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Glossary of Yiddish Words and Phrases A B C D E F G H I K L M N O P R S T U V Y Z Note on spelling and pronunciation |
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| A | |
| A bisel | A little |
| A biseleh | A very little |
| A breyre hob ich | I have no alternative |
| A breyte deye hob'n | To do all the talking (to have the greatest voice or authority) |
| A brokh | Oh, hell. Damn it. A curse. |
| A brokh tsu dayn lebn | Your life should be a disaster (lit., a curse on your life) |
| A brokh tsu dir | A curse on you! |
| A brokheh | A blessing |
| A chazer bleibt a chazer | A pig remains a pig |
| A choleryeh (chaleyre/khaleryeh) ahf dir | A plague on you! (lit., cholera on you) |
| A chorbn | Disaster! (expletive) |
| A deigeh hob ich | I don't care. I should worry. |
| A farshlepteh krenk | A chronic ailment |
| A feier zol im trefen | He should burn up! (lit., a fire should meet him) |
| A finstere cholem auf dein kopf und auf dein hent und fiss | You should have a nightmare! (lit., a dark dream on your head and on your hands and feet) |
| A foiler tut in tsveyen | A lazy person has to do a task twice |
| A gesheft hob nicht | I don't care |
| A gezunt ahf dein kop | Good health to you (lit., good health on your head) |
| A glick ahf dir | 1. Good luck to you; 2. big deal! (sarcastically) (lit., a piece of luck on you) |
| A glick hot dich getrofen | Big deal! (sarcastically) (lit., a piece of luck happened to you) |
| A gliklekhn nay-yor | Happy new year! |
| A groysen dank dir | Huge thanks to you |
| A groyser kunst | Big deal! (lit., a big art) |
| A groyser tsuleyger | A big shot (sarcastically) |
| A grubber yung | A coarse young man |
| A kappore | A catastrophe |
| A khaleryeh (chaleyre) ahf dir | A plague on you! (lit., cholera on you) |
| A khasuren die kalleh is tsu shayn | A fault that the bride is too beautiful |
| A klog iz mir | Woe is me! |
| A klog tsu meineh somin | A curse on my enemies. |
| A kop oif di plaitses | Good, common sense (lit., A head on the shoulders) |
| A langer lucksh | A tall person (lit., a long noodle) |
| A lebedikeh velt | A lively world |
| A lebediker | A lively person |
| A leben ahf dein kepele | Words of praise: Well said! Well done! You are so smart! (affectionately) (lit., a life on your head) |
| A leben ahf dir | You should live! And be well! |
| A lung un leber oyf der noz | Stop talking yourself into illness (lit., a lung and a liver on the nose) |
| A maidel mit a klaidel | A cutie-pie showing off her (new) dress. |
| A maidel mit a vayndel | A pony-tailed cutie-pie. |
| A mentsh on glik is a toyter mensh | An unlucky person is a dead person. |
| A mentsh tracht und Gott lacht | Man proposes, but God disposes (lit., a man plans and God laughs) |
| A metsieh far a ganef | It's a steal (lit., a bargain for a thief) |
| A nahr bleibt a nahr | A fool remains a fool |
| A nechtiker tog | Forget it! Nonsense! (lit., a day that's a night) |
| A nishtikeit | A nobody! |
| A piste kayleh | A shallow person (lit., an empty barrel) |
| A ritch in kop | Crazy (in the head) |
| A shandeh un a charpeh | A shame and a disgrace |
| A shaynem dank dir im pupik | Many thanks in your belly button |
| A sheynem dank (aykh) | Thank you very much |
| A sheynem, reynem kapore of zey | May a beautiful, purified plague befall them |
| A sheyner veyer dank | A pretty, pure thank you |
| A shittern mogn | Loose bowel movement |
| A shtik fleish mit tsvei eigen | A piece of meat with two eyes (insult) |
| A shtik naches | A great joy |
| A shtyfer mogn | Constipated |
| A shvarts yor | A miserable year you should have (lit., a black year) |
| A shvartsen sof | A bad end (lit., a black end) |
| A sof. A sof | Let's end it. End it. |
| A tuches un a halb | A person with a very large backside (lit., a backside and a half) |
| A vayle | A while |
| A volf farlirt zayne hor, ober nit zayn natur | A leopard cannot change his spots (lit., a wolf loses his hair but not his nature) |
| A yung mit bainer | A powerhouse; a strongly built person |
| Abi | 1. (conj.) as long as; 2. at least, if only, if nothing else; 3. (adj.) any |
| Abi gezunt | As long as there’s health |
| Abi velkher | Any, whatever |
| Abi ver | Anybody, anyone |
| Abi vos | Anything |
| Abi vu | (In) any way, anyhow, carelessly |
| Absolut | Absolute |
| Abstraktsye | Abstraction |
| Absurd | Absurdity |
| Achet | Eight |
| Achrahyes | Responsibility; responsible |
| Achter | Eighth |
| Adres | Address |
| Adurkhlebn | To live through |
| Adurkhtsufirn | Accomplish |
| Advokat | Lawyer, attorney |
| Adye | Adieu; good-bye; bye |
| Aeroplan | Airplane |
| Afh yenems tukhes is gut sepatchen | Someone else's backside is easy to smack |
| Afn | On (the...) (abbr. of "af dem" = "oyf dem") |
| Afn gonif brennt das hittel | Everyone else has committed a crime (lit., a thief's hat burns) |
| Agune | Abandoned wife |
| Ahf mir gezogt | I wish it could be said about me. |
| Ahf tsores | In trouble |
| Ahf zu lochis | Spitefully (lit., just to get [someone] angry) |
| Ahftseloches | Inevitable bad luck (the result of a "kinehora"). |
| Ahntoisht | Disappointed |
| Ahzes punim | Impudent fellow (lit., face) |
| Aidel | 1. Cultured or finicky; 2. courteous, refined |
| Aidel gepotchket | Delicately brought up |
| Aidim, aydem | Son-in-law |
| Ainikle | Grandchild |
| Aitseh | Advice |
| Aiver butel | Absent-minded; mixed up |
| Akademish | Academic |
| Akademye | Academy |
| Akegn | Against |
| Akh un vey | Tough luck, too bad |
| Akhtseter | Eighteenth |
| Akhtsik | Eighty |
| Akhtsikster | Eightieth |
| Akhtsn | Eighteen |
| Akrobatik | Acrobatics |
| Akt | Act, deed |
| Aktiv | Active |
| Aktivitet | Activity |
| Aktrise | Actress |
| Aktsent | Accent (in speech) |
| Aktyor | Actor |
| Ale | All; every(one) |
| Ale montik un donershtik | Every time you turn around (lit., every Monday and Thursday) |
| Ale vayle | All the while |
| Alef-bais | Alphabet; the first two letters of the Jewish alphabet |
| Aleichem sholom | To you be peace. Used in response to the the greeting "shalom aleichem." |
| Alemol | All the time; always |
| Alergye | Allergy |
| Alevei | It should (only) happen to me (to you); if only! A seemingly hopeful exclamation which is actually an admission of hopelessness. |
| Aleyn | Alone |
| Alle ziben glicken | Not what it's cracked up to be (lit., all seven lucky things) |
| Alles in einem is nisht do bei keine | All in one (person) is to be found in no one. |
| Alrightnik (m.) | One who has succeeded (Yinglish) |
| Alrightnikeh (f.) | One who has succeeded (Yinglish) |
| Alteh bakahnter | An old acquaintance |
| Alteh bocher | Bachelor |
| Alteh bok | Old goat |
| Alteh kocker | Old man |
| Alteh machashaifeh | Old witch |
| Alteh moid | Spinster, old maid |
| Alteh trombenick | Old bum |
| Alts | All, everything |
| Ambitsye | Ambition, ambitious |
| Ambulans | Ambulance |
| Amerikanish | American |
| Amerike | America |
| An emmisse meisse | An (absolutely) true tale |
| And | Either |
| Ander | Other; another |
| Andersh | Different(ly) |
| Antibiotik | Antibiotic |
| Antik (pl. antikn) | 1. (adj.) ancient, antique; 2. (n.) antique, rarity; 3. something precious, exquisite |
| Aparat | Apparatus |
| Apelirn | (v.) Appeal |
| Apetit | Appetite |
| Apikoros | An unbeliever, a skeptic, an atheist |
| Aprikos | Apricot |
| April | April |
| Araynlozn | Admit; allow in |
| Arbit | Work |
| Arein | Come in |
| Arestirn | (v.) Arrest |
| Ariber | Above, over, across |
| Arkhitekt | Architect |
| Armey | Army |
| Aroisgevorfen | Thrown out, wasted, wasted opportunities |
| Aroisgevorfene gelt | Thrown out money (wasted money) |
| Arterye | Artery (blood vessel) |
| Arum | 1. Up; 2. around |
| Arumgeflickt | Swindled; plucked; milked |
| Arumloifer | Street urchin; person who runs around |
| Ashtetsl | Ashtray |
| Aspirin | Aspirin |
| Avek | Away (from a place) |
| Avekvaren | (v.) Abandon |
| Averah | Sin. Opposite of “mitzvah” |
| Aydem | Son-in-law |
| Ayer | (pl.) Your |
| Aykh | (pl.) You |
| Ayn klaynigkeit | Yeah, sure! (very derogatory) |
| Ayndordenen | Arrange |
| Az a yor ahf mir. | I should have such good luck. |
| Az di bobe volt gehat beytsim volt zi geven mayn zeyde | If my grandmother had testicles she would be my grandfather. |
| Az mir vill schlugen a hunt, gifintmin a schtecken | If one wants to beat a dog, one finds a stick. |
| Az och un vai | Tough luck! Too bad! Misfortune! |
| Az tsvei zuggen shiker, leigst zich der driter shloffen | If two people confirm something, it's true (lit., if two people say you're drunk, the third one goes to sleep) |
| Azoy gait es | That's how it goes! |
| Azoy gich? | So soon? |
| Azoy vert dos kichel tsekrochen | That's how the cookie crumbles! |
| Azoy vi | As; in the same way; as well as; similarly; likewise; by the same token |
| Azoy zugst du | I don’t believe you (lit., so say you) |
| Azoy? | Really? |
| B | |
| Babka | Coffee cake style pastry |
| Badchan | Jester, comedian, entertainer, merry maker or master of ceremonies at a wedding |
| Badhkin | Jester, comedian, entertainer, merry maker or master of ceremonies at a wedding |
| Bafaln | (v.) Attack |
| Bagazh | Baggage, luggage |
| Bagroben | (v.) Bury |
| Baim | Bench |
| Baitsim | Testicles |
| Bak | Cheek (part of the body) |
| Bakant | Known, familiar |
| Bakanter | Acquaintance |
| Bakn | (v.) Bake |
| Bal | Sure |
| Bal toyreh | Learned man, scholar (lit., master of the Torah) |
| Bal-toyve | Benefactor |
| Balagan | Chaos |
| Balebatim | Persons of high standing |
| Balebatish | Quiet, respectable, responsible, well mannered |
| Balebatisheh mentsh | Respectable man, man of substance and good standing |
| Balebatisheh yiden | Respectable Jews, men of substance and good standing in the community |
| Baleboosteh | Mistress of the house. A compliment to someone who is a terrific housekeeper |
| Balebos | Boss, landlord |
| Balebuste | Mistress of the house. A compliment to someone who is a terrific housekeeper |
| Balegoola | Truck driver or sloppy person of low standing. |
| Balfaln | Assault |
| Balibte | Beloved |
| Balmalocha | An expert (sometimes used sarcastically) |
| Balnes | Miracle worker |
| Balt | Sure |
| Banane | Banana |
| Bandazh | Bandage |
| Bandzho | Banjo |
| Banket | Banquet |
| Bareden yenem | To gossip |
| Baren | Bother, annoy; (vulgar) fornicate |
| Barimer | Braggart, showoff |
| Baroygis | Angry, petulant |
| Bas-yekhide | A female only child |
| Bashert | Fated, predestined |
| Bashert zein | To be destined |
| Bashtetikn | Acknowledge |
| Bashuldikn | Accuse |
| Bashuldikung | Accusation |
| Batampt | Delicious, tasty |
| Batampte | Delicious, tasty |
| Baterye | Battery |
| Batlan | Someone without a trade or a regular means of livelihood |
| Batrefn | Amount to (monetary) |
| Batsirn | Adorn |
| Bay | At, beside, near, by, with; on (the person of); in the mind of; about, around; on |
| Baym | On (the...); with (the...); while ("baym" and "bam" = bay dem) |
| Bays (dir) di tsung | Stop talking (lit., bite your tongue) |
| Baysn zikh di finger vos | Regret strongly that... |
| Bazunder | Separate, distinct, special; apart |
| Bebl | Bean |
| Becher | Wine goblet |
| Behaimeh | Animal, cow, ignorant drudge (when referring to a human being, means dull-witted) |
| Beheyme | Animal, cow, ignorant drudge (when referring to a human being, means dull-witted) |
| Behole | Bedlam |
| Bei mir bist du sheyn | To me you're beautiful |
| Bei mir hust du gepoylt | You've gotten your way with me |
| Beker | Baker |
| Bekeray | Bakery |
| Ben-yokhid | A male only child |
| Benken | To yearn for; to long for |
| Benkshaft | Homesickness, nostalgia |
| Bentsh | To bless, to recite a blessing (esp. after meals) |
| Bentshen lecht | Recite prayer over lit candles on Sabbath eve or Holy Day candles |
| Ber | Bear (animal) |
| Beryeh | Efficient, competent housewife |
| Bes medresh | Synagogue |
| Beser zolst du... | Better you should... |
| Beshas | During, while, as |
| Besuleh | Virgin |
| Bet | Bed |
| Betgevant | Bedding |
| Betler | Beggar |
| Betn | (v.) Ask (for), request; beg |
| Betn Gott | (v.) Pray |
| Betn mekhile | Apologize; beg pardon; excuse |
| Betn zikh | Beseech |
| Beybi | Baby |
| Beygl | Bagel |
| Beygn | (v.) Bend |
| Beykon | Bacon |
| Beysbol | Baseball (the game or the ball) |
| Beyz | Angry |
| Bikur cholem | Visiting the sick |
| Billik | Cheap, inexpensive |
| Biln | (v.) Bark |
| Bilyon | Billion |
| Bin | (v., sing.) Am (I) |
| Binshtok | Beehive |
| Bir | Beer |
| Bissel (a) | A little |
| Bist | (v., sing.) Are (you) |
| Bist meshugeh? | Are you crazy? |
| Biteh | Please |
| Biz | Until |
| Biz hundert azoi ve tsvantsik | Live till 100 like a 20-year-old |
| Biz hundert un tsvantsik | A long life to you (lit., till 120) |
| Blaybn | (v.) Abide; stay, remain |
| Blits | Lightning, flash |
| Blo | (adj.) Blue |
| Blondjen | (v.) Wander, be lost |
| Bluffer | Pretender, boaster; cheat, faker, crook |
| Boarderkeh | A female boarder (Yinglish) |
| Bobbe | 1. Grandmother; 2. a "tall" story |
| Bobbe myseh | Old wives’ tale, an untrue belief |
| Bobe | 1. Grandmother; 2. a "tall" story |
| Bobkes | Small things, triflings, peanuts, nothing, worthless |
| Boch | A punch |
| Bod | Bathhouse |
| Bodkhalat | Bathrobe |
| Bodkostyum | Bathing suit |
| Bodn zikh | (v.) Bathe |
| Bohmer (m.) | Bum |
| Bohmerkeh (f.) | Bum |
| Boikh | Abdomen, belly |
| Bokher | Young man, youngster, bachelor |
| Bondit | Menace, outlaw, rascal, rogue, pain-in-the-neck |
| Boorvisser fiss | Barefoot |
| Bopkis | Nothing, something of little or no value, totally worthless (lit., beans) |
| Bord | Beard, chin |
| Boreke borsht | Beet borsht which the wealthy could afford. |
| Borekes | Pastries with cheese inside |
| Borsht | Beet soup |
| Borves | Barefoot |
| Borviss | Barefoot |
| Botvenye borsht | Borsht made from beet leaves for the poor. |
| Boychik | Young boy (term of endearment) |
| Boydem | Attic |
| Boykh | Abdomen, belly |
| Boykhvehtig | Stomachache |
| Boytchik | Young boy (term of endearment) |
| Breeye | Creature, animal |
| Breg | Edge; brim; border; river bank |
| Bregn yam | Beach, coast |
| Breire | Choice |
| Bris | Circumcision |
| Bristen | Breasts |
| Broitgeber | Head of family (lit., breadgiver) |
| Bronfen | Whiskey |
| Broygis (pl. broygez) | 1. Angry; 2. anger, friction (between people); 3. not on speaking terms |
| Bruder | Brother |
| Bshefe | Abundant, plentiful |
| Bubbee | Friendly term for anybody you like |
| Bubeleh | Darling, honey, sweetie, endearing term for anyone you like regardless of age |
| Bulbanik | Stammerer, one prone to outlandish malapropisms |
| Bulvan | 1. Imbecile, brute, oaf; 2. boorish, coarse, rude person; 3. man built like an ox |
| Bulvon | 1. Imbecile, brute, oaf; 2. boorish, coarse, rude person; 3. man built like an ox |
| Bupkis | Nothing, something of little or no value, totally worthless (lit., beans) |
| Burik | Beet |
| Burtshen | (v.) Mutter, grumble |
| Butchke | Chat, tete-â-tete, telling tales |
| C | |
| Chachem | Genius, smart person (or sarcastically: wise guy) |
| Chachem attick | A wise guy |
| Chachma | Wisdom, bright saying, witticism |
| Chai | Life (Hebrew) |
| Chaider | Religious school |
| Chaim yankel | 1. Half-witted person; 2. country bumpkin; 3. any Tom, Dick or Harry |
| Chaim-yankel kooternooz | The perennial cuckold |
| Chaleria | 1. Nasty, shrewish woman; 2. Evil woman. Probably derived from "cholera." |
| Chaleshen | (v.) Faint |
| Challa | Braided egg bread |
| Chaloshes | Revolting, disgusting, or loathsome thing |
| Chalushisdick | Nauseating, sickening |
| Chamalyiah | A real whack, a knock-out punch |
| Chamoole | Donkey, jackass, numbskull, fool |
| Chamoyer du ainer | You blockhead. You dope, You ass. |
| Chap a gang | Beat it (lit., catch a way, catch a road) |
| Chap ein a meesa meshina | May you suffer an ugly fate! |
| Chap nit | Take it easy. Not so fast (lit., don't grab) |
| Chaptsem | Catch him! |
| Chas v'cholileh | God forbid! |
| Chassen | Bridegroom |
| Chassene machen | To plan and execute a wedding. |
| Chasseneh | Wedding |
| Chaver | Male friend |
| Chaver mann | Buddy |
| Chavver | Male friend |
| Chaye | Animal |
| Chazen | Cantor |
| Chazenteh | Wife of chazen (cantor) |
| Chazer | A pig; by extension, one who eats like a pig; a selfish person |
| Chazeray | 1. Swill, pig's feed; 2. anything bad, unpalatable, rotten; 3. trash, junk |
| Chazerei | 1. Swill, pig's feed; 2. anything bad, unpalatable, rotten; 3. trash, junk |
| Chazzer | A pig; by extension, one who eats like a pig; a selfish person |
| Chazzershtal | Pigpen; slovenly kept room or house. |
| Chedar | Room |
| Chei kuck | (Vulgar) Nothing, infinitesimal, worthless, unimportant (lit., excrement) |
| Chevra | Comradeship |
| Chochem | Genius; very clever person (sometimes sarcastically) |
| Chochem attick | Wise man (Slang: wise guy) |
| Chochma | Wisdom, bright saying, witticism, bright idea |
| Chochmeh | Wisdom, bright saying, witticism, bright idea |
| Cholem | Dream |
| Choleria | Cholera, curse, plague |
| Choleryeh | Cholera, curse, plague |
| Choshever mentsh | Man of worth and dignity; elite person; respected person |
| Chosid | Rabid fan |
| Chossen | Bridegroom |
| Chossen-kalleh | Bride and groom; engaged couple |
| Chousin | Bridegroom |
| Choyzik machen | Make fun of, ridicule |
| Chrain | Horseradish |
| Chropen | Snore |
| Chub rachmones | (v.) Pity |
| Chug | Activity group |
| Chuppah | Canopy under which a bride and groom stand during marriage ceremony. |
| Chutzpah | Nerve, brazenness, gall, and without shame; guts |
| Chutzpenik | Impudent fellow |
| Chvalye | Ocean wave |
| Cokamammie | Crazy, fake, outrageous, ridiculous |
| Columbus' medina | It's not what it's cracked up to be (lit., Columbus' country) |
| Cristiyah | Enema |
| D | |
| Danken Gott | Thank God! |
| Darf min gehn in kolledj? | For this I went to college? Usually said when describing a menial task. |
| Davenen | Pray |
| Dayn | (poss. pron.) Your, yours |
| Ddervaksn | (adj.) Adult, grown-up |
| Deigeh nisht! | Don't worry! |
| Dem | (nom. art.) The |
| Dempik | Humid |
| Der | The |
| Der mensch trakht un Gott lahkht | Man proposes, God disposes (lit., the man thinks and God laughs) |
| Der tate oysn oyg | Just like his father (lit., the father from eye) |
| Der universitet | University |
| Derech erets | Respect |
| Derfin | About it |
| Dergreykh | Accomplishment; achievement |
| Derinnen | (n.) Thing |
| Derlebn | To live to see (something happen) |
| Derloybn | (v.) Allow; permit |
| Dernokhdem | Afterwards, as a sequel |
| Dershrokn | Afraid |
| Dershtikt zolstu veren | You should choke on it. |
| Dershtoynt | Amaze, astound; amazed, astounded |
| Dertseyl | (v.) Tell |
| Dervaksener | (n.) Adult |
| Dervartn | Await |
| Dervegn | About it, about that |
| Di | The |
| Di kale iz tsu sheyn? | What’s wrong? (lit., is the bride too beautiful?) |
| Di khemye | Chemistry |
| Dikh | (obj.) You |
| Dingen | (v.) Bargain, hire, engage, lease, rent |
| Dingen zikh | (v.) Bargain |
| Dinstik | Tuesday |
| Dir | (dat.) You |
| Dire | Apartment |
| Dis fayntin shneg | It's starting to snow |
| Dis fayntin zoraiganin | It's starting to rain |
| Do | Here |
| Dokh | Yet, still, obviously, as you know |
| Donershtik | Thursday |
| Doppes | One who offers oral sympathy |
| Dortn | There |
| Dos | The |
| Dos felt mir noch | That’s all I need (lit., that’s all I lack yet) |
| Dos gefelt mir | This pleases me |
| Dos harts hot mir gezogt | I predicted it (lit., my heart told me) |
| Dos iz alts | That's all |
| Dos iz oyf zikher | That’s for sure |
| Dos zelbeh | Likewise |
| Drai mir nit kain kop | Don't bother me! (lit., don't twist my head) |
| Drai zich | Keep moving! |
| Draikop, draykop | Scatterbrain |
| Dray | Three |
| Draysik | Thirty |
| Draysikster | Thirtieth |
| Draytseter | Thirteenth |
| Draytsn | Thirteen |
| Dreck | 1. Excrement; dung, feces, manure; 2. inferior merchandise or work; 3. insincere talk or excessive flattery; 4. crap; filth |
| Dreck auf dem teller | Mean spirited, valueless (lit., excrement on a plate) |
| Dreck mit leber | Absolutely nothing; it's not worth anything. |
| Driml | (n.) Dream |
| Driter | Third |
| Druchus | The sticks (way out in the wild) |
| Du | (nom.) You |
| Du fangst shoyn on? | Are you starting up again? |
| Du kannst nicht auf meinem rucken pishen unt mir sagen class es regen ist. | You can't pee on my back and tell me that it's rain! |
| Dumkop | Dumbbell, dunce (lit., dumb head) |
| Durkhfall | Flop or failure |
| E | |
| Ech | A groan, a disparaging exclamation |
| Ech hob dir in drerd | Go to hell |
| Ech mir (eppes) | Humorous, disparaging remark about anything |
| Eenlekh | Similar, alike |
| Efsher | Maybe, could be |
| Ei! Ei! | Yiddish exclamation equivalent to the English "Oh!" |
| Eingeshpahrt | Stubborn |
| Eingetunken | Dipped, dunked |
| Einhoreh | The evil eye |
| Eizel | Fool, dope |
| Ek | End |
| Ek veldt | The boondocks ( lit., the end of the earth) |
| Elf | Eleven |
| Elfter | Eleventh |
| Emetser | Someone |
| Emmis | Truth |
| Emmisse meisse | An (absolutely) true tale |
| Enschultig meir | Well, excuse me! (sarcastically, also non-sarcastic depending on the usage) |
| Entoisht | Disappointed |
| Epl | Apple |
| Epl tsimes | Applesauce |
| Eppes | Something, somewhat, a bit, not much; large remarkable, prodigious; perhaps, maybe |
| Eppes narrishkeit | Some foolishness |
| Er | He |
| Er bolbet narishkeiten | He talks nonsense |
| Er drayt sich arum vie a forts in russell | Aimless wandering (lit., he wanders around like a fart in a barrel) |
| Er est vi noch a krenk | He eats as if he just recovered from a sickness |
| Er frest vi a ferd | He eats like a horse |
| Er hot a makeh | He has nothing at all (lit., he has a boil) |
| Er hot nit zorg | He hasn't got a worry |
| Er iz a niderrechtiker kerl | He's a low down good-for-nothing |
| Er iz shoyn du, der nudnik! | The nuisance is here already! |
| Er macht a tel fun dem | He ruins it |
| Er macht zack nisht visindicht | He pretends he doesn't know he is doing something wrong, e.g., breaking into a line. |
| Er toig (taig) nit | He's no good, worthless |
| Er varved zakh | Becoming angry, agitated, pissed-off (lit., he's throwing himself) |
| Er zitst oyf shpilkes | He's restless (lit., he sits on pins) |
| Er zol vaksen vi a tsibeleh, mit dem kop in drerd | He should grow like an onion, with his head in the ground. |
| Ershter | First |
| Es | It |
| Es brent mir ahfen harts. | I have a heartburn |
| Es dir oys s’harts | Be consumed by anger or grief (lit., eat your heart out) |
| Es gait nit | It doesn't work! (lit., it isn't running) |
| Es gefelt mir | I like it (lit., it pleases me) |
| Es hot zich oysgelohzen a boydem! | Nothing came of it! (lit., there's nothing up there but a small attic) |
| Es iz (tsu) shpet | It is (too) late |
| Es iz a shandeh far di kinder | It's a shame for the children! |
| Es iz nit dayn gesheft | It's none of your business |
| Es ken gemolt zein | It is conceivable. It is imaginable |
| Es ken nisht (nit) shatn | It can’t (wouldn’t) hurt |
| Es ken zyn | Maybe, maybe not; anything is possible; who knows? (lit., it could be) |
| Es macht mir nit oys | It doesn't matter to me |
| Es past nit | Is is not becoming. It is not fitting |
| Es tut mir a groisseh hanoeh | It gives me great pleasure.(often said sarcastically) |
| Es tut mir bahng | I'm sorry (lit., it sorrows me) |
| Es tut mir leyd | I'm sorry (lit., it does me sorrow) |
| Es tut mir vai | It hurts me |
| Es vert mir finster in di oygen | I am fainting. A response to receiving extremely upsetting information or news (lit., it's getting dark in my eyes) |
| Es vet gornit helfen | Nothing will help |
| Es vet helfen vi a toiten bahnkes | It won't help (any) (lit., it will help like blood-cupping on a dead body) |
| Esn | (v.) Eat |
| Ess | Eat. Often used as a command. |
| Ess, bench, sei a mensch | Eat, pray, don't act like a jerk! |
| Ess gezunterhait | Eat in good health |
| Ess vie ein foygl sheise vie ein ferd! | Eat like a bird, excrete like a horse! |
| Essen | (v.) Eat |
| Essen mitik | Eating during midday or having dinner |
| Essen teg | Yeshiva students would be fed in different houses each day (lit., eat days) |
| Evenyu | Avenue |
| Eybershter | (the) Almighty |
| Eydel mentch | Courteous, refined |
| Eyder | 1. Before; 2. than |
| Eyn un tsvantsik | Twenty one |
| Eyn un tsvantsikster | Twenty first |
| Eyner aleyn | Alone, by myself |
| Eyns | One |
| Eyns un draysik | Thirty one |
| Eytsn | (v.) Advise |
| F | |
| Fahrshvindn | Disappeared |
| Faigelah | Bird (also used as a derogatory reference to a gay person) |
| Faklert | Absorbed (in thought) |
| Faktish | Actual |
| Fantazyor | Fantasizer, dreamer: man who builds castles in the air |
| Far | In front of; before; for (something), in favor of (something) |
| Far alts in eynem | All in all |
| Far knaft | Engaged |
| Far vos | Why |
| Far vos nisht | Why not |
| Far vus | For what, what for, why |
| Far zikher | For sure |
| Faran | Available, present |
| Farb | Color |
| Farband | Association, union |
| Farbisseneh punim | Sourpuss |
| Farbissener | (n.) Embittered, sour; bitter person |
| Farbissine | (adj.) Bitter |
| Farblondzhet | Totally lost; or hopelessly mixed up, bewildered, confused; dysfunctional |
| Farblujet | Bending your ear |
| Farblunget | Totally lost; or hopelessly mixed up, bewildered, confused; dysfunctional |
| Farbrecher | Crook, con-man |
| Farbrengen | Party, esp. religious or family |
| Farbrent | Burning; zealous |
| Farchadet | Confused, all messed up: farblunget intensified; distracted, dysfunctional |
| Fardeiget | Distressed, worried, full of care, anxiety |
| Fardinen a mitzveh | Earn a blessing or a merit (by doing a good deed) |
| Fardrai zich dem kop | Quit bugging me and get lost: go drive yourself crazy (lit., go turn your own head around) |
| Fardross | Disappointment, sorrow |
| Farfalen | Hopeless, doomed |
| Farfoylt | Mildewed, rotten, decayed |
| Farfroyren | Frozen |
| Farfufket | Befuddled, taken aback, disoriented |
| Fargessen | Forgot |
| Farginen | To wish well; to not begrudge, to not envy; to indulge; to afford to |
| Farhitn | Prevent; avert |
| Farkatk(e) | Lousy, ridiculous; (vulgar) dungy, like excrement |
| Farkirtsung | Abbreviation |
| Farklempt | All choked up, too emotional to talk, overwrought |
| Farklempt fis | Not being able to walk right, clumsy as in "clumsy feet" |
| Farkrimpter punim | Twisted up, scowling face |
| Farlir zikh | Go lose yourself |
| Farmach dos moyl | Shut up. Quiet (lit., shut your mouth) |
| Farmatert | Tired |
| Farmished | Mixed up, messed up |
| Farmisht | Confused, dysfunctional, befuddled |
| Farmutshet | Worn out, fatigued, exhausted |
| Farpatshket | Having the misguided intent to fix or improve something but ruining it in the process |
| Farpitst | To get all dressed up to the "nines" |
| Farprishte punim | Pimpled face |
| Farputst | To get all dressed up to the "nines" |
| Farshemt | Ashamed |
| Farshimmelt | Moldy or rotten. Also can refer to a person who has become senile. |
| Farshlepteh krenk | Fruitless, endless matter (lit., a sickness that hangs on) |
| Farshlugginer | Mixed-up or shaken up, bedraggled person. Also, something of little or dubious value. |
| Farshmeieter | Highly excitable person; always on the go |
| Farshnickert | Drunk, high as a kite |
| Farshnoshket | Loaded, drunk |
| Farsholtn | Accursed |
| Farshtayst | Do you understand? Did you get that? |
| Farshtinkener | Rotten, as in a rotten person |
| Farshtopt | Stuffed |
| Farshtunken | Smells bad, stinks, fetid |
| Farshvitst | Sweaty, all worked up; shvits is sweat |
| Fartik | Finished, ready, complete |
| Farton | Absorbed, engrossed, rapt; off one's guard; preoccupied |
| Fartootst | Bewildered; disoriented; discombobulated; seriously confused but not lost |
| Fartrogn | (v.) Bear, endure |
| Fartsaytik | Ancient |
| Fartshadikt | Confused, bewildered, befuddled, as if by fumes, gas |
| Fartumelt | Bewildered, dizzy, confused |
| Fartutst | Bewildered; disoriented; discombobulated; seriously confused but not lost |
| Farvaylung | Amusement, entertainment |
| Farzamlung | Assembly |
| Farzikhern | (v.) Assure; assert, affirm |
| Fas | Barrel, cask |
| Fasolye | Bean |
| Fayeke (f.) | Capable |
| Fayeker (m.) | Capable |
| Feh | Fooey, it stinks, not very nice, disapproving |
| Feik | Able |
| Feikayt | Ability, aptitude, faculty |
| Feinkochen | Omelet, scrambled eggs |
| Feinshmeker | Putting on airs; high falutin' |
| Felndik | Absent |
| Fendel | Pan |
| Ferd | Horse; a fool (slang) |
| Ferdrimmeled | Dreaming, daydreaming |
| Ferklempt | Clenched |
| Ferkrimpter punim | Twisted-up, scowling face |
| Fermished | Mixed up, messed up |
| Ferpitsed | Dressed up |
| Fershikert | Drunk |
| Ferter | Fourth |
| Fertseter | Fourteenth |
| Fertsik | Forty |
| Fertsikster | Fourtieth |
| Fertsn | Fourteen |
| Fet | Fat, obese |
| Fetter | Uncle (also onkel) |
| Feygele | Bird (also used as a derogatory reference to a gay person) |
| Fier | Four |
| Finef | Five |
| Finfter | Fifth |
| Finster un glitshik | Miserable (lit., dark and slippery) |
| Firn zikh | Act; behave |
| Fisfinger | Toes |
| Fisslach | Chickens' or ducks' feet, often in ptsha |
| Flaishidik | Relating to meat or meat products |
| Fledermoyz | Bat |
| Fleyshik | Meat products |
| Fliegel | Fowl's wing |
| Flier | Aviator |
| Fliplats | Airport |
| Focha | Fan |
| Foigel | Smart guy (lit., bird) |
| Foiler | Lazy man, idler, sluggard, loafer |
| Foilishtik | Foolishness |
| Folg mich | Obey me |
| Folg mikh a gang | Quite a distance! Why should I do it? It's hardly worth the trouble! |
| Fon | From |
| Fone | Banner |
| Fonfen | Speaking through the nose |
| Fonfer | (v.) Speak through nose; double talk; procrastinate; time-wasting talk; mumble, speak incoherently |
| Fooey | Designates disbelief, distaste, contempt |
| For gezunterhait | Bon voyage! Travel in good health! |
| Forshpeits | Appetizer |
| Forts | Fart |
| Forts n' zovver | A very smelly or foul-smelling fart. |
| Frageh | Question |
| Frailech | Happy |
| Frassk in pisk | Slap in the face |
| Frayhayt | Freedom |
| Frayleich | Cheerful |
| Fraynd | Friend |
| Fraytik | Friday |
| Freg | Ask |
| Freg nit (nisht) | Things are bad, absolutely! (lit., don’t ask) |
| Freilich | Happy; joyous |
| Freint | Friend |
| Fremder | Stranger |
| Fress | Eat, overeat |
| Fressen | Eat like a pig, devour |
| Fressing | Gourmandizing (Yinglish) |
| Frier | Earlier; before; formerly |
| Frimer (f.) | Pious, religious, devout |
| Froy | Woman |
| Frucht | Fruit |
| Frum (m.) | Pious, religious, devout |
| Fuftseter | Fifteenth |
| Fuftsik | Fifty |
| Fuftsikster | Fiftieth |
| Fuftsn | Fifteen |
| Fun | From, of, by |
| Funanderklaybn | Analyze |
| Funem | From (the) |
| Funfeh | Speaker's fluff, error |
| Futz | To fiddle around |
| G | |
| G'nossen tsum emess | The sneeze confirmed the truth. |
| G'vir | Rich man |
| Gadles | Arrogance |
| Gadult | Patience, feeding the baby |
| Galitsianer | Jewish native of Galicia |
| Galut | Exile, as in diaspora (Hebrew) |
| Ganef | Crook, thief, burglar, swindler, racketeer, dishonest person or scoundrel (often used as a general term of abuse) |
| Ganif | Crook, thief, burglar, swindler, racketeer, dishonest person or scoundrel (often used as a general term of abuse) |
| Gants gut | Quite well; very good |
| Gantseh | Whole; entire; all; complete |
| Gantseh k'nacker | Big shot |
| Gantseh macher | Big shot |
| Gantseh megillah | A long, drawn-out story that never ends. The whole megillah; Big deal! (derisive) |
| Gantseh mentsh | Manly, a whole man, a complete man; an adult; a fellow who assumes airs |
| Gantseh mishpochah | Entire family |
| Gartl | Belt, sash |
| Gatkes | Long winter underwear |
| Ge | (v. particle prefix) |
| Geb | (v.) Give |
| Geben shoychad | To bribe |
| Gebentsht mit kinder | Blessed with children |
| Gebentshte boych | Said of a woman with a fabulous child or children (lit., blessed stomach (womb)) |
| Gebrenteh tsores | Utter misery |
| Gebrochener english | Fractured English |
| Gedainkst? | Remember? |
| Gedempte flaysh | Mystery meat |
| Gedenk | (v.) Remember |
| Gedicht | Thick, full, ample |
| Gedult | Patience |
| Geferlech | Dangerous |
| Gegnt | Neighborhood; area (region, district) |
| Geh avek | Go away |
| Geh feifen ahfen yam | Scram! (lit., go whistle on the ocesn) |
| Geh gezunterheit | Go in good health |
| Geh in der klozet | Go to the toilet |
| Geh in drerd arein | Go to hell! |
| Geh kaken oifen yam | Get lost, hit the road; beat it (lit., go defecate in the ocean!) |
| Geh mit dein kop in drerd | Stick your head in the mud (lit., go with your head in the ground) |
| Geh plats | Go split your guts |
| Geh red tsu der vant | Go talk to the wall |
| Geh shlofn | Go to sleep |
| Geh shlog dein kup en vant | Go bang your head against the wall |
| Geh shoyn, geh | 1. Scram! 2. don't be silly! |
| Geh strasheh di vantsen | You don't frighten me (lit., go threaten the bed bugs) |
| Geh tren zich | (Vulgar) Go screw yourself |
| Gehakte tsoris | Worse suffering or trouble |
| Geharget zolstu veren | Drop dead! (lit., you should get killed) |
| Gehern | (v.) Belong |
| Geht | Come now! |
| Geht es nit | It doesn't work |
| Gel | (adj.) Yellow |
| Gelaimter | Person who drops whatever he touches |
| Gelibteh | Beloved |
| Gelt | Money (esp. as Chanukah gift) |
| Gelt gait tsu gelt | Money goes to money |
| Gelt is nisht kayn dayge | Money is not a problem |
| Gembeh | Big mouth |
| Gemitlich | Slowly, unhurried, gently |
| Genaivisheh shtiklech | Tricky, sharp, crooked actions or doings |
| Genevishe oigen | Shifty eyes |
| Genug | Enough |
| Genug iz genug | Enough is enough |
| Genug shoyn | Enough already; say no more |
| Ger | (n.) Convert |
| Gerativet | Saved |
| Gesheft | Business |
| Geshmak | Tasty, delicious |
| Geshrey | (n.) Scream, cry, shout |
| Geshtorben | The state of being dead |
| Geshtroft | Cursed, accursed; punished |
| Geshvollen | Swollen, puffed up (also applied to person with haughty pride) |
| Get | Divorce; divorce document |
| Getchke | Statue |
| Gevald geshreeyeh | Good grief! |
| Gevald, gevalt | Heaven forbid! (exclam.) |
| Gevaldikeh zach | A terrible thing! (Often ironically) |
| Gey | (v.) Go |
| Gezunde tsores | Healthy troubles. Troubles one should not take too seriously. |
| Gezunt | Health; healthy |
| Gezunt vi a ferd | Strong as a horse |
| Gezunteh moid | A big healthy woman |
| Gezunter | Healthy, hearty |
| Gezunterhait | In good health |
| Gib a kick | Check it out, (lit., give a look) |
| Gib mir nit kain aynhorah | Don't give me a canary (lit., don't give me an evil eye) |
| Gib zich a shukl | Hurry up! (lit., give yourself a shake) |
| Gib zich a traisel | Get a move on |
| Gitte neshomah | Good soul |
| Gleichvertel | Wisecrack, pun, saying, proverb, bon mot, witticism |
| Gleybn | (v.) Believe |
| Glezel tai | Glass of tea |
| Glezel varms | Comforting or soothing (lit: glass of warmth) |
| Glick | Luck, piece of luck |
| Gliklekhn nay-yor | Happy new year |
| Glitch | Minor malfunction |
| Gloib mir | Believe me |
| Glok | Bell |
| Gloybn | Belief; believe |
| Glustiyah | Enema |
| Goldene medina | The golden country, America |
| Goldeneh chasseneh | Fiftieth wedding anniversary |
| Goldeneh medina | The golden country, America |
| Golem | Clumsy; sluggish |
| Gonif | Thief, dishonest person, crook, thief, burglar, swindler, embezzler, unscrupulous businessman (often used as a general term of insult) |
| Goot gezugt | Well said |
| Gopel | Fork |
| Gorgl | Neck |
| Gornish helfn | Beyond help |
| Gornisht | Nothing, emptiness |
| Gote-vorte | A good piece of information or short concise Torah commentary. |
| Gott | God |
| Gott in himmel | God in heaven! (said in anguish, despair, fear or frustration) |
| Gott tsu danken | Thank God |
| Gott zol ophiten | God forbid! |
| Gotteniu | Oh God! (anguished cry) |
| Goy | Any person who is not Jewish |
| Goyeh | Gentile woman |
| Goyim | Group of non-Jewish persons |
| Goyish(e) | Pertaining to goyim |
| Goyishe kop | Opposite of Yiddishe kop. Generally used to indicate someone who is not particularly smart or shrewd: gullible, slow one (Definitely offensive.) |
| Grauber | Coarse, uncouth, crude person |
| Grauber yung | Coarse, uncouth, crude young man |
| Greener | Greenhorn, new immigrant (Yinglish) |
| Greps | Belch; a burp if it's a mild one |
| Grivines | Onions fried in chicken fat |
| Grob | Coarse, crude, profane, rough, rude |
| Grobe | Coarse, crude, profane, rough, rude |
| Grober | Coarse, uncouth, crude person |
| Grober finger | Thumb |
| Grois-halter | Showoff, conceited person |
| Groisseh gedilleh | Big deal! (sarcastically) |
| Groisser gornisht | Big good-for-nothing |
| Groisser putz | (Vulgar) Big penis! Big prick! (derogatory or sarcastic) |
| Grosse | Big |
| Grooten | To take after, to favor |
| Groyser | A big person |
| Groyser finger | Middle finger |
| Groyser tsuleyger | Big shot (sarcastically) |
| Groyulik | Appalling |
| Grube | Coarse, crude, profane, rough, rude |
| Gruber yung | Coarse, uncouth, crude young man |
| Guggle muggle | A concoction made of warm milk and honey for sore throats |
| Gunsel | A young goose. Also used to describe a young man who accompanies a tramp or a young tramp. |
| Gut; gutt | Good |
| Gut far him | Serves him right! |
| Gut gezugt | Well said |
| Gut Shabbos | Good Sabbath |
| Gut yontif | Happy Holiday |
| Gutte neshome | Good soul, person |
| H | |
| Hagem | Although |
| Haimish | Down-to-earth, sympatico, approachable |
| Haimish ponem | A friendly face |
| Haiseh vanneh | Hot bath |
| Haissen | (v.) Hate |
| Hak | Axe |
| Hak flaish | Chopped meat |
| Hak mir nicht in tsheinik (arain) | Don't get on my nerves (lit., don't bang my teapot) |
| Hak mir nit in kop | Stop bending my ear (lit., stop banging on my head) |
| Haken a tsheinik | Boring, long-winded and annoying conversation; talking for the sake of talking (lit., to bang on the teapot) |
| Halbe nahkht | Midnight (half-night) |
| Halevei | If only... |
| Halt din zoken | Don’t be impatient (lit., hold your socks) |
| Haltn | (v.) Hold, contain; keep; believe, maintain; treat; observe (a holiday); live up to |
| Haltn fun | (v.) Be fond of, approve of |
| Hamoyn | Common people |
| Handl | Haggle, bargain |
| Handlen | Bargain; do business; act; trade |
| Hanoe hobn | Enjoy |
| Harbst | Fall, autumn |
| Harte mogen | Constipation |
| Hartsvaitik | Heartache |
| Haskome | Approval |
| Haynt | Today |
| Hecher | Louder |
| Hefker | A mess |
| Heizel | Whorehouse |
| Hekdish | Decrepit place, a slumhouse, poorhouse; a mess |
| Hekhsher | Seal of approval |
| Heldish | Brave |
| Heldzel | Stuffed neck flesh; sort of a neck-kishke |
| Helfn | Help; aid; assist |
| Hendl | Chicken |
| Hert zich ein | Listen here |
| Heskem | Accord; agreement |
| Hetsken zich | Shake and dance with joy |
| Heym | (n.) Home |
| Heys | Hot |
| Heysn | 1. To be called; to mean; 2. to tell, to bid, to order |
| Hhekherr | Above |
| Hikevater | Stammerer |
| Hinten | Rear, rear parts, backside, buttocks; in the rear |
| Hinter | Behind, in back of |
| Hit zich | Look out |
| Hits | Heat |
| Hitsik | Hothead |
| Hitskop | Excitable person |
| Hob | (v. sing.) Have (I) |
| Hob derech erets | Have respect |
| Hob dir in arbel | Response to a derogatory remark as "sticks and stones" is used (lit., I've got you by the elbow) |
| Hob nit kain deiges | Don't worry |
| Hobn | (v. pl.) Have (we, they) |
| Hobn groyse oygn | To be greedy (lit., have big eyes) |
| Hobn tsu zingen un tsu zogen | Have no end of trouble (lit.,to sing and to talk) |
| Hogl | Hail |
| Hoizer gaier | Beggar |
| Hoizirer | House-peddler |
| Hok | 1. Yak; 2. nag; 3. strike, hit |
| Hok mir nisht en chainik | Don't give me a headache (lit., don't hit me in a teapot) |
| Hok mir nit in kop! | Stop bending my ear (lit.; stop banging on my head) |
| Hok mir nit kayn chainik (arain) | Don't get on my nerves; stop nagging me (lit., don't bang my teapot) |
| Hoken a chainik (tchinik) | Boring, long-winded and annoying conversation; talking your ear off (lit., banging on the teapot) |
| Holishkes | Stuffed cabbage |
| Hondl | Haggle, bargain; do business; act; trade |
| Host | (v. sing.) Have (you) |
| Host du bie mir an avleh | So I made a mistake. So what? |
| Hot | (v. sing.) Has (he/she); have (you) |
| Hoykeh | Hump on a hunchback |
| Hulyen | A hellraiser |
| Hundert | Hundred |
| Hundertster | Hundredth |
| I | |
| Ibberbuttle | Senile |
| Iber | Above, over, in excess of, more than |
| Iberbaytn | (v.) Alter |
| Ibershraybn | (v.) Copy, transcribe, rewrite |
| Ich bin ahntoisht | I am disappointed |
| Ich bin dich nit mekaneh | I don't envy you |
| Ich darf es ahf kapores | It's good for nothing! I have no use for it (lit., I need it for a [useless] fowl sacrifice) |
| Ich darf es vi a loch in kop | I need it like a hole in the head! |
| Ich eil zich (nit) | I am (not) in a hurry |
| Ich feif oif dir | I despise you. Go to the devil (lit., I whistle on you) |
| Ich gai chaleshen bald avek | I'm about to faint (from sheer exhaustion) |
| Ich hob dich in bod | To hell with you (lit., I have you in the bath house) |
| Ich hob dir | Drop dead (lit., I have you) (Americanism) |
| Ich hob dir in drerd | Go to hell (lit., I have you in the ground) |
| Ich hob dir lieb | I love you! |
| Ich hob es in drerd | To hell with it |
| Ich hob im feint | I hate him |
| Ich hob im in bod | To hell with him (lit., I have him in the bath house) |
| Ich hob mir fer pacht | I have your measure (lit., I have you in my pocket) |
| Ich hob nicht kain anung | I have no idea |
| Ich ken dir nisht farfeeren | I can't lead you astray |
| Ich loif | I'm running |
| Ich vais | I know |
| Ich vais nit | I don't know |
| Ich vel dir geben a khamalye | I'll give you such a smack |
| Ich vel dir geben kadoches | I'll give you nothing! (lit., I'll give you a fever) |
| Ich vill nicht vesn | I don't want to know |
| Ich yog zich nit. | I'm not in a hurry |
| Ich zol azoy vissen fun tsores. | I should know as little about trouble (as I know about what you are asking me) |
| Iker | Substance; people of substance |
| Ikerdik | Basic |
| In | In, into; at |
| In a noveneh | For a change; once in a blue moon |
| In di alteh guteh tseiten | In the good old days |
| In di oygn | To one's face (lit., in the eyes) |
| In drerd mein gelt | My money went down the drain! (lit., my money went into the ground [to Hell]) |
| In gantsn | All; entirely; altogether |
| In miten drinen | In the middle of; suddenly, right in the middle of everything |
| In oysland | Abroad |
| Inven | Affair; matter |
| Ipish | Bad odor, stink |
| Ir | (sing.) Her; (pl.) you |
| Ir gefelt mir zaier. | You please me a great deal |
| Iz | (v. sing.) Is (he/she) |
| Iz brent mir ahfen harts | I have a heartburn |
| K | |
| K'naidel (pl. k'naidlach) | Dumplings usually made of matzoh meal, cooked in soup |
| K'nippel | Button, knot; hymen, virginity; money tied in a knot in a handkerchief |
| K'nish | Baked dumplings filled with potato, meat, liver or barley |
| K’nocker | Big shot; man of achievement; braggart, showoff |
| K'vatsh | Boneless person, one lacking character; a whiner, weakling |
| K'velen | Glow with pride and happiness, beam; be delighted |
| K'vetsh | Whine, complain; whiner, a complainer |
| K'vitsh | Shriek, scream, screech |
| Kaas (in kaas oyf) | Angry (with) |
| Kabaret forshtelung | Floor show |
| Kabtsen | Pauper |
| Kaddishel | Baby son; endearing term for a boy or man |
| Kadoches | Fever |
| Kadoches mit koshereh fodem | Absolutely nothing (lit., fever with a kosher thread) |
| Kaftan | Long coat worn by religious Jews |
| Kakameyme | Crazy |
| Kakapitshi | Conglomeration |
| Kalamutneh | Dreary, gloomy, troubled |
| Kale | Bride |
| Kalekeh | A new bride who cannot even boil an egg |
| Kalleh | Bride |
| Kalleh moid | A girl of marriageable age |
| Kallehniu | Little bride |
| Kalt | (adj.) Cold |
| Kalta neshomeh | A cold soul |
| Kalyeh | Bad, wrong, spoiled |
| Kalyekeh | Cripple; misfit; also, anybody not good at their craft or sport |
| Kam derlebt | Narrowly achieved (lit., hardly lived to see) |
| Kam mit tsores | Barely made it! (lit., with some troubles) |
| Kam vos er kricht | Barely able to creep |
| Kam vos er lebt | He's hardly (barely) alive |
| Kamtsoness | To be miserly |
| Kaneh | Enema |
| Kapelye | Band |
| Kaporeh | Atonement, sacrifice; forgiveness; (slang) good for nothing |
| Kapores | Atonement, sacrifice; forgiveness; (slang) good for nothing |
| Kappore | Catastrophe |
| Kaptsen | Pauper |
| Karabeinik | Country peddler |
| Karger | Miser, tightwad |
| Kaseer | Enema |
| Kasheh | Buckwheat groats, mush cereal, porridge; a mess, mix-up, confusion |
| Kasheh varnishkes | Buckwheat groats and broad (or bowtie) noodles |
| Kashress | Kosher condition; Jewish religious dietary law |
| Kasnik | Angry person; excitable person, hothead |
| Kasokeh | Cross-eyed |
| Kass | Anger |
| Katchka | (n.) 1. Duck; 2. talker, chatterer, chatterbox, 3. windbag |
| Katshkedik | Ducky, swell, pleasant (Americanism) |
| Katsisher kop | Forgetful (lit., cat head) |
| Kayn ayn horeh | Said to ward off evil, especially when speaking of one's good fortune (lit., not one evil eye) |
| Kazatskeh | Lively Russian dance |
| Kein briere iz oich a breire | Not to have any choice available is also a choice |
| Keisenik | Angry person; excitable person, hothead |
| Keler | Basement |
| Kelyner | Little one |
| Kemat | Almost, practically |
| Kemfer | Fighter (usually for a cause) |
| Ken | (v.) Know |
| Ken zein | Maybe, could be |
| Kenen | To be able to; to know (a skill or language); able |
| Kenen oyf di finger | Have facts at one's fingertips |
| Ketsele | Kitten |
| Keyn | 1. (prep.) to; 2. (art.) not a, not any; no, nothing, none; not anything (used in negative sentences) |
| Keyn mol nisht | Never |
| Khalishes | Ugly |
| Khaver | Friend |
| Khazer | Pig; greedy lout, cheapskate, selfish person (lit., pig) |
| Khazerai | 1. Swill, pig's feed; 2. anything bad, unpalatable, rotten; 3. trash, junk |
| Khemye | Chemistry |
| Kheshbn | Accounting, bill, calculation |
| Kheyfets | Thing, article, object |
| Kheyrem | Ban |
| Khezhbn-firer | Accountant |
| Khidesh | 1. Innovation, novelty; 2. surprise, astonishment |
| Khob im in bod | Couldn’t care less about it (lit., have him in the bath) |
| Khob im in drerd | Couldn’t care at all about it (lit., have him in the dirt) |
| Khokhme | Bright idea |
| Kholem | Dream |
| Khotsh | Although; at least |
| Kibbitz | (v.) Offer unsolicited advice as a spectator |
| Kibbitzer | Teaser, jokester, meddlesome spectator |
| Killeh | Hernia |
| Kimpet-tsettel | Childbirth amulet or charm (from the German "kindbettsettel" meaning "childbirth label") |
| Kimpetoren | Woman in labor or immediately after the delivery |
| Kind | Child |
| Kind un kait | Young and old |
| Kinder | Children |
| Kinderlach | Diminutive, affectionate term for children |
| Kine-ahora | Said to ward off evil, especially when speaking of one's good fortune (lit., not one evil eye) |
| Kinstler | Artist |
| Kirtsung | Abbreviation |
| Kish mir en toches | Kiss my backside (slang) |
| Kishef macher | Magic-worker |
| Kishka | Stuffed derma (sausage dish); guts, intestines. Also can describe a person's emotions |
| Kishkeh | Stuffed derma (sausage dish); guts, intestines. Also can describe a person's emotions |
| Kishkes | Stuffed derma (sausage dish); guts, intestines. Also can describe a person's emotions |
| Kishnev | 1. City in Russia; 2. Any place so far away you don't know or care to know how to get there; 3. Back of beyond; middle of nowhere; boondocks; other side of the world |
| Kitsel | Tickle |
| Kkinstlekh | Artificial |
| Klaider machem dem mentshem | The clothes make the man |
| Klainer | Little one |
| Klainer gornisht | Little prig (lit., a little nothing) |
| Klaperkeh | Talkative woman |
| Klayder | Attire |
| Klemt beim harts | Clutches at my heartstrings |
| Kleyn | Little one |
| Klezmer | Musician |
| Klipeh | Gabby woman, shrew, a female demon |
| Klog | 1. Woe; 2. plague |
| Klog iz mir (a ...) | Woe is me! |
| Klogmuter | Complainer, chronic complainer |
| Kloolye | Curse |
| Klop | Bang, a real hard punch or wallop |
| Klor | Clear |
| Klotz | Ungraceful, awkward, clumsy person; bungler |
| Klotz kasheh | Foolish question; meaningless question |
| Kloymersht | Not in reality, pretended (lit., as if it were) |
| Klug | Smart; clever |
| Kluppen kop in vant | Futile request (lit., hitting head on the wall) |
| Klutz | Ungraceful, awkward, clumsy person; bungler |
| Knacker | Big shot (sarcastically) |
| Knackerke | The distaff knacker, but a real cutie-pie. |
| Knaidel (pl. knaidlach) | Dumplings usually made of matzoh meal, cooked in soup |
| Knekhl | Ankle, knuckle |
| Knippel | Money tied in a knot in a handkerchief; button, knot; hymen, virginity |
| Knish(es) | Baked dumplings filled with potato, meat, liver or barley |
| Knubble | Garlic |
| Kobzten | Millionaire after taxes |
| Kochalain | Summer boarding house with cooking privileges (lit., cook by yourself) |
| Kochedik | Petulant, excitable |
| Kochleffel | One who stirs up trouble; gadabout, busy-body (lit., a cooking ladle) |
| Kol | Voice |
| Kolboynik | Rascally know-it-all |
| Komisch | Funny |
| Koorvah | 1. Trollop, hooker, prostitute; 2. a woman who trades on her sexuality for money, gifts or position. |
| Kop oif di plaitses | Good, common sense (lit., a head on the shoulders) |
| Kopvaitik | Headache |
| Korb | Basket |
| Korban | Scapegoat |
| Kosher | 1. Clean, based on Jewish dietary laws; 2. legitimate (slang) |
| Koved | Respect, honor, reverence, esteem |
| Koyach | Strength (inner strength), energy |
| Koydem kol | First of all |
| Koyekh | Strength (inner strength), energy |
| Koyshbol | Basketball |
| Krank | Sick |
| Krank-heit | Sickness |
| Krassavitseh | Beauty, a doll, beautiful woman |
| Krechts | Groan, moan |
| Krechtser | Blues singer, a moaner |
| Kreftik | Hearty |
| Kreplach | Small pockets of dough filled with chopped meat and are eaten in soup; nothing, valueless (slang) |
| Krign | Get, receive, acquire |
| Kroivim | Relatives |
| Krolik | Rabbit |
| Krots | Overcome inertia, motivate oneself to action (lit., scratch) |
| Kuch leffel | A person who mixes into other people's business (lit., cooking spoon) |
| Kuck zich oys | (Vulgar) Do it yourself! (lit., go excrete for yourself) |
| Kugel | Pudding |
| Kuk | (v.) Look |
| Kuk im on | Look at him |
| Kukn durkh di finger oyf | Shut one's eyes to..., connive at..., wink at... |
| Kum | (v.) Come |
| Kum ich nisht heint, kum ich morgen | If I don't come today, I'll come tomorrow (procrastinator's slogan) |
| Kumen tsu gast | To visit |
| Kuni leml | Nerd |
| Kunst | Art |
| Kuntsen | Tricks |
| Kunyehlemel | Naive, clumsy, awkward person; nincompoop; Casper Milquetoast |
| Kuppe drek | A piece of feces |
| Kurveh | Whore, prostitute |
| Kush in toches arein | (Vulgar) Kiss my behind! (said to somebody who is annoying you) |
| Kush meer in toches | (Vulgar) Kiss my behind |
| Kushinyerkeh | Cheapskate; woman who comes to a store and asks for a five cents' worth of vinegar in her own bottle |
| Kvatsh | Boneless person, one lacking character; a whiner, weakling |
| Kvell | 1. To beam with joy, burst with pride, glow with pride and happiness, beam; be delighted; 2. To express pleasure in a gentle manner; 3. To exclaim joyfully or proudly, especially in boasting about the achievements of a family member. |
| Kvellen | 1. To beam with joy, burst with pride, glow with pride and happiness, beam; be delighted; 2. To express pleasure in a gentle manner; 3. To exclaim joyfully or proudly, especially in boasting about the achievements of a family member. |
| Kver | Across, crosswise |
| Kvetch | (n., v.) Whine, complain; whiner, complainer |
| Kvetsh | (n., v.) Whine, complain; whiner, complainer |
| L | |
| L'chai'im | To life! (traditional Jewish toast); To your health, skoal |
| Lachen mit yash-tsherkes | Forced or false laugh; laugh with anguish |
| Laidik-gaier | Idler, loafer |
| Lakeh | Funnel |
| Lakh | Laugh |
| Lakhlutn | Absolutely |
| Lakht | Laughs |
| Lamden | Scholar, erudite person, learned man |
| Lamed vovnik | A wise and learned person. One of the 36 wise and righteous persons each generation traditionally produces. |
| Lang leben zolt ir | Long may you live! |
| Lange loksch | Tall thin person, a long tall drink of water (lit., a long noodle) |
| Lantsman (pl. lantslaite) | Neighbor, a fellow countryman, and by usage, a fellow Jew |
| Lapeh | Big hand |
| Layseh mogen | Diarrhea |
| Leb | (v.) Live |
| Lebedik | Alive, lively |
| Lebedikeh velt (a ...) | A lively world! |
| Lebediker | Lively person |
| Leben; lebn | Life |
| Leben ahf dein kop | Words of praise: well said; well done (lit., a long life upon your head) |
| Lebn | Life; near; at |
| Lebn geblibener | Survivor |
| Lebst a chazerishen tog | Living high off the hog! |
| Lechayim | To life! (traditional Jewish toast); To your health, skoal |
| Leck, shmeck | Done superficially (lit., lick, smell) |
| Leffel | Spoon |
| Leibtsudekel | Sleeveless shirt (like bib) with fringes, a talit katan, worn under a shirt by male orthodox Jews |
| Leiden | To suffer |
| Lemechel | Quiet person |
| Lemeshkeh | Milquetoast, bungler |
| Leshem shomaim | Idealistically, "for the sake of heaven." |
| Lets | Clown; a mocker |
| Leveiyeh | Funeral |
| Levone | Moon |
| Lezem gayne | Leave them be |
| Libshaft | Love, fondness, affection |
| Lichticheh | Happy, shining, radiant, beaming (lit., lit up) |
| Liebe | Love |
| Lieblekh | Affectionate |
| Lig in drerd | Get lost! Drop dead! (lit., bury yourself!) |
| Ligner | Liar |
| Lise | Bald |
| Litvak | 1. Lithuanian; 2. term used to connote shrewdness and skepticism; 3. a person who speaks with a northeastern Yiddish accent |
| Lobbus | Little monster |
| Loch; lokh | Hole |
| Loch in kop | Hole in the head |
| Loksch | Italian gentleman |
| Lokshen | Noodles, but often meaning “nonsense” |
| Lokshen kugel | Baked pudding with egg noodles, yummy |
| Lokshen strop | Cat-o-nine-tails |
| Lominer gaylen | Clumsy fool (lit., a golem: a Frankenstein monster created by the Lominer Rebbe) |
| Lomir geyn | Let me go |
| Loyf | Run |
| Loyzem gayne | Let them go! Leave them alone! Let them be! |
| Loz | (v.) Leave |
| Loz mich tsu ru | Leave me alone! (lit., leave me in peace!) |
| Luckshen | Noodles, but often meaning “nonsense” |
| Luft | Air |
| Luftkilung | Air conditioning |
| Luftmentsh | Person who has no business, trade, calling, nor income (lit., air man) |
| Luftpost | Air mail |
| Luze zein shah | Let there be quiet; silence! |
| Luzzem | Let him/her be, leave him/her alone |
| M | |
| Machareikeh | Gimmick, contraption |
| Machashafer | Witch, a conjurer, someone with psychic or supernatural powers |
| Machen; makhen | Make |
| Macher; makher | Big shot, person with access to authorities, man with contacts |
| Machetenista | Your child's mother-in-law |
| Machetunim | Your child’s in-laws |
| Machshaifeh | Witch |
| Macht shnel | Hurry up |
| Maidel | Unmarried girl, teenager |
| Maideleh | Little girl (affectionate term) |
| Maisse | Story |
| Maisse mit a deitch | Story with a (moral) twist |
| Maiven | Expert, connoisseur, authority (also, sarcastically) |
| Makeh | Plague, wound, boil, curse |
| Makh | (v.) Make |
| Makheteneste | Your child's mother-in-law |
| Makhmes | Because of, on account of, due to |
| Makhn ash un porekh | Destroy |
| Malakh | Angel |
| Malakh-amoves | Angel of death |
| Mame | Mother, mom, mommy |
| Mame-loshin | Yiddish (lit., mother’s tongue) |
| Mameleh | Mother dear |
| Mamme | Mother, mom, mommy |
| Mamoshes | Substance, people of substance. |
| Mamzer | Bastard, disliked person, untrustworthy |
| Mamzerook | A naughty little boy |
| Man | Husband |
| Mandl | Almond; tonsil |
| Mandlbroyt | Almond bread |
| Mashgiach | Inspector, overseer or supervisor of kashruth in restaurants and hotels. |
| Mashugga | Simply crazy |
| Maskem zayn | Agree to |
| Matkes | Underpants |
| Maven | Expert, connoisseur, authority (also, sarcastically) |
| Mayle | Merit, virtue; benefit, advantage |
| Mayn | (poss. pron.) My, mine |
| Maynster | Mechanic, repairman, workshop proprietor |
| Mayse | Story |
| Maysem | Actions, deeds |
| Mayster | Mechanic, repairman, workshop proprietor |
| Mayven | Expert, connoisseur, authority (also, sarcastically) |
| Mazel | Luck |
| Mazel tov | Good luck (lit., good star) Generally used to convey congratulations |
| Mazeldiker kravat | Lucky tie |
| Me ken brechen | You can vomit from this |
| Me ken lecken di finger | It's delicious (lit., one can lick the finger) |
| Me krechts, me geht veyter | I complain and I keep going |
| Me lost nit leben | They don't let you live! |
| Me redt zich oys dos harts | Talk your heart out |
| Me zogt | They say; it is said |
| Mechaieh | Great pleasure, joy, delight; orgasmic, out of this world wonderful! |
| Mechaiyeh | Great pleasure, joy, delight; orgasmic, out of this world wonderful! |
| Mechuleh | Finished unsuccessfully, ended unhappily; bankrupt |
| Megillah | A long, drawn-out story (Hebrew: scroll) |
| Mein bubbeh's tahm | Bad taste, old fashioned taste (lit., my bubbe’s chopped herring) |
| Mein cheies gait oys | I'm dying for it! |
| Meis | Ugly |
| Meiskeit | Ugly, funny-looking, geeky, unattractive person |
| Meisseh meshina | Curse on one’s enemies (lit., a horrible death) |
| Mekhaber | Author |
| Mekhaye | Great pleasure, joy, delight; orgasmic, out of this world wonderful! |
| Mekhile | Pardon, forgiveness |
| Mekler | Go-between |
| Melamed | Teacher |
| Menner vash tsimmer | Men's room |
| Mensh | 1. A special, decent, person; 2. a good person who always does the right thing; 3. one who can be respected |
| Menshlekhayt | Human decency |
| Mentsh | 1. A special, decent, person; 2. a good person who always does the right thing; 3. one who can be respected |
| Menuvel | A person who is always causing grief, can get nothing right, and is always in the way. |
| Meshugass | Craziness, madness, insanity |
| Meshugeh | Crazy |
| Meshugeh ahf toit | Crazy as a loon. Really crazy |
| Meshugeneh (f.) | (n.) Mad, crazy, insane person |
| Meshugener (m.) | (n.) Mad, crazy, insane person |
| Meshugoyim | Crazy people |
| Meshumed | Jewish man who has been baptized; apostate |
| Messer | Knife |
| Metsieh | 1. Bargain, prize package (often used sarcastically); 2. lucky break |
| Metsyea | 1. Bargai |