What is Yiddish?

One of the many things I learned during my residency here at THD now for over a year, are Yiddish words I have never heard before. THD have a few residents whose parents and grandparents spoke Yiddish, so they know Yiddish.  During our conversation at Bridge Games, I would hear a Yiddish word I have never heard before, thus aroused my curiosity and this posting.  

What is Yiddish, watch this video!https://youtu.be/DZa3rHXy0b8

In the bottom of the page are twenty-two popular yiddish words most of you probably already know.    Here are six examples. 

Bissel (bisl)— A little bit, as in “I just want to eat a bissel right now.”

Bubbe (bubby) — Grandmother

Chutzpah —Nerve, extreme arrogance, brazen presumption, confidence, as in “It took real  for him to ask for a raise when he kept showing up late for every appointment.”

 — To pray

Klutz — A clumsy person

Kvell — To experience pride in someone else, typically one’s children, as in “David decided to go into oncology, and I’m just kvelling.”

I have used chutzpah and klutz in my blogs, but not too often. 

For the remaining 18 other words visit the website below: 

https://www.myjewishlearning.com/article/yiddish-words/

Here are some more yiddish words worth knowing (using the colloquial translation, not the literal). 

• zei gesundt == for your good health
• mazel tov == congratulations (technically this is a Hebrew phrase, not yiddish)
• schlep == lug around
• schep nachas == derive a sense of pride in someone else's accomplishment
• mentchlichkeit == personal refinement, dignity, chivalry
• oy gevalt == oh great! (usually in the negative -- as in oh terrible.)
• chutzpah == nerve or brazen and unbecomingly bold behavior
• kibitz, schmooz == chatyente == talkative woman, gossip
• nosh == to graze or eat, junk food
• chotchkes == kniknaks
• tuchas == rear end
• tzoros == problems, anxiety
• shpiel == a play, skit, or act.
• shnohr == beg, mooch
• kvetch == complain
• gornish == nothing
• bissle, kliene == little, small
• scheine == pretty

Yiddish is very expressive language full of colorful and cultural idioms, mainly those from a time mostly lost. It is a language pidgin that is derived from German and Hebrew -- and depending on the style might also have influences of Polish, Lithuanian, and Aramaic.

Meanwhile here's a photo of a dual-shade pink rose in my apartment for your viewing pleasure.

Good Day to All!