Yiddishisms

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, is a variant of , and , ).

Many of these words are more common in the American entertainment industry (initially via vaudeville), the Catskills/ Borscht Belt, and New York City English. A number of Yiddish words also entered English via large Jewish communities in Britain, particularly London, where Yiddish has influenced Cockney English.

Background

Yiddish is a Germanic language, originally spoken by Jews in Central and later Eastern Europe, written in the Hebrew alphabet, and containing a substantial substratum of Hebrew words as well as numerous loans from Slavic languages. For that reason, some of the words listed originated in Hebrew or Slavic languages, but have entered English via Yiddish.

Yiddish is closely related to modern German, and many Yiddish words have German cognates; in some cases it is difficult to tell whether a particular word was borrowed from Yiddish or from German. Yiddish is written in the Hebrew alphabet, and Yiddish words may be transliterated into Latin spelling in a variety of ways; the transliterated spelling of Yiddish words and the conventional spelling of German are usually different, but the pronunciations are frequently the same (e.g., in Yiddish is pronounced the same way as in German).

Many of these words have slightly different meanings and usage in English from the Yiddish originals. For example, ''chutzpah'' usually has a negative connotation in Yiddish, meaning improper audacity, while in English it is more positive. In Yiddish, is usually a transitive verb for carrying (or dragging) something else, while the English word, ''schlep'', is also used as an intransitive verb, for dragging oneself, and as a noun for an insignificant person or hanger-on. In Yiddish, means 'slip', while in English, ''glitch'' means malfunction.

List of words

These English words of Yiddish origin, except as noted, are in the online editions of the '' Oxford English Dictionary'' (OED), '' The American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language'' (AHD), or the ''Merriam-Webster'' dictionary (MW). The parentheses-enclosed information at the end of each word's entry starts with the original Yiddish term in Hebrew script, the Latin script transliteration, and the literal English translation (if different from the English definition given earlier). This may be followed by additional relevant languages (mostly Hebrew and German). One or more dictionary references appear at the end.

B

* Bagel: A ring-shaped bread roll made by boiling or steaming, and then baking, the dough (from ; OED
MW
.
* Blintz: A sweet cheese-filled crepe (, from (plural)
AHD
.
* Bris: The circumcision of a male child. (, from ; OED
MW

*Boychik: Boy, young man. (English ''boy'' + Eastern Yiddish: , diminutive suffix (from Slavic)
AHD

*Bupkis (also Bupkes, Bupkus, Bubkis, Bubkes): Emphatically nothing, as in 'He isn't worth bupkis' (; of uncertain origin (OED); perhaps originally meaning ' oatdroppings', from a word meaning 'beans', of Slavic origin)
MW
OED)

C

* Chutzpah : Nerve, gall, guts, balls, daring, self-confidence, audacity, effrontery (, from Hebrew
AHD

D

*Daven: To recite Jewish liturgical prayers (


*Dreck: Worthless, distasteful, or nonsensical material (, from Middle High ; cognate with German:


* Dybbuk: The malevolent spirit of a dead person that enters and controls a living body until exorcised (
AHD

F

*Fleishig: Made with meat (, from , 'meat'; cf. German:
MW

G

*Ganef or Gonif: A thief, scoundrel, rascal (, from Hebrew:


*Gelt : Money in general; also the chocolate coins given to children on Hanukkah (; cognate with German: ; related to 'gold'
AHD

* Glitch: A minor malfunction (, from ; cf. German:
AHD

* Golem: A man-made humanoid; an android, Frankenstein monster (, from Hebrew: ; OED
MW

* Goy: A gentile, term for someone not of the Jewish faith or people (; plural or ; from Hebrew: or , plural of
AHD

H

*Haimish (also Heimish) : Home-like, friendly, folksy (; cf. German:

.

K

*Kibitz : To offer unwanted advice, e.g. to someone playing cards; to converse idly, hence a '' kibitzer'', gossip (; cf. German: , may be related to German: ; OED
MW

* Klutz: A clumsy person (; cf. German: ; OED
MW

* Knish : A doughy snack stuffed with potato, meat, or cheese (, from
MW

*Kosher: Correct according to Jewish law, normally used in reference to Jewish dietary laws; (slang) appropriate, legitimate (originally from
AHD

*Kvell: To express great pleasure combined with pride (, from an old Germanic word; cognate with German: ; OED
MW

* Kvetch : to complain habitually, gripe; as a noun, a person who always complains (; cognate with German: ; OED
MW
There is also a connection to the Hebrew and Aramaic radix "k.w.z", meaning "squeeze".

L

* Latke : Potato pancake, especially during Hanukkah (, from or
AHD

*Litvak: A Lithuanian Jew (; OED)
* Lox: Cured salmon, sometimes referred to as Nova, often used loosely to refer to smoked salmon (; cf. German: ; OED
MW

M

* Mamzer: Bastard (from Yiddish/Hebrew: ; OED)
* Maven: Expert, aficionado (, from Hebrew: ; OED
MW

* Mazel tov, also Mazal tov: Congratulations! (, from Hebrew : or 'luck' + ; OED
MW:Hebrew

*Megillah: A tediously detailed discourse (, from ; OED
MW
. Usually used in American English as "the whole Megillah" meaning an overly extended explanation or story.
* Mensch: An upright person; a decent human being (; cognate with German: ; OED
MW

*Meshuga, also Meshugge, Meshugah, Meshuggah : Crazy (, from Hebrew: ; OED
MW
. Also used as the nouns meshuggener and meshuggeneh for a crazy man and woman, respectively.
*Meshugaas, also Mishegaas or Mishegoss : Crazy or senseless activity or behavior; craziness (, from Hebrew: , a form of the above; OED


*Milchig: made with milk (, from ; cf. German:
MW

*Minyan: The quorum of ten adult (i.e., age 13 or older) Jews that is necessary for the holding of a public worship service; in Orthodox Judaism ten adult males are required, while in Conservative and Reform Judaism ten adults of either sex are required. (, from Hebrew: ; OED)
*Mishpocha : relative or extended family member (, from Hebrew: ; OED)

N

*Naches : The feeling of pride and/or gratification in 1: the achievements of another; 2. one's own doing good by helping someone or some organization (, from Hebrew: ; OED)
*Narrischkeit : Foolishness, nonsense (, from + ; cf. German: ; OED)
*Nebbish, also Nebbich: An insignificant, pitiful person; a nonentity (from interjection , perhaps from Czech ''nebohý'' or other Slavic source; OED
MW

*Noodge, also Nudzh: To pester, nag, whine; as a noun, a pest, whiner, or anxious person (, from Polish ''nudzić'' 'to bore' or Russian ''nudit''' 'to wear out'; OED)
*Nosh: Snack (noun or verb) (; cf. German: ; OED
MW

*Nu: A multipurpose interjection analogous to "well?", "so?", or "so what?" (, perhaps akin to Russian: ; OED)
*Nudnik: A pest, "pain in the neck"; a bore (, from the above ; cf. Polish: ; OED
MW

O

*Oy or Oy vey: An interjection of grief, pain, or horror ( or 'oh, woe!'; cf. German: ; OED)

P

* Pareve : Containing neither meat nor dairy products (; OED
MW

*Pisher: a nobody, an inexperienced person (, from ; cf. German: or dialectal German: ; OED)
*Potch also Petch: Spank, slap, smack (; cf. German: ; OED)
*Plotz: To burst from strong emotion; often used humorously to express minor shock or disappointment (; cf. German: ; OED)
*Putz: (vulgar) A penis, term used as an insult (

. Also an insignificant person, incompetent, or loser. As a verb, to idle, bodge, goof off.

S

* Schav: A chilled soup made of sorrel. (, from Polish:
AHD

* Schlemiel : An inept clumsy person; a bungler; a dolt ( or , probably from the Hebrew name ''Shelumiel''; OED) The word is widely recognized from its inclusion in the Yiddish-American hopscotch chant from the opening sequence of the American sitcom ''Laverne & Shirley''.
*Schlep: To drag or haul (an object); to walk, esp. to make a tedious journey (; cf. German: ; OED
MW
. Also a noun, a lackie, hanger-on, or loser.
*Schlimazel also Schlemazl: A chronically unlucky person (, from [ Middle Dutch: or Middle High German: or ] + Hebrew:; cf. German: ; OED). The difference between a ''schlemiel'' and a ''schlimazel'' is described through the aphorism, "The ''schlemiel'' spills his soup on the ''schlimazel''."
* Schlock: something cheap, shoddy, or inferior (perhaps from ; cf. German: ; OED
MW

*Schlong: (vulgar) A penis (; cf. German: ; OED)
*Schlub: A clumsy, stupid, or unattractive person (, perhaps from Polish: ; OED
MW

* Schmaltz: Melted chicken fat; excessive sentimentality ( or German: ; OED
MW

*Schmatte: A rag (, from Polish: ; OED)
*Schmeer also schmear: from Polish 'smarowac' to smear, to spread, coll. to bribe; (noun or verb) Spread (e.g., cream cheese on a bagel); bribe (; cf. German: ; OED
MW

*Schmo: A stupid person (akin to '' schmuck'' according t
AHD
but disputed by OED)
*Schmooze: To converse informally, make small talk or chat (, from Hebrew: ; OED
MW
. To persuade in insincere or oily fashion; to "lay it on thick". Noun: schmoozer, abbr. schmooze.
* Schmuck: (vulgar) A contemptible or foolish person; a jerk; (, probably from Old Polish
MWEO

*Schmutter: Pieces of clothing; rubbish (; cf. schmatte; OED)
* Schmutz : Dirt ( or German: ; OED)
* Schnook: An easily imposed-upon or cheated person, a pitifully meek person, a particularly gullible person, a cute or mischievous person or child (perhaps from ; cf. Northern German: ; OED)
*Schnorrer: beggar, esp. "one who wheedles others into supplying his wants" (; cf. German: ; OED
MW

*Schnoz or Schnozz also Schnozzle: A nose, especially a large nose (perhaps from ; cf. German: ; OED
MW

*Schvartze: (offensive) A Black person (from ; cf. German: ; OED)
*Shabbos, Shabbas, Shabbes: Shabbat (, from Hebrew:
AHD

*Shammes or Shamash : The caretaker of a synagogue; also, the ninth candle of the Hanukkah menorah, used to light the others (, from Hebrew: ; OED
MW

*Shamus: a detective (possibly or the Irish name ''Seamus''; OED, Macquarie)
* Shegetz: (derogatory) a young non-Jewish man ( or , from Hebrew:
AHD

*Shemozzle: (slang) Quarrel, brawl (perhaps related to ''schlimazel'', q.v.; OED). This word is commonly used in Ireland to describe confused situations during the Irish sport of hurling, e.g. 'There was a shemozzle near the goalmouth'. In particular, it was a catchphrase of 1940s-1980s television commentator Michael O'Hehir.
*Shikker, Shicker, Shickered: Drunk (adjective or noun) (, from Hebrew: ; OED)
* Shiksa or Shikse : (often derogatory) A young non-Jewish woman (, a derivative of ''sheygets'', from Polish:
AHD

*Shmendrik or Shmendrick: A foolish or contemptible person (from a character in an operetta by Abraham Goldfaden; OED)
* Shtetl: A small town with a large Jewish population in pre- Holocaust Eastern Europe (, diminutive of ; cf. German: , South German / Austrian colloquial diminutive of
AHD

*Shtibl: A small synagogue or place of prayer (; cf. German: ; OED)
*Shtick: Comic theme; a defining habit or distinguishing feature or business (; cf. German:
AHD

*Shtum: Quiet, silent (; cf. German: ); OED)
*Shtup: (vulgar slang) To have sexual intercourse (; cf. German: ; OED)
*Shul: a synagogue (, from Middle High German: ; cf. German:
MW

*Shvitz: to sweat (v.), a sauna or steam bath (n.) (; cf. German: ; OED)
*Spiel or Shpiel: A sales pitch or speech intended to persuade ( or German:

T

* Tchotchke: A knickknack, trinket, curio (, , from Polish: ; OED
MW

*Tref or Trayf or Traif : Not kosher (, from Hebrew:
AHD

*Tsuris : Troubles, grief (, Carr, David
"Abramson’s Exit at ''The Times'' Puts Tensions on Display"
'' The New York Times'', 18 May 2014. Retrieved 2014-05-19. from Hebrew:
AHD

*TuchusMottel Baleston

''The Messianic Association'' website Jeffrey Goldberg
"Words That The New York Times Will Not Print"
'' The Atlantic'', 2010-06-09. "'Joe Lieberman is too polite to complain, but the Gore questions are getting to be a pain in the tuchis.' ... Though Leibovich's copy editors allowed ''tuchus'' to be spelled incorrectly, the ''Washington Post'' is obviously more tolerant of Jewish flamboyance ..." (also Tuches, Tuchis, Tukus, or Tukhus) : The buttocks, bottom, rear end (, from Hebrew: ; OED)
*Tummler: An entertainer or master of ceremonies, especially one who encourages audience interaction (, from ; cf. German: or 'cavort'; OED
MW

*Tush (also Tushy): The buttocks, bottom, rear end (; cf. tuchus; OED
MW


* Tzimmes: A sweet stew of vegetables and fruit; a fuss, a confused affair, a to-do (; OED
MW

V

* Vigorish (also contraction Vig): That portion of the gambling winnings held by the bookmaker as payment for services (, from Russian: ; OED)
*Verklempt: Choked with emotion (, originally 'pressed, gripped'; cf. German: ''verklemmt'' meaning 'uptight
MW

Y

* Yarmulke: A round cloth skullcap worn by observant Jewish men (, possibly from Polish: and Ukrainian: , possibly from ; see yarmulke; OED
MW

* Yekke: (mildly derogatory) A German Jew; Its most common usage derives from the British Mandate period to describe Fifth Aliyah German Jews, who were perceived to be more formal in dress and manners. (; cf. German: ; OED)
* Yenta: A talkative woman; a gossip; a scold (, from a given name; OED
MW
Yentl, such a girl.
*Yiddish: The Yiddish language (; cf. German:
AHD

*Yontef also Yom Tov: A Jewish holiday on which work is forbidden, e.g. Rosh Hashanah, Yom Kippur, Pesach (, from Hebrew: ; OED)
*Yutz: A fool (, perhaps derived from '' putz''
NPD

Z

*Zaftig, also Zaftik : Pleasingly plump, buxom, full-figured, as a woman (; cf. German: ; OED
MW

See also

* List of English words of Hebrew origin
* List of German expressions in English
* Lists of English words by country or language of origin
* Yeshivish
* Yiddish words used in English
* Yinglish

Notes

External links

"How to Speak Recording Studio Yiddish"
Henry Engineering

John J. Parsons, Hebrew for Christians

{{English words of foreign origin

Judeo-English languages
Yiddish
List of words

Lists of loanwords of Germanic origin