Showing 267 of 267 words, page 1 of 1
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abi gezunt
"As long as you're healthy [you can be happy]."
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acharon acharon chaviv
"The very last one is beloved."; "Last but not least."
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al regel achat
lit. "on one foot"; off-the-cuff; "To answer a question or deal with a query very briefly and cursorily." (Glinert)
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aleph-bet
"A name for the Hebrew alphabet" (JPS)
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alter bocher
a man that is too old not to be married
an old yeshiva student who really should have been married off by now
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apikoros
heretic, non-believer, especially one with great knowledge of Judaism
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arbes
Boiled chickpeas
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aroisgevorfene gelt
"a waste of money"; lit., thrown out money.
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averah
religious transgression (Glinert: "An aveirah is an infringement on the Torah, the opposite of a mitzvah.")
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balaboosta
1) Female head of household 2) Impressively competent homemaker
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balabotish
"Quiet; respectable; well mannered" (Rosten). "middle class"; normal
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batlan
"naive, impractical person" (Steinmetz)
"One who consistently wastes time: Bum, FaineĢant" (Weiser).
"A misfit, such as a Talmud student of no promise" (Rosten).
"Someone without a trade or regular means of livelihood" (Rosten).
"Layabout" (Glinert)
"An unemployed or lazy man" (Rosten).
"Someone with intellectual pretensions and half-baked ideas" (Rosten).
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bekitzur
"Briefly or concisely: succinctly" (Weiser)
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berya
"Complimentary term for a talented, competent, energetic woman, especially one who gets a lot done - and does it well - around the house." (JPS Dictionary of Words)
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bikur cholim
visiting the sick
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bisl
"a little bit of something, a tiny piece" (JPS)
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biz hundert un tsvantsik
[may you/he/she live] "until a hundred and twenty [years]" -- often used as a birthday wish for long life, or when mentioning a person who is getting on in years.
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bli neder
"Literally, 'without vowing', this is added to any casual promise to avoid it being taken as an absolute undertaking." (Glinert)
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bochur
young unmarried male, especially a yeshiva student
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Borscht Belt
region in the Catskill Mountains with many summer resorts frequented by Jews, especially in the mid twentieth century
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boychick
"A young boy...equivalent of the American expression 'buddy'" (JPS)
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boydem
attic
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bracha
blessing (in the technical or figurative sense)
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broch
curse
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bubbale
sweetie, darling [term of endearment]
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bubbe
grandmother
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bubbe meise
"old wive's tale"; an untrue story, sometimes related to superstition
"Something of little importance, an inconsequential thing or minor happening." (JPS)
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bulvan
loud mouth know-it-all; "a boorish, brutish person" (Steinmetz)
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chap
"to comprehend" (Weiser) (lit. "to grasp")
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chas v'chalila
"heaven forbid" (Steinmetz's Yiddish and English dictionary)
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chas v'sholom
"heaven forbid" (Glinert)
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chatuna
wedding
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chayav
Guilty of transgressing. Liable.
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chazir
1. pork 2. a pig, greedy person (JPS)
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cherem
"excommunication; ostracism" (Yiddish)
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chevra
"society; close-knit group" (Yiddish)
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chrain
A spicy paste made from grated horseradish.
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chrein
horseradish
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chuppah
wedding ceremony (not including reception)
"The Jewish wedding canopy; that is, the cloth under which the Jewish wedding ceremony is conducted." (JPS)
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chutzpah
guts (positive)
nerve, audacity, the quality of over-stepping boundries with no shame (negative)
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chutzpahdik
impertinent
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davka
"definitely or exactly stated; specifically" (Weiser)
just to annoy, just to be contrary
even; despite expectations to the contrary -- often with a slightly amused or ironic feeling of "wouldn't you know it?" or "of all things" ("of all people" ... etc.)
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drasha
"Sermon, learned address." (Glinert)
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dveykus
spiritual ecstasy; lit. "cleaving"
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dybbuk
a spirit, "often thought to be the soul of a dead person, that wanders the earth looking for a living body to inhabit" (JPS)
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einikel
grandchild
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emunah
"faith"; sometimes contrasted with practical striving in the material world
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ess
Eat
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farbrengen
Noun: a gathering or celebration that includes a spiritual or religious component.
Verb: to hold such a gathering or celebration.
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farbrente
fiery, devout, fervent [lit. 'burning']
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farchadat
"Confused, distracted, mixed up." (JPS)
"confused; dazed; stunned" (Steinmetz)
"Dizzy, confused, dopey, 'punchy.'" (Rosten)
"Having a headache." (Rosten)
"Smitten, charmed, beguiled." (Rosten)
"Surprised, stunned, shocked." (Rosten)
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farfel
a side dish including bits of noodle, often sauteed with vegetables and beef or chicken stock
noodle pellets
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farher
noun: an oral examination, typically on one's understanding of Talmud
verb: examine, test, quiz
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farmisht
mixed up, confused, crazy
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farshteyst? (farshteyt)
literally 'do you understand?'
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feh!
an expression of disgust; "portraying...negative feelings" (Rosten)
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fleishig
"The general term for food in the meat category, according to the Jewish dietary laws" (JPS)
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fress
To gobble up food; to gorge oneself. "To eat quickly or noisily, like an animal" (JPS)
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fresser
big eater, "pig". "A heavy eater." (JPS)
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frosk
a slap
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frum
religious; observant; Orthodox
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gam zu l'toyve
"This too is for the best."
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gantseh
entire, complete
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gartel
belt, which varies in width, but is worn over the outside of the pants or coat and often tied in a symbolic way, as to differentiate it from a regular belt. It is primarily used by Chassidic Jews (and a growing number of Litvaks) for prayer, or may be used for everyday wear over a long frock coat. It symbolically differentiates the heart from the loins.
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gayve
pride; arrogance; obnoxiousness
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geferlech
Dangerous, terrible
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gelt
Money (slang usage)
"The foil wrapped chocolate coins that are a traditional Hanukkah treat for children." (JPS)
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genug
enough
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geschrei
yell, shout
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gesheft
business
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geshmak
delicious, delightful
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geulah
redemption
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gevald
an interjection of alarm
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gey avek
"Go away!"
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glatt
Showing consistency of reason (Weiser).
Super-kosher (not only of food), or acceptable to the Haredi community.
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glitch
flaw; slight problem in a process
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golem
"A creature of Jewish medieval folklore, a golem is a figure made into the form of a human and given life." (JPS)
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golus
literally "exile" (JPS); outside of the Land of Israel; away from a vibrant Jewish community; the time period since the destruction of the Second Temple at Jerusalem (Glinert)
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gonif
thief
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good yom-tov
standard holiday greeting
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gorgel
neck, throat (generally of poultry)
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goy
"most often used among Jews to refer to someone who is not a Jew" (JPS)
a nation, but not the Jewish nation
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goyish
"in the manner or style of a non-Jewish person" (JPS), especially something WASPy or "white bread"
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gramen
rhymes; especially a rhyming poem or song
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gurnisht
"nothing, zilch, zero" (JPS)
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gut voch
"Good week!" Ashkenazi greeting at the conclusion of the Sabbath.
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gut yontef
"Happy holiday!" Ashkenazi greeting used on any of the holidays, including Rosh Hashanahh and Yom Kippur.
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gut yor
"Good year!" Ashkenazi greeting on Rosh Hashanah.
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Hak mir nisht keyn tshaynik
Stop annoying me
Don't bother me
Literally, don't knock a teakettle at me
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handl
to bargain, do business
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hashpa'ah
motivating force, source for change in one's actions, influence
influence, or effect, particularly on one's character, development, and/or behavior
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hock
"to bother incessantly: ANNOY" (Weiser)
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kaboles ponem
the reception before a wedding ceremony, consisting of a tish (for men) and a bedeken (for women). Lit. 'receiving the faces'.
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kalike
1. Cripple 2. Someone who is sickly 3. A clumsy person 4. A stupid ignorant man 5. An inept performer, a singer off-key, a pianist who hits the wrong notes, a waiter who spills the soup.
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kasha
buckwheat groats, commonly served with bowtie noodles ('kasha varnishkes'); porridge
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kashe
A question posing some difficulty because of apparent inconsistencies with accepted premises: problem. A tough, perplexing question.
Question, difficulty (Steinmetz), challenge, objection.
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kedai
"worth it" (Weiser)
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keinehora
"no evil eye" (Rosten). "An expression said to ward off the evil eye or bad luck in general; the verbal equivalent of knocking on wood." (JPS)
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khnyok
an unkempt or slovenly person
a mean or bigoted person
a sanctimonious, holier-than-thou religious person
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kibbitz
"To socialize aimlessly...To carry on a running commentary" (Rosten)
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kimat
"almost or nearly" (Weiser)
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kinder
"children" (Rosten)
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kishka
"Stuffed derma: a sausagelike comestible of meat, flour, and spices stuffed into intestine casing and baked" (Rosten) Also, "guts," literally, Slavic. (Wikipedia)
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kivyakhol
Substitute or euphemism for God's name, similar to Hashem
"As if", "so to speak," can be used to refer to anthropomorphic language about God
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klezmer
"Eastern European style of instrumental music" (JPS)
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kochleffel
A cooking spoon, as for soup. By extension, a person who stirs up trouble; meddler, busybody.
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kreplach
(meat-) stuffed dumplings usually served in soup; Jewish wontons
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krovim
relatives
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kumzits
sing-along; campfire gathering with singing
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kuntz
peculiarity, particular oddness (JPS)
strategy (Weiser)
feat, stunt, trick, challenge, ingenuity
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kvater
one of the people honored to hold the baby at a circumcision ceremony; godfather
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kvell
feel or express pride, "to be extraordinarily pleased" (JPS)
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kvetch
"to chronically complain or gripe to others over minor issues" (JPS)
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l'hachis
spitefully; deliberately; literally "in order to anger"
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lamden
a proficient Talmudic scholar
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lashon hara
"gossip" (lit. "evil tongue") (JPS)
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leibedik
lively, enthusiastic; warm, heartfelt
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lekech
"Honey cake, traditionally served on Rosh Hashanah... made with honey, eggs, cinnamon, and, often, coffee" (JPS).
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levaye
funeral
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ligner
liar
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linker
leftist, socialist, secularist
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lokshen
noodles
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luftmensch
"an impractical contemplative person having no definite business or income" (Merriam-Webster)
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macher
"1. Someone who arranges, fixes, has connections...someone who is [very] active in an organization" (Rosten) "important person", "hot shot"
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machloket
disagreement, dispute, argument, conflict, especially one about a halachic issue
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madrega
level, especially spiritual level
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maidel
girl
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mame-loshn
"mother tongue", usually refers to Yiddish
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mamzer
bastard [see note]; "A detestable [person] like the colloquial English "He's a bastard"" (Rosten)
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matzeivah
headstone
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mayofes
a servile person (see note below)
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mazel tov
congratulations [lit. "good fortune"]
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mazik
a mischievous person, often a child
(with verb "to be") to ruin partially; damage (Yeshivish usage)
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mazume
"ready money, cash" (Steinmetz)
"A group of three or more adult males who join together to recite the after-meal blessings..." (Steinmetz).
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mechuten
the father of one's child's spouse, though can sometimes be used to refer to the grandfather of one's grandchild's spouse.
In laws, more generally (http://www.pass.to/glossary/gloz2.htm#letm).
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mechuteneste
the mother of one's child's spouse
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megillah
one of the five books that compose kethuvim--writings--in Tanakh; can also refer to the physical scroll on which one is written; a long, engrossing story or description
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mensch
"An upright, honorable, a decent person." (Rosten)
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meshuga
crazy
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milchig
"...food in the "dairy" category, according to the Jewish dietary laws...also refers to the utensils and dishes used for cooking, eating, and serving milk products." (JPS)
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mishpacha
"Literally, "family". ...The word conveys a warm feeling of friendship." (JPS)
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moshl
parable, example
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naches
"Proud pleasure, special joy--particularly from the achievements of a child... 2. Psychological reward or gratification." (Rosten)
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nafke mine
practical difference
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nebach
interjection, adverb: "unfortunately"; noun: an unfortunate person
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nebbish
noun: nerdy, clumsy, awkward person. "An innocuous, ineffectual, weak, helpless, or hapless unfortunate" (Rosten)
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nifter
deceased
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noch
still, yet, moreover
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nosherai
snacks
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olav ha-sholom
"peace be upon him"; said of someone who is deceased
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ongepotchket
"Excessively and unaesthetically decorated; overly baroque." (Rosten)
overly elaborate, excessively decorated, slapped together senselessly, overdone, tacky, ostentatious, overcomplicated.
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oy vey
exclamation of dismay, exasperation, or surprise
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oy vey iz mir
woe is me
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oysgeputst
dressed-up, decked out in finery (Steinmetz), overembellished.
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pasken
to rule halachically
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patshke
"1. To fuss or "mess around" inefficiently and inexpertly. 2. To dawdle, to waste time." (Rosten)
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patur
not liable, exempt
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pekel
little bundle
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pintele yid
"essential Jewishness"
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pisk
Colloquialism: an eloquent or garrulous speaker. (Rosten)
mouth, loud-mouth, similar to English slang "trap" for mouth.
(vulgar) snout, grimace (Steinmetz)
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pitseleh
little one, dear
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poshet
simple
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posl
invalid
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pritse
an immodest woman
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prost
coarse, base, not classy, vulgar, common
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pupik
Navel, belly button
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pushke
"The little container...in which money to be donated to charity is accumulated." (Rosten)
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rachmones
mercy, pity, empathy
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refua shlema
"Get well soon." Lit. "full recovery"
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schlemiel
idiot; contemptible person. "Clumsy, bungling person." (Steinmetz)
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schlep
To travel from one place to another when one would prefer not to
An annoyingly long journey
"To carry, lug" (JPS)
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schlimazel
Unlucky person; the constant butt of idiotic or unfortunate happenings
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schmatta
rag, old/ragged piece of clothing, garment
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schmegege
"An unadmirable, petty person" (Rosten)
"silly or stupid person; simpleton; nitwit" (Steinmetz)
"An untalented loser; a whiner; a petty person" (JPS).
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schmo
a fool; a jerk
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schnapps
"A strong, dry liquor." (JPS)
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schnorrer
a begger, a parasite. "A moocher" (JPS)
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sechel
"Common sense" (JPS), intelligence
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sefer
"A literary composition written particularly of, on, or about the Torah" (Weiser)
Hebrew or Aramaic book
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seforim
Religious books written in Hebrew or Aramaic.
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segula
Folk remedy, safeguard, superstitious action, talisman
divinely bestowed reward as a result of an individual's participation in a minhag or mitzvah
"procedure that is not based on medical or scientific logic yet is efficacious in improving a situation or protecting a person from harm" (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Segula_(Kabbalah))
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shadchen
matchmaker
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shaila
a question, usually while looking for a halachic ruling
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shanda
"Scandal, shame." (JPS)
Misbehavior by a particular Jew or Jewish group that leads to embarrassment among the broader Jewish community.
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Shayach
Pertinent, relevant (Steinmetz).
1. Capable of being true or believable: Conceivable. / 2. Capable of being done: Surmountable / 3. Practical, reasonable, or possible: Feasible. (Weiser)
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shicker
tipsy/drunk
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shidduch
a date or match, often leading to marriage. "The matching up of a man and a woman for purposes of marriage; a match. In popular usage, any match or alliance, as in The shidduch between the two organization was a success." (Steinberg)
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shiksa
"1. A non-Jewish girl. 2. A housemaid. 3. An irreligious or nonobservant Jewish girl. The term is often regarded as disparaging." (Steinmetz)
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shlump
an unkempt person, a loser
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shnook
"An incompetent person who is deserving of pity but also likable" (JPS); "A customer easily persuaded, a sucker." (H.L. Mencken, American Language)
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shpatzir
literally 'to walk, take a stroll'; figuratively 'to delay, tarry, procrastinate'
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shpilkes
nervous energy, anxiousness, restlessness. Lit. 'pins'
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shtetl
"A town or village with...Jewish inhabitants, commonly found in Eastern Europe before World War II." (Steinmetz)
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shul
synagogue
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shvach
weak, pathetic, (a place or gathering that is) lacking in activity
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shver
difficult, onerous, complex
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tachlis
practical details of a matter, "brass tacks" (as in, "Let's get down to brass tacks.")
purpose, aim
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tate
dad
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treif
(adj or noun) food prohibited by the jewish dietary laws
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tsedreyt
mixed up, twisted, distorted, turned around
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tsu gezunt
a response after another person sneezes (analogous to "bless you")
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tuches
buttocks
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tumler
"A funmaker, a 'live wire,' a clown, a prankster, the 'life of the party." (Rosten)
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tzadik
A highly learned and esteemed rabbinic leader (sometimes used as an alternative name for a Hasidic rebbe).
Common name for the 18th letter of the Hebrew alphabet (tzadi / tzade).
Someone who does extremely righteous deeds.
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tzimmes
"Troubles, difficulties, a contretemps" (Rosten).
"A prolonged procedure, and involved business, a mix-up" (Rosten).
"A sweet, baked dish of vegetables or fruit. Carrot tzimmes, a popular version, includes carrots, sweet potatoes, dried apricots, raisins, sugar, and cinnamon" (JPS).
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veiter
"At a more advanced point: Further." (Weiser)
"Further; next." (Steinmetz)
"More distant: Farther." (Weiser)
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vort
a short lesson derived from the Torah; an engagement party, named after the short speech usually delivered in honor of the couple
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Yekke
A Jew who behaves according to the stereotype of Jews of German heritage: punctual and concerned with details.
A Jew of German heritage
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yemach shemo
"may his name be erased", appended to the names of evil people such as Haman and Hitler
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yichus
"Pedigree, lineage, family background." (JPS)
Bragging rights based on respected family history
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yid
a Jewish person
A derogatory term used by non-Jews for a Jewish person (particularly so in Great Britain).
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yiddishkeit
"Jewishness"; sometimes used interchangeably with 'Judaism' or 'Jewish culture'
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yold
fool, dupe
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yontefdik
festive; related to or appropriate for a holiday
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yontif
a Jewish holiday, especially one on which work is prohibited (in contrast to chol hamoed)
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yosem
orphan
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yotzei
released from a religious obligation by dint of completion or fulfillment; "to have done what's required" (Glinert)
(with the helping verb "to be," and an object where required) to fulfill, as a mitzvah or some figurative obligation
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zaftig
pleasantly plump, buxom, lit. "juicy"
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zaidie
grandpa, grandfather
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zei gezunt
be healthy, be well; farewell!
(humorous) a recommendation for greater sophistication or awareness: "get real"
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zets
"A strong blow or punch" (Rosten)
"punch; bump; slam" (Steinmetz)
"A punch, a strong blow; a setback" (JPS)
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zichrono livracha
may his memory be for a blessing (often abbreviated 'z"l')
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zise
a sweet, good person
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zivug
(n.) mate, predestined match
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