A Taste of Yiddish

While Sephardic Jews are known for Ladino, a mix of Spanish and HEbrew, Ashkenazi Jews are known for their language, Yiddish, which goes back to the 10th or 11th century in the Rhineland. It spread to central and Eastern Europe, and then to America and anywhere Ashkenazi Jews have settled. Besides Hebrew and German, Yiddish also borrows words from both Russian and Polish.

Today it’s called “Mame-loshen” which literally means “mother-tongue”, as opposed to “LASHON KODESH” (or LOSHEN KOYDESH) – the “Holy Tongue”. “LASHON” is the Hebrew word for “tongue” or “language”. “MAME” is obviously a cognate for “MAMA” or “Mother”. Yiddish is written in Hebrew letters.

The English language has absorbed dozens of Hebrew and Yiddish words into the English language. For example, shlep (carry something burdensome), shalom (peace/hello), and shnook (a dolt).

Now, let’s learn some of the more interesting Yiddish words and phrases. Es macht mir nit oys – It doesn’t matter to me. A foigel is a smart guy, but a foiler is a lazy man.

Other words are specific to the Jewish religion. For example, Bentshen Lecht” means to recite blessings over lit candles. “Milchiks” refers to dairy foods and cooking utensils (as observant Jews don’t meat from milk together). On the other hand, “flaishik” means “meet” foods. To remember these two words, think of the English words “milk” and “flesh”.

Some words are specific to Judaism, “Milchiks” (similar to our word “milk”) refers to dairy foods and cooking utensils (as Jews separate meat from milk). On the other hand, “flaishik” means “meet” foods (compare to the English word “flesh”). A “pushkeh” is a charity box used to collect money.

The word “NIT” is a cognate of our word “NOT”. “Nit gidacht!” means “It shouldn’t happen”. “Nit heint, nit morgen!” means “not today, and not tomorrow.” Simlary, “NISHT” is another word that means “no” or “not”, as in “Nisht Naitik” (not necessary).

To me, phrases that start with “SH” and another consonant are interesting. For example “Shmo” is a naive person. Perhaps this come from the hebrew word “SHEM” (name) or “SHEMO” (his name). “Shmuts” means dirt, and “shmutzik” therefore means “dirty”. A “shnook” is a dolt, and a “shnorrer” is a moocher. A “shlimzael” is a person without “mazal” (luck), thus an “unlucky person”.

Finally, here are a few “Z” words. “Zaft” means “juice”. “Zaftik” literally means “juicky”, but figuratively refers tp a pleasantly plump and pretty woman. “Zaier shain gezogt” means “well said” (literally “very well said”). “Zorg zich nit!” translates to “Don’t worry!”.

Neal Walters offers Yiddish and Hebrew products at his Hebrew tutorials website.