Yiddish Dictionary

Yiddish Dictionary provides a brief overview of the history of the Yiddish language for all Yiddish enthusiasts. It also provides a free Yiddish dictionary which will expand over time. Check it out below! I hope you find this first article beneficial. Look for more information on Yiddish soon.

Lets Start with a Little Yiddish History

In distinction to Sephardic Jewish communities originating from Spain and the Mediterranean, Yiddish belongs to the world of Ashkenazi Jewish communities of central and eastern Europe. It developed beginning in the 10th century. Yiddish literally means "Jewish" but is derived largely from German though a Hebrew influence is clear, and is spoken throughout the world. It is written with the Hebrew alphabet.

The earliest references to Yiddish refers to it as loshon-ashkenaz or literally "Ashkenaz language." It is more commonly referred to as mame-loshon or the "mother tongue". This adjective provides it with a critical distinction to Judaism's biblical Hebrew and Aramaic background. In contrast, Hebrew and to some extent Aramaic are collectively termed loshon-kodesh or "holy tongue".

Until the 18th century, the actual term Yiddish was not frequently used. Interestingly the widespread dispersion of Jewish communities in central and eastern Europe resulting in dialects known designated as Western Yiddish" to "Eastern Yiddish". The Eastern dialects alone remain in use today. Western Yiddish owes its decline in part to the assimilation to German language and culture and the creation of the modern Hebrew movement.

The major differentiation between the two "dialects" lies in the inclusion of words of Slavic origin in the Eastern form. Interestingly enough, this compares to the lesser known and widespread "Jewish" language of Ladino which also sees some variations depending on whether it was spoken in say, Morocco as opposed to Turkey. In eastern communities, where Jews were largely insulated from the effects of political and social emancipation, Yiddish was a critically cohesive force.

By the early part of the 20th century, growing Jewish communities caused Yiddish to emerged as a major Eastern European language and found increasing expression via Yiddish theater and film. A range of Yiddish literature was produced. The consequences of the Holocaust, the resettlement of large numbers of Jews to both the west as well as the newly formed state of Israel, however, saw a dramatic fall in the number of Yiddish speakers. This is a trend that has continued until today.

The one possible exception to the sharp decline of Yiddish speakers can be found among in Orthodox Haredi communities largely found in the United States and some European cities. In some communities, Yiddish is spoken at home as well as in school. Hasidic communities of Brooklyn's Borough Park, Williamsburg and Crown Heights reflect a few places in the United States where Yiddish remains strong

Interestingly, while Hebrew remains the language of Jewish prayer, Hasidim have also mixed some Yiddish into their liturgy and have also been responsible for the production of a significant secondary religious literature written in Yiddish.

There are a number of materials available for learning Yiddish. A good Yiddish dictionary is always an option. You may want to also check out the following Yiddish program.

Yiddish Dictionary

While certainly not exhaustive, I hope this free Yiddish dictionary and glossary below will prove help and entertaining:

ABI GEZUNT: (as) long as you're healthy

ALTER COCKER: typically an older and complaining person.

AY-YAY-YAY: A joyous, and at times sarcastic exclamation.

BALABUSTA: The wife of an important person or a domineering woman.

BISSEL: A little bit of something.

BOBBEMYSEH: Old wives' tales.

BOYCHICK: An friendly term for a young boy.

BROCHE: A prayer or blessing.

BUBBA: grandmother.

BUBBALA: A term of endearment, (i.e. dear).

BUPKES: valueless.

CHAYA: An animal.

CHAZEREI: Awful, junk, or garbage.

CHUTZPAH: Nerve; guts, gall

DRECK: "waste"

ESS: Eat.

FERBLUNJIT: Lost or mixed up.

FERCOCKT: All messed up.

FERDRAYT: Dizzy or confused.

FERMISHT: shaken up.

FERSHTAY: interrogative form: Do you understand?

FERSHTINKINER: A scoundrel.

FERTUMMELT: confused.

GAVALT: A cry of fear or a cry for help.

GAY AVEK: Go away

GAY SHLAFEN: Go to sleep.

GELT: Money.

GONIF: A thief.

GOY: A derogatory term meaning gentile - a non Jew

GREPSE: To belch.

GORNISHT: Nothing. It is also used in a sarcastic manner

HAYMISH: Informal, friendly.

HOK A CHAINIK: to talk nonsense.

KIBITZ: To talk.

KISHKA: Intestines or belly.

KLUTZ: An awkward or uncoordinated person.

KOSHER: Refers to food that is prepared in accordance with to Jewish law.

KVELL: To beam with pride and pleasure

KVETCH: To annoy or complain.

LUFTMENSH: A dreamer

LUZZEM: let her or him alone.

MACH SHNEL: Hurry up.

MACHER: An ambitious or well off person; .

MAVEN: An expert or connoisseur.

MAZEL TOV: Good luck or congratulations.

MEESKAIT: A little ugly person or thing.

MEGILLAH: Long, complicated and boring.

MENSCH: A person of character.

MESHUGGE/MESHUGGINA: Crazy

MISHEGOSS: crazy actions or beliefs.

MISHPOCHA: Family

MOMZER: A bastard or an untrustworthy person.

MOYL: The man who ritually circumcises baby boys

NACHES: Joy.

NARRISHKEIT: Foolishness, trivia.

NEBBISH: a loser.

NOODGE: To push

NOSH: To snack.

NU: How are things?

NUDNIK: A pest

ONGEPOTCHKET: Messed up.

OY-YOY-YOY: An exclamation of sorrow

OY VEY: "Oh, how terrible things are"

PISHER: a person of no consequence.

POTCHKA: To fool around.

PUPIK: Belly button.

RACHMONES: Compassion.

SAYKHEL: Common sense.

SCHMALTZ: Literally chicken fat

SHADKHEN: a professional matchmaker.

SHANDA: A shame, a scandal.

SHAYGETS: A gentile boy and man.

SHAYNER: Pretty

SHIKSA: A gentile girl or woman.

SHLEMIEL: A dummy

SHLEP: To carry or to move about

SHLIMAZL: A chronically unlucky person

SHMENDRICK: The opposite of a mensch

SHMEGEGGE: A petty and untalented person.

SHMATTA: A rag

SHMEER: To spread

SHMOOZ: To hang out with, a friendly gossipy talk.

SHMUTZIK: Dirt.

SHNORRER: A moocher

SHNOZ: A Nose

SHTETL: A Jewish village.

SHTIK: A stick or thing. Also refers to an individual's way of presenting themselves.

SHVITZ: To sweat

SPIEL: To play

TCHOTCHKA: An inexpensive trinket or toy.

TSETUMMELT: Confused

TSIMMES: A side dish

TSORISS: Suffering

TSUTCHEPPENISH: Something irritating

TUCHES: Backside

TUMMEL: Noise.

UNGABLUZUM: To look as if a person is going to cry.

VER CLEMPT: All choked up.

VUS MACHS DA: What's happening?

YENTA: typically an older woman who is a busy body.

ZAFTIG: Juicy.

ZIE GA ZINK: to wish someone good health.

ZETZ: A strong blow or punch.

ZEYDE: Grandfather

ZHLUB: An ill-mannered individual.