We all know that it doesn’t help to talk about the weather. Actually, it does help. Complaining can help release energy and frustration. And speaking of complaining, many of us, on hearing our friends complain all the time, would tell them, “Stop your kvetching.” Kvetching? So why is it written in italics? It’s written that way because the word is not English. Well, not entirely. The word kvetch is actually a Yiddish word meaning to squeeze. According to MyJewishLearning.com it means to complain or whine. Maybe because your face sort of squeezes up when you are complaining. And this is not the only word derived from Yiddish that we commonly use. Many Yiddish words have worked their way into American English.
And so as a public service I am passing along some of these Yiddishisms. However, when I began looking for some of the more notable words I found that there are SO many that have worked their way into English that it would be impossible to write them all in one newsletter. It’s really a daunting task. Undaunted, I’ve compiled an abbreviated list of common Yiddish words that you should know because you are liable to hear them from time to time. You should learn them if you don’t already know them. My main sources are MyJewishLearning.com and Ponly.com. You’ll find, with a few clicks on your computer, that there are many many websites dedicated to keeping these words in the public eye. And some of these words are so common that they have made their way into Wikipedia. If it’s in Wikipedia it must be true, right?
So here goes. I’ll write the Yiddish words in bold.
Bubbe (Bubby) – Grandmother, often used affectionately. Derivative – Bubbeleh.
Bissel – A little bit, as in “I just want a bissel.”
Mensch – An honorable, decent person.
Kvell – To feel proud of someone else, typically, one’s children or grandchildren.
Klutz – A clumsy person. “When I dropped the dish I felt like such a klutz.”
Meshuggeneh – Crazy or ridiclous, related to mishegoss (craziness)
Mishpocheh – Family or someone like family.
Schlemiel – A clumsy person who often spills the soup.
Schlimazel – An unlucky person who gets the soup spilled on him.
Nudnik – An annoying, persistent person.
Schnorrer – Someone who consistently asks for favors (or loans).
Nu? – Well? So?, used to prompt a response.
Oy / Oy vey – Expressions of grief, pain or dismay.
Bubkes – Literally ‘goat droppings’, something worthless or trivial.
Shlep – To drag or carry something heavy, or move around tiredly.
Balebosta – A competent, capable woman or mistress of the house.
Chutzpah – boldness, nerve, audacity (sometimes admirable, sometimes not)
Any words you did’nt know? You didn’t realize how much Yiddish you knew or that these words originated in Yiddish. Now here’s some more:
Farblunzhet – Lost or confused. “Oy! (See above) Am I farblunzhet!”
Nebbish – Timid, ineffectual person. “My brother-in-law is a nebbish.”
Shanda – A shame or scandal. “Look at that plunging neckline. It’s a shanda.”
Farshtunken – Rotten or disgusting. “I tripped on some farshtunken garbage.”
Luftmensch – A dreamer with his head in the clouds. (I know a few of them.)
Schmendrik – A weak, foolish person. “I have a cousin who is a schmendrik.”
Geshmak – Tasty. “My mother’s cooking was so geshmak.”
Yenta – A busybody with her nose in everybody else’s business.
Plotz – Explode as in “I was so angry I could have plotzed.”
Schmutz – Dirt. The adjective is schmutzig. “Go wash your hands. They’re schmutzig.”
Schmooz – Chat. “It was nice having this schmooz with you.”
Macher – A doer. A groiser macher is a mover and shaker.
Mishmash – A jumble of disparate things. (Bet you knew that one.)
Heimish – Home-like; homey as in, ‘This restaurant has a real heimish atmosphere.”