alte kaker

Alternative Spellings

alta kaka, alta kaker, alte kocker, alter kocker, alter kaker, alte kakker, altakaka

Definitions

• elderly person, old-timer [literally "old shitter"] "A crotchety, fussy, ineffectual old man." (Rosten)

Example Sentences

• "We'll have to have the program early, so the alte kakers can come."

Languages of Origin

Yiddish

Etymology

אַלטער קאַקער alter kaker

Who Uses This

Jews: Jews of diverse religious backgrounds and organizational involvements
Older: Jews who are middle-aged and older
Ashkenazim: Jews with Ashkenazi heritage

Regions

North America

Dictionaries

The New Joys of Yiddish, by Leo Rosten and Lawrence Bush (New York, 2003[1968]).
The JPS Dictionary of Jewish Words, by Joyce Eisenberg and Ellen Scolnic, (Philadelphia, 2001)

Notes

"Alte" used with "kokker" is incorrect according to Standard Yiddish grammar (alte is feminine and kokker is masculine) but correct in Jewish English. This expression was once vulgar but now is not.