Yiddish Glossary
A bi gezunt: So long as you're healthy.
Alter cocker: An old and complaining person.
Ay-yah-yah: A Joyous, or at times sarcastic, exclamation
Baleboste: A good homemaker, a woman who’s in charge of her home.
Bei mir bist du shayn: To me you're beautiful.
Berryer: A woman who has excellent homemaking skills.
Bissel: A little bit.
Bobbemyseh: Old wives’ tales, nonsense.
Boychick: An affectionate term for a young boy.
Broche: A prayer
Bubbe: Grandmother.
Bubbelah: “Darling”, often used by Grandma Fanny
Bupkes: It really means “horse droppings.” Describes someone worthless.
Chaya: An animal. "Vilda Chaya," a wild animal, unruly children.
Chazerei: Food that is awful, junk or garbage.
Chutzpah: Nerve, extreme arrogance.
Dreck: Can refer to the ugliness of objects or people.
Ess: Eat.
Ferblunjit: Lost, mixed up.
Fercockt: All messed up.
Ferdrayt: Confused.
Farpitz: All dressed up.
Fehl: An expression of disgust or disapproval.
Fermisht: All shook up, as in an acute disturbance.
Fershlugina: Beaten up, messed up, no good.
Fershtay?: Do you understand.
Fertummelt: Befuddled, confused.
Fress: To eat like an animal.
Gavalt: "Oh how terrible."
Gay avek: Go away; get out of here.
Gay ga zinta hate: Go in good health. Often said in parting.
Gay shlafen: Go to sleep.
Gelt: Money
Gonif: A thief, a tricky clever person, a shady character
Grepse: To belch.
Goy: A non-Jew. One Gentile is a goy; Many Gentiles are goyim,
Hsymish: A haimisher mensch is someone you feel comfortable with.
Hok a chainik: To talk too much, to talk nonsense.
Kibbitz: Verbal joking. A kibitzer gives unasked for advice.
Kine-Ahora: A magical phrase to ward off the evil eye
Kishka: Intestines, belly. To hit someone in the "kishka" in the guts.
Klutz: An awkward, uncoordinated person.
Kvell: To beam with pride and pleasure, Jewish parents kvell.
Kvetch: To annoy or to be an annoying person, to complain.
Luftmensh: A dreamer, someone whose head is in the clouds.
Luzzem: Leave him or her alone.
Mach shnel: Hurry up.
Macher: An ambitious person; a schemer with many plans.
Maven: An expert, a connoisseur.
Mazel tov: Good luck, or congratulations.
Mensch: A person of integrity or honor
Meshugge or Meshuggina: Crazy
Mishegoss: Inappropriate, or bizarre actions or beliefs.
Mishpocha: Family, usually extended family.
Naches: Joy.
Narrishkeit: Foolishness, trivia.
Noodge: To push, a person who bothers you.
Nosh: To snack.
Nudnik: Annoying person.
Oy gevalt: Oh, my goodness!
Oy-yoy-yoy: An exclamation of sorrow and lamentation.
Pisher: A young inexperienced person.
Potchka: To fool around; to be busy without a clear goal.
Pupik: Belly button.
Putz: A fool.
Schmaltz: Chicken fat.
Schmaltzey: Sentimental, over-the-top, and corny.
Shadkhen: A professional matchmaker.
Shanda: A shame, a scandal.
Shaygets: A non-Jewish boy and man.
Shayner: Pretty, attractive, as in shayner maidel (woman.)
Shiksa: A non-Jewish girl or woman.
Shlep: To drag, to carry unwillingly.
Shlemiel: A clumsy, inept person.
Shlimazel: Someone with constant bad luck.
Shmatta: A rag, putdown for clothes of the unfashionably dressed.
Shmeer: To spread as in to "shmeer" creamed cheese on a bagel.
Shmooz: To hang out with, a friendly gossipy talk.
Shmutz: Dirt – a little dirt, not serious grime.
Shmuck: A fool.
Shnorrer: A beggar, a moocher, a cheapskate, a chiseler.
Shnoz: A Nose.
Shtetl: A Jewish ghetto village.
Shtik: Something you’re known for doing.
Shvitz: To sweat.
Tchatchke: Knick-knack.
Tsorris: Aggravation.
Tummel: Noise, commotion, disorder
Ungabluzum: To look as if one is going to cry.
Ver clempt: All choked up.
Yente: Female gossiper.
Yiddisher kop: Smart person.
Zie gezunk: Wishing someone good health.
Zeyde: Grandfather, or old man.
Zhlub: An insensitive, ill-mannered person, a clumsy individual.