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Yiddish
Yiddish is the "Patois" of languages of every eastern European country with any significant Jewish population during the past 600 years. Dormant for a while after the great Jewish migrations of the early 20th Century and the mass exterminations of the 1930s and 40s, it's experiencing a resurgence today.
879 Questions
What does the yiddish name Elka mean?
A pet form of Alice and Alexandra.
Here are their meanings:
Alice: "Of Noble Birth" Hebrew Eqivalent - Malka
Alexandra: "Protector of Women" Hebrew Equivalent - Aleksondra
How do you say stuff in Yiddish?
To say something in Yiddish, you would use the Yiddish language. Yiddish is a Germanic-based language spoken by Ashkenazi Jews and has its own unique vocabulary, grammar, and pronunciation. You can find resources online or take classes to learn how to speak in Yiddish.
How do you say grandchild in yiddish?
In Yiddish, grandchild is "enkel" for a granddaughter and "gende" for a grandson.
What is the Yiddish translation of 'de nada'?
The Yiddish translation of 'de nada' is 'פֿאַרנישט' (farnisht).
For Jews from central and eastern Europe Yiddish was a common language in addition to any local tongue. Today few speak it but for a few phrases or words. If you need a translator and are in NY try the Daily Forward newspaper people as that was a Yiddish language paper for years (and still is). If you're outside NY then depending where you are you can still try them or three bets are a college where Yiddish is studied, a "Talmud Torah" school, or a local synagogue may know who among the congregation still knows the language.
Yiddish words which have become English include: bagel (a bread roll in the shape of a doughnut), bris (circumcision of a boy), boychick (young man), bubkes (nothing), chutzpah (nerve), gelt (money), glitch (malfunction), golem (a man-made monster), goy (a gentile), kibitz (to gossip or bore someone), klutz (clumsy person), mazel Tov! (congratulations), nosh (snack), oy (interjection of pain or horror), schmaltz (chicken fat-and as a result, sickening stuff), schmo or schmuck (stupid person), schmutter (rags or clothes), speil (sales pitch), tush (backside), zaftig (plump or chubby {females})
Many older Jews, Rabbis and Chassidim speak Yiddish.
What is the yiddish word for grandchildren?
The Yiddish word for grandchildren is "קינדער" (kinders).
What does schnorer mean in English?
"Schnorer" is a Yiddish term that refers to a person who habitually borrows or freeloads off of others. It can be used in a pejorative sense to describe someone who is always seeking handouts or assistance without reciprocating.
How do you say grandparents in yiddish?
In Yiddish, grandparents are referred to as "bube" for grandmother and "zayde" for grandfather.
"A goy zugt a vertl" is a yiddish phrase meaning "As the peasant says"
First, the definition of the word goy. The literal meaning of the word 'goy' is nation. However, in modern Hebrew and in Yiddish, the word goy refers to anyone non-Jewish.
When someone uses the word 'goyish', they are referring to a cultural practice of a non-Jewish group that wouldn't be repeated by a Jew. An example would be:
"Putting butter on a corned beef sandwich is goyish".
Simply put, due to the Jewish dietary laws, a Jew couldn't imagine putting butter on a meat sandwich.
What Jewish penicillin is also called yoich or yuch in Yiddish?
Chicken soup is the Jewish penicillin called yoich or yuch in Yiddish. It is a traditional remedy for colds and illnesses in Jewish culture.
What is the Yiddish word for great-grandfather?
The Yiddish word for great-grandfather is "גרויספאָפֿער" (groysfoper).
How do you say smart in Yiddish?
The word for "smart" in Yiddish is "כלעוו" (klev). It can be used to describe someone who is clever, intelligent, or sharp.
How do you translate grandpa into Yiddish?
The Hebrew for 'grandfather' is "SAH-bah", and has come into wider use in recent decades. The corresponding term for 'grandmother' is "SAHV-tah".
Earlier, and still widely taught to children among Ashkenazic Jews, is the name "ZAY-deh" or "ZAY-dee" for 'grandfather'. The other half is "BAW-bee" for 'grandmother'. Both words come from the Russian.
What is yiddish slang meaning riches?
The Yiddish slang term for riches is "gelt." It is often used to refer to money or wealth in a colloquial way.
