Pronunciations

Definitions

• n. A form of traditional Jewish oral poetry in which a performer improvises humorous verses tailored to the specific people or events of the occasion, often sung over a simple, fixed melody in a call-and-response style with the audience.

Example Sentences

Languages of Origin

• Yiddish

Etymology

• גראַמען gramen 'rhymes'

Who Uses This

• Orthodox: Jews who identify as Orthodox and observe halacha (Jewish law)
• Older: Jews who are middle-aged and older
• Ashkenazim: Jews with Ashkenazi heritage

Regions

• North America

Dictionaries

• Yiddish and English: A Century of Yiddish in America, by Sol Steinmetz (Tuscaloosa, 1986).
• Yinglish: A Lexicon of Judeo-English by Aliza Bulow

Alternative Spellings

gramn