Saturday, August 31, 2024

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!

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