I'm trying to remember the first time I heard a Yiddish word. Was it my grandma telling me to rest my keppie on her shoulder or calling me her shayna punim? Maybe the first Yiddish word I heard was from my dad, talking to my brothers about the importance of being a mensch—or maybe it was him calling the driver who cut him off a putz. In a (Yiddish) word: oy.
The point is, Yiddish has been folded into my identity. It's part of what makes me feel connected to my Jewish heritage and my relatives from the "Old World." It's a language that reflects both the past and the future. Born out of the need to evolve, Yiddish became the language of the Ashkenazi diaspora. And yet, parts of it still cling to the past. Put Hebrew, Aramaic, and Slavic elements with medieval German into a blender, and you get Yiddish. It is very literally a language composed of old and new, and very metaphorically, a language the represents both exile and assimilation.
And even though Yiddish was basically declared a dead language following the Holocaust, Yiddish words and phrases have sprung up like spring blooms after the long frost. I have always found a little piece of home in the words and phrases of the language, which is probably why I started making jewelry with some of my favorite words. So, without further ado, I present this Yiddish glossary, 20 Yiddish word definitions, replete with examples that your bubbe would totally approve of...ok maybe she wouldn't. But keep reading.
1. Bissel
A little bit. When you need just a touch more of something, you ask for a bissel.
- Example: "Everything bagel, toasted with just a bissel of whitefish salad.
2. Bubbe
Grandmother. The heart of the family, always ready with love, advice, and maybe a little too much food.
- Example: "Bubbe called me three times today to make sure I ate breakfast."
3. Bupkes
Nothing, nada, zilch. When you’re left with bupkes, you’ve got nothing to show for it.
- Example: "I do all the emotional labor in this family and what do I get for my birthday? Bubkes!"
4. Chutzpah
Boldness, audacity—having the nerve to speak up or do things your way, even if it's considered over-the-top, "rude" or just unthinkable.
- Example: "The chutzpah on that one—she's coming to work and wearing pants? Unbelievable."
6. Drek
Trash or junk, often referring to something of poor quality.
- Example: "Grandma said the movie was 'drek'--so we left after the second sex scene."
7. Glitch
A hiccup of sorts in the plan.
- Example: *Intense music as a security analyst attempts to engage the casino cameras.* "I've lost control of the camera, there must be a glitch in the system..."
8. Goy
A non-Jewish person.
- Example: "I'd describe my home style as more 'Righteous Gems Jewish Gaudy' and less 'Home Alone goy' aesthetic."
9. Kibitz
To chi-chi, a catch-up chat, exchange some gossip, joke around with friends.
- Example: "Mondays are my nights to play mahj with my girlfriends and kibitz until we get too tired to talk."
10. Klutz
A clumsy person. Aka the person who's most likely to drop their phone in the toilet, bump their head on the fireplace or walk straight into a pole.
- Example: "I know Sharon's the maid of honor, but she's such a klutz—maybe someone else should pick up the wedding cake?"
11. Kvell
To beam with pride or joy. It's that feeling when your heart swells, especially for someone else's accomplishments—usually your grandkids.
- Example: *A grandma in the audience of her granddaughter's very mediocre voice recital leans over to whisper to a stranger*: "I'm just absolutely kvelling! What talent!"
12. Kvetch
To complain, gripe, chide, sometimes with a bit of humor or a knowing wink, sometimes just to complain.
- Example: "All my students do is kvetch about homework, kvetch about exams—I try to help, but they just want to kvetch!"
13. Macher
A big shot or someone who makes things happen. It’s the person who knows how to get things done.
- Example: *Zayde reading the newspaper circa 2009:"That Blagojevich really thought he was a macher, huh? Fakakta pay-to-play scheme. You know who's a real macher? Dr. Rosen's son. He's doing something with 'credit default swaps' or something? mI'm not sure, but he bought his father a house in Palm Spring, and that's what matters!"
14. Mazel Tov
Congratulations! Whether it’s a wedding, a new job, or just good news.
-
Example: Fill up my cup, mazel tov
Look at her dancin', just take it off (I feel)
Let's paint the town, we'll shut it down
Let's burn the roof
And then we'll do it again (I feel)
Let's do it, let's do it, let's do it
Let's do it, and do it, and do it, let's live it up (I feel)
And do it, and do it, and do it, do it, do it
Let's do it, let's do it, let's do it — The Black Eyed Peas
15. Mensch
A person of integrity and honor, or anyone who's ever held the door open for my mother.
- Example: "Why can't I be attracted to a mensch? Why do I have to fall for FB's who I would never introduce to my parents?"
16. Naches
Pride or pleasure, especially from family achievements.
- Example: Child: "But I hate piano! Why do I have to take lessons?"
Parent: "Because it brings me and your mom good nachas, so get in the car!"
17. Nebbish
A meek, ineffectual person, kinda a pushover with bad luck.
- Example: Server: "And would you like soup or salad with the tuna sandwich?"
Man: "What kind of soup is it?"
Server: "Matzo ball."
Man: "And the salad?"
Server: "Just...a salad."
*Man contemplates*
Woman: "Oy vezmir, what a nebbish! Make a choice! He'll take the soup!"
Man: "I'll do the soup."
18. Nosh
A little snack, usually between larger meals.
- Example: "I had a late lunch, so I'm just probably just gonna nosh a bit on appetizers."
19. Nudnik
An annoying or persistent person who won't take a hint.
- Example: "Why Noreen is running again for PTO president beats me—she loses every year! What a nudnik."
20. Nu?
A multipurpose expression that's kind of like "Duh. So? OK...and? Tell me something I didn't know...
- Example: Woman 1: "Oof, I'm gonna need a bathroom after noshing all that cheesecake." Woman 2: "Nu?"
