List of English words of Yiddish origin

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 words in this list may be variable (for example, Template:Transliteration is a variant of Template:Transliteration, and Template:Transliteration, Template:Transliteration).

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., Template:Langx in Yiddish is pronounced the same way as Template:Langx in German).

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.

File:Chocolate-Gold-Coins.jpg

Gelt

File:Lower East Side - Schimmel Knish 2.jpg

Knish, a baked snack, commonly filled with potato

File:Latkes.jpg

Latkes, potato pancakes

A

• alter kacker or alte kacker (Yid. ): literally "old crapper". Sometimes abbreviated as AK or A.K. ([1]); equivalent to English "old fart".

B

• Bagel: A ring-shaped bread roll made by boiling or steaming, and then baking, the dough (from Template:Langx, from Old High German boug with diminutive -el suffix; OED, MW).
• Balabusta, balabosta, balebosta (Yid. ): a Jewish mistress of the house; usually applied with positive connotations MW).
• Blintz: A sweet cheese-filled crepe (Template:Langx, from Template:Langx (plural); AHD).
• Bris: The circumcision of a male child. (Template:Langx, from Template:Langx; OED, MW)
• broigus (Yid. broygez): (n) a bitter feud of anger; (adj.) angry, irritated; from Hebrew (berogez, "angry") (OED)
• Boychik: Boy, young man. (English boy + Eastern Yiddish: Template:Langx, diminutive suffix (from Slavic); AHD)
• bubbeh, bubbe (Yid. ): grandmother; elderly woman (OED)
• bubbeleh (Yid. ): a term of endearment; esp. for a young boy-child or elderly relative (OED)
• Bupkis (also Bupkes, Bupkus, Bubkis, Bubkes): Emphatically nothing, as in 'He isn't worth bupkis' (Template:Langx; of uncertain origin (OED); perhaps originally meaning '[goat] droppings', from a word meaning 'beans', of Slavic origin) (MW, OED)

C

• cholent, cholnt, tcholent, etc. (Yid. tsholnt): traditional slow-simmering Sabbath stew prepared overnight (OED, AHD, MW)
• Chutzpah Template:IPAc-en: Nerve, gall, guts, balls, daring, self-confidence, audacity, effrontery (Template:Langx, from Hebrew; AHD)

D

• Daven: To recite Jewish liturgical prayers (Template:Langx; AHD)
• Dreck, drek: Worthless, distasteful, or nonsensical material (Template:Langx, from Middle High Template:Langx; cognate with German: Template:Langx; AHD, MW)
• Dybbuk: The malevolent spirit of a dead person that enters and controls a living body until exorcised (Template:Langx; AHD)
• Dreidel: Template:Langx, a four-sided spinning top (OED)

F

• Fleishig: Made with meat or poultry (Template:Langx, from Template:Transliteration, 'meat'; cf. German: Template:Langx; MW) Usually it is used to denote a class of kosher products.
• frum (Yid. ): adjective; religious, observant of Judaism laws (cf. German "Fromm" = pious) (OED)

G

• Ganef or Gonif: A thief, scoundrel, rascal (Template:Langx, from Hebrew: Template:Langx; AHD)
• Gelt Template:IPAc-en: Money in general; also the chocolate coins given to children on Hanukkah (Template:Langx; cognate with German: Template:Langx; related to 'gold'; AHD, MW)
• Glitch: A minor malfunction (Template:Langx, from Template:Langx; cf. German: Template:Langx; AHD)
• Golem: A man-made humanoid; an android, Frankenstein monster (Template:Langx, from Hebrew: Template:Langx; OED, MW)
• Goy: A gentile, term for someone not of the Jewish faith or people (Template:Langx; plural Template:Langx or Template:Langx; from Hebrew: Template:Langx or Template:Langx, plural of Template:Langx; AHD)

H

• Haimish (also Heimish) Template:IPAc-en: Home-like, friendly, folksy (Template:Langx; cf. German: Template:Langx; AHD).

K

• Kasha: buckwheat porridge or grains (prefabricated for a porridge). Originally a Slavic term, it probably entered into English usage with Jewish emigrants, especially the form kashi (Slavic plural for "kasha").
• Kibitz Template:IPAc-en: To offer unwanted advice, e.g. to someone playing cards; to converse idly, hence a kibitzer, gossip (Template:Langx; cf. German: Template:Langx, may be related to German: Template:Langx; OED, MW)
• Klezmer, instrumental musical tradition of the Ashkenazi Jews of Central and Eastern Europe (OED)
• Klutz: A clumsy person (Template:Langx; cf. German: Template:Langx; OED, MW, AHD)
• Knish Template:IPAc-en: A doughy snack stuffed with potato, meat, or cheese (Template:Langx, from Template:Langx; MW, AHD)
• Kosher: Correct according to Jewish law, normally used in reference to Jewish dietary laws; (slang) appropriate, legitimate (originally from Template:Langx; AHD)
• kishke (Yid. ): A kind of sausage stuffed with finely chopped potatoes, carrots, onions, spices, etc., rather than meat; in the plural kishkes, the abdomen (MW OED) (AHD)
• kugel (Yid. ): a casserole or pudding, usually made from egg noodles or potatoes (AHD)
• Kvell: To express great pleasure combined with pride (Template:Langx, from an old Germanic word; cognate with German: Template:Langx; OED, MW)
• Kvetch Template:IPAc-en: to complain habitually, gripe; as a noun, a person who always complains (Template:Langx; cognate with German: Template:Langx; OED, MW) There is also a connectionTemplate:Vague to the Hebrew and Aramaic radix "k.w.z",Template:Clarify meaning "squeeze".

L

• Latke Template:IPAc-en: Potato pancake, especially during Hanukkah (Template:Langx, from Template:Langx or Template:Langx; AHD)
• Litvak: A Lithuanian Jew or a dialect of Yiddish used by Lithuanian Jews (Template:Langx; OED)
• Lox: Cured salmon, sometimes referred to as Nova, often used loosely to refer to smoked salmon (Template:Langx; cf. German: Template:Langx; OED, MW)

M

• mama-loshen / mame-loshen / mame-loshn (Yid. ): one's first or native language, from Yiddish mama (mother) plus Hebrew lashon, tongue or language; usually meaning "Yiddish" (OED)
• Mamzer: Bastard (from Yiddish/Hebrew: Template:Langx; OED)
• Maven: Expert, aficionado (Template:Langx, from Hebrew: Template:Langx; OED, MW, AHD)
• Mazel tov, also Mazal tov: Congratulations! (Template:Langx, from Hebrew Template:Langx: Template:Langx or 'luck' + Template:Langx; OED)
• Megillah: A tediously detailed discourse (Template:Langx, from Hebrew Template:Langx; 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 (Template:Langx; cognate with German: Template:Langx; OED, MW)
• Meshuga, also Meshugge, Meshugah, Meshuggah Template:IPAc-en: Crazy (Template:Langx, from Hebrew: Template:Langx; OED, MW). Also used as the nouns meshuggener and meshuggeneh for a crazy man and woman, respectively.
• Meshugaas, also Mishegaas or Mishegoss Template:IPAc-en: Crazy or senseless activity or behavior; craziness (Template:Langx, from Hebrew: Template:Langx, a form of the above; OED, AHD)
• Milchig: made with milk or dairy products (Template:Langx, from Template:Langx; cf. German: Template:Langx; MW) Usually it is used to denote a class of kosher products.
• 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. (Template:Langx, from Hebrew: Template:Langx; OED)
• Mishpocha Template:IPAc-en: relative or extended family member (Template:Langx, from Hebrew: Template:Langx; OED)

N

• Naches Template:IPAc-en: 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 (Template:Langx, from Hebrew: Template:Langx; OED)
• Narrischkeit Template:IPAc-en: Foolishness, nonsense (Template:Langx, from Template:Langx + Template:Langx; cf. German: Template:Langx; OED)
• Nebbish, also Nebbich: An insignificant, pitiful person; a nonentity (from interjection Template:Langx, 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 (Template:Langx, from Polish nudzić 'to bore' or Russian nudit' 'to wear out'; OED)
• Nosh: Snack (noun or verb) (Template:Langx; cf. German: Template:Langx; OED, MW)
• Nu: A multipurpose interjection analogous to "well?", "so?", or "so what?" (Template:Langx, perhaps akin to Russian: Template:Langx; OED)
• Nudnik: A pest, "pain in the neck"; a bore (Template:Langx, from the above Template:Langx; cf. Polish or Russian: Template:Langx; OED, MW)

O

• Oy, Oy vey: Interjections of grief, pain, or horror (Template:Langx or 'oh, woe!'; cf. German: Template:Langx; OED; AHD)

P

• Pareve / parve Template:IPAc-en: Containing neither meat nor dairy products (Template:Langx; OED, MW) Usually it is used to denote a class of kosher products.
• Pisher: a nobody, an inexperienced person (Template:Langx, from Template:Langx; cf. German: Template:Langx or dialectal German: Template:Langx; OED)
• Potch also Petch: Spank, slap, smack (Template:Langx; cf. German: Template:Langx; OED)
• Plotz: To burst from strong emotion; often used humorously to express minor shock or disappointment (Template:Langx; cf. German: Template:Langx; OED)
• punim: the face (Yiddish ponem, from Hebrew panim) (OED AHD)
• Putz: (vulgar) A penis, term used as an insult (Template:Langx; AHD). Also an insignificant person, incompetent, or loser. As a verb, to idle, bodge, goof off.

S

• Schav: Sorrel soup. (Template:Langx, from Polish: Template:Langx; AHD)
• Schlemiel Template:IPAc-en: An inept clumsy person; a bungler; a dolt (Template:Langx or Template:Langx, probably from the Hebrew name Shelumiel; OED) The word is widely recognized from its inclusion in the Yiddish-American hopscotch chant "...schlemiel, schlimazel..." 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 (Template:Langx; cf. German: Template:Langx; OED, MW). Also a noun, a lackey, hanger-on, or loser.
• Schlimazel also Schlemazl: A chronically unlucky person (Template:Langx, from [Middle Dutch: Template:Langx or Middle High German: Template:Langx or Template:Langx] + Hebrew: Template:Langx; cf. German: Template:Langx; 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 Template:Langx; cf. German: Template:Langx; OED, MW)
• Schlong: (vulgar) A penis (Template:Langx; cf. German: Template:Langx; OED)
• Schlub: A clumsy, stupid, or unattractive person (Template:Langx, perhaps from Polish: Template:Langx; OED, MW)
• Schmaltz: Melted chicken fat; metaphorically, excessive sentimentality (Template:Langx or German: Template:Langx; OED, MW, AHD); adjective: schmaltzy
• Schmatte: A rag (Template:Langx, from Polish: Template:Langx; 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 (Template:Langx; cf. German: Template:Langx; OED, MW)
• Schmo: A stupid person (akin to schmuck according to AHD, but disputed by OED)
• Schmooze: To converse informally, make small talk or chat (Template:Langx, from Hebrew: Template:Langx; 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; (Template:Langx, probably from Old Polish Template:Langx; MW, EO)
• Schmutter: Pieces of clothing; rubbish (Template:Langx; cf. schmatte; OED)
• Schmutz Template:IPAc-en: Dirt (Template:Langx or German: Template:Langx; OED)
• Schnook: An easily imposed-upon or easily cheated person, a pitifully meek person, a particularly gullible person, a cute or mischievous person or child (perhaps from Template:Langx; cf. Northern German: Template:Langx; OED)
• Schnorrer: beggar, esp. "one who wheedles others into supplying his wants" (Template:Langx; cf. German: Template:Langx; OED, MW)
• Schnoz or Schnozz also Schnozzle: A nose, especially a large nose (perhaps from Template:Langx; cf. German: Template:Langx; OED, MW)
• Schvartze: (offensive) A Black person (from Template:Langx; cf. German: Template:Langx; OED)
• Shabbos, Shabbas, Shabbes: Shabbat (Template:Langx, from Hebrew: Template:Langx; AHD)
• Shammes or Shamash Template:IPAc-en: The caretaker of a synagogue; also, the ninth candle of the Hanukkah menorah, used to light the others (Template:Langx, from Hebrew: Template:Langx; OED, MW)
• Shamus: a detective (possibly Template:Langx or the Irish name Seamus; OED, Macquarie)
• Shegetz: (derogatory) a young non-Jewish man (Template:Langx or Template:Langx, from Hebrew: Template:Langx; 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) (Template:Langx, from Hebrew: Template:Langx; OED)
• Shiksa or Shikse Template:IPAc-en: (often derogatory) A young non-Jewish woman (Template:Langx, a derivative of sheygets, from Polish: Template:Langx; 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 (Template:Langx, diminutive of Template:Langx; cf. German: Template:Langx, South German / Austrian colloquial diminutive of Template:Langx; AHD)
• Shtibl: A small synagogue or place of prayer (Template:Langx; cf. German: Template:Langx; OED)
• Shtick: Comic theme; a defining habit or distinguishing feature or business (Template:Langx; cf. German: Template:Langx; AHD)
• Shtum: Quiet, silent (Template:Langx; cf. German: Template:Langx); OED)
• Shtup: (vulgar slang) To have sexual intercourse (Template:Langx; cf. German: Template:Langx; OED)
• Shul: a synagogue (Template:Langx, from Middle High German: Template:Langx; cf. German: Template:Langx; MW)
• Shvitz: to sweat (v.), a sauna or steam bath (n.) (Template:Langx; cf. German: Template:Langx; OED)
• Spiel or Shpiel: A sales pitch or speech intended to persuade (Template:Langx or German: Template:Langx; AHD)

T

• Tchotchke: A knickknack, trinket, curio (Template:Langx, Template:Langx, from Polish: Template:Langx; OED, MW)
• Tref or Trayf or Traif Template:IPAc-en: Not kosher (Template:Langx, from Hebrew: Template:Langx; AHD)
• Tsuris Template:IPAc-en: Troubles, grief (Template:Langx, from Hebrew: Template:Langx; OED, MW, AHD)
• Tuchus (also tuches, tuchis, tukus, tuchas, or tukhus) Template:IPAc-en: The buttocks, bottom, rear end (Template:Langx, from Hebrew: Template:Langx; OED).
• Tummler: An entertainer or master of ceremonies, especially one who encourages audience interaction (Template:Langx, from Template:Langx; cf. German: Template:Langx or 'cavort'; OED, MW)
• Tush (also Tushy): The buttocks, bottom, rear end (Template:Langx; cf. tuchus; OED, MW)
• Tzimmes: A sweet stew of vegetables and fruit; a fuss, a confused affair, a to-do (Template:Langx; OED, MW)

File:TzimmesS.jpg

Carrot tzimmes with honey

V

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

Y

File:Casamento judeu1.jpg

Yarmulke

• Yarmulke: A round cloth skullcap worn by observant Jewish men (Template:Langx, possibly from Polish: Template:Langx and Ukrainian: Template:Langx, possibly from Template:Langx; see yarmulke; OED, MW)
• Yekke: (humorous, 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. (Template:Langx; cf. German: Template:Langx; OED)
• Yenta (variants: yente, yentl): A talkative woman; a gossip; a scold (Template:Langx, from a given name; OED, MW)
• Yiddish: The Yiddish language (Template:Langx; cf. German: Template:Langx; AHD)
• Yontef also Yom Tov: A Jewish holiday on which work is forbidden, e.g. Rosh Hashanah, Yom Kippur, Pesach (Template:Langx, from Hebrew: Template:Langx; OED)
• Yutz: A fool (Template:Langx, perhaps derived from putz; NPD, AHD)

Z

• Zaftig, also Zaftik Template:IPAc-en: Pleasingly plump, buxom, full-figured, as a woman (Template:Langx; cf. German: Template:Langx; OED, MW)
• Zayde (Yid. zeyde): grandfather, old man, often a term of respect or endearment (OED)

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
• Shm-reduplication, an English-language reduplication of Yiddish origin

Notes

Template:English words of foreign origin