, and bobeshi is the more affectionate form. Bubele is a similarly affectionate word, though it isn’t in Yiddish dictionaries.
- bupkes. Not a word for polite company. Bubkes or bobkes may be related to the Polish word for “beans”, but it really means “goat droppings” or “horse droppings.”
- What Does 'Naches' Mean? Naches (נחת) is a Yiddish word that means "pride" or "joy." Typically naches refers to the pride or joy that a child brings a parent.
- What Does 'Mensch' Mean? Mensch (מענטש) means "a person of integrity." A mensch is someone who is responsible, has a sense of right and wrong, and is the sort of person other people admire.
- What Does 'Oy Vey' Mean? Oy vey (אױ װײ) is typically used when a situation is causing exasperation or dismay. It means something along the lines of "woe is me."
- What Does 'Mazel Tov' Mean? Mazel tov (מזל טוב) is a Hebrew and Yiddish phrase that literally means "good destiny, stars" but is used to say "good luck" or "congratulations."
This is a list of words that have entered the English language from the Yiddish language, many of them by way of American English. There are differing approaches to the romanization of Yiddish orthography (which uses the Hebrew alphabet ); thus, the spelling of some of the following words may be variable (for example, shlep is a variant of ...
Yiddish words used in the English language include both words that have been assimilated into English – used by both Yiddish and English speakers – and many that have not.
Jun 3, 2021 · Learn about the origins, meanings, and usage of some of the English words that come from Yiddish, a hybrid language of Jewish culture. Find out how Yiddish words like oy, bagel, schmuck, and schlep have become part of common speech in English.
Dec 26, 2022 · Learn the meaning and usage of 18 common Yiddish words and phrases, from oy vey to schmooze, with examples and sources. Duolingo also offers a free Yiddish course for those who want to learn more.