Showing 310 of 310 words, page 1 of 1
-
aba
father, dad, daddy
-
abi gezunt
"As long as you're healthy [you can be happy]."
-
acharon acharon chaviv
"The very last one is beloved."; "Last but not least."
-
al regel achat
lit. "on one foot"; off-the-cuff; "To answer a question or deal with a query very briefly and cursorily." (Glinert)
-
Aleph-bet
"A name for the Hebrew alphabet" (JPS)
-
aliyah
"calling to the reading of the Torah" (Glinert)
immigration to Israel
ascent
ascent of the soul of a deceased person to a higher level, as is believed to happen on their yartzeit
-
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
-
apikoros
heretic, non-believer, especially one with great knowledge of Judaism
-
aroisgevorfene gelt
"a waste of money"; lit., thrown out money.
-
averah
religious transgression (Glinert: "An aveirah is an infringement on the Torah, the opposite of a mitzvah.")
-
b'vakasha
JPS: "Literally, 'please'. It can be used in various ways, including "please go ahead" and at the end of a sentence as 'you're welcome'."
-
ba'al tshuvah
a Jew raised non-religious who becomes Orthodox, [lit. 'one who returns/repents']
-
balaboosta
1) Female head of household 2) Impressively competent homemaker
-
balabotish
"Quiet; respectable; well mannered" (Rosten). "middle class"; normal
-
BCE
Before the Common Era (used in place of B.C.). Steinmetz: "...recently, a new awareness of the Christian character of these abbreviations have led many Jewish writers and editors to replace them with [C.E. And B.C.E.]"
-
bechina
examination, particularly for rabbinic ordination
-
bechira
free will
-
bekitzur
"Briefly or concisely: succinctly" (Weiser)
-
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)
-
bikur cholim
visiting the sick
-
bisl
"a little bit of something, a tiny piece" (JPS)
-
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.
-
bli neder
"Literally, 'without vowing', this is added to any casual promise to avoid it being taken as an absolute undertaking." (Glinert)
-
bochur
young unmarried male, especially a yeshiva student
-
Borscht Belt
region in the Catskill Mountains with many summer resorts frequented by Jews, especially in the mid twentieth century
-
boychick
"A young boy...equivalent of the American expression 'buddy'" (JPS)
-
boydem
attic
-
bracha
blessing (in the technical or figurative sense)
-
broch
curse
-
bubbale
sweetie, darling [term of endearment]
-
bubbe
grandmother
-
bubbe meise
"old wive's tale"; an untrue story, sometimes related to superstition
"Something of little importance, an inconsequential thing or minor happening." (JPS)
-
bulvan
loud mouth know-it-all; "a boorish, brutish person" (Steinmetz)
-
chap
"to comprehend" (Weiser) (lit. "to grasp")
-
chas v'chalila
"heaven forbid" (Steinmetz's Yiddish and English dictionary)
-
chas v'sholom
"heaven forbid" (Glinert)
-
chatuna
wedding
-
chayav
Guilty of transgressing. Liable.
-
chazir
1. pork 2. a pig, greedy person (JPS)
-
cherem
"excommunication; ostracism" (Yiddish)
-
chevra
"society; close-knit group" (Yiddish)
-
chrein
horseradish
-
chuppah
"The Jewish wedding canopy; that is, the cloth under which the Jewish wedding ceremony is conducted." (JPS)
wedding ceremony (not including reception)
-
chutzpah
guts (positive)
nerve, audacity, the quality of over-stepping boundries with no shame (negative)
-
chutzpahdik
impertinent
-
davka
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.)
"definitely or exactly stated; specifically" (Weiser)
-
drasha
"Sermon, learned address." (Glinert)
-
dveykus
spiritual ecstasy; lit. "cleaving"
-
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)
-
eema
mother
-
einikel
grandchild
-
emunah
"faith"; sometimes contrasted with practical striving in the material world
-
erev
"Eve of." (Glinert) Evening, or the day before a Jewish holiday
-
farbrengen
Noun: a gathering or celebration that includes a spiritual or religious component.
Verb: to hold such a gathering or celebration.
-
farbrente
fiery, devout, fervent [lit. 'burning']
-
farfel
a side dish including bits of noodle, often sauteed with vegetables and beef or chicken stock
noodle pellets
-
farher
noun: an oral examination, typically on one's understanding of Talmud
verb: examine, test, quiz
-
farmisht
mixed up, confused, crazy
-
farshteyst? (farshteyt)
literally 'do you understand?'
-
feh!
an expression of disgust; "portraying...negative feelings" (Rosten)
-
fleishig
"The general term for food in the meat category, according to the Jewish dietary laws" (JPS)
-
fress
To gobble up food; to gorge oneself. "To eat quickly or noisily, like an animal" (JPS)
-
fresser
big eater, "pig". "A heavy eater." (JPS)
-
frum
religious; observant; Orthodox
-
gadol
literally "big," refers to particularly well respected rabbis; "luminary" (Weiser)
-
gam zu l'toyve
"This too is for the best."
-
gantseh
entire, complete
-
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.
-
gayve
pride; arrogance; obnoxiousness
-
geferlech
Dangerous, terrible
-
gehenom
Considered to be a temporary place one's soul goes after death, for atonement, before reuniting with God.
Hell (metaphoric)
-
gelt
Money (slang usage)
"The foil wrapped chocolate coins that are a traditional Hanukkah treat for children." (JPS)
-
genug
enough
-
gesheft
business
-
geshmak
delicious, delightful
-
gesundheit
Health. (Bless you) - said in response to a sneeze.
-
get
a writ or deed of divorce
-
geulah
redemption
-
gevald
an interjection of alarm
-
gey avek
"Go away!"
-
glatt
Super-kosher (not only of food), or acceptable to the Haredi community.
Showing consistency of reason (Weiser).
-
glitch
flaw; slight problem in a process
-
golem
"A creature of Jewish medieval folklore, a golem is a figure made into the form of a human and given life." (JPS)
-
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)
-
gonif
thief
-
good yom-tov
standard holiday greeting
-
gorgel
neck, throat (generally of poultry)
-
goy
a nation, but not the Jewish nation
"most often used among Jews to refer to someone who is not a Jew" (JPS)
-
goyish
"in the manner or style of a non-Jewish person" (JPS), especially something WASPy or "white bread"
-
gramen
rhymes; especially a rhyming poem or song
-
gurnisht
"nothing, zilch, zero" (JPS)
-
hachnasas orchim
hospitality (lit. "bringing in guests")
-
hafsaka
break or interruption
-
Hak mir nisht keyn tshaynik
Literally, don't knock a teakettle at me
Stop annoying me
Don't bother me
-
handl
to bargain, do business
-
hashgacha
1. Divine providence, interference, attention 2. Rabbinic supervision designating food as kosher
-
Hashpa'ah
Influence, or effect, particularly on one's character, development, and/or behavior
Motivating force, source for change in one's actions, influence
-
hechsher
(Rabbinic) stamp or seal of approval-- typically designating a product as kosher
-
heter
rabbinic allowance
-
hock
"to bother incessantly: ANNOY" (Weiser)
-
inyan
matter (Steinmetz)
Modern Hebrew: matter. Used in phrases such as, "ma ha'inyan", what's the matter; "ze lo inyankha", that's none of your business; or "inyani," practical. (https://www.haaretz.com/israel-news/improving-your-hebrew-is-a-matter-of-inyan-1.5434244)
Significance within Jewish law.
Topic [of conversation] (Weiser, Glinert).
-
iser
prohibition
-
kaboles ponem
the reception before a wedding ceremony, consisting of a tish (for men) and a bedeken (for women). Lit. 'receiving the faces'.
-
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.
-
kaparot
Ritual performed between Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur to remove sins carried out by swinging a chicken over ones head.
-
kasha
buckwheat groats, commonly served with bowtie noodles ('kasha varnishkes'); porridge
-
kashe
Question, difficulty (Steinmetz), challenge, objection.
A question posing some difficulty because of apparent inconsistencies with accepted premises: problem. A tough, perplexing question.
-
kedai
"worth it" (Weiser)
-
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)
-
kibbitz
"To socialize aimlessly...To carry on a running commentary" (Rosten)
-
kimat
"almost or nearly" (Weiser)
-
kinder
"children" (Rosten)
-
kishka
"Stuffed derma: a sausagelike comestible of meat, flour, and spices stuffed into intestine casing and baked" (Rosten) Also, "guts," literally, Slavic. (Wikipedia)
-
klezmer
"Eastern European style of instrumental music" (JPS)
-
kochleffel
A cooking spoon, as for soup. By extension, a person who stirs up trouble; meddler, busybody.
-
kol tuv
"all the best" (JPS), a closing or farewell
-
kreplach
(meat-) stuffed dumplings usually served in soup; Jewish wontons
-
krovim
relatives
-
kumzits
sing-along; campfire gathering with singing
-
kuntz
peculiarity, particular oddness (JPS)
strategy (Weiser)
feat, stunt, trick, challenge, ingenuity
-
kvater
one of the people honored to hold the baby at a circumcision ceremony; godfather
-
kvell
feel or express pride, "to be extraordinarily pleased" (JPS)
-
kvetch
"to chronically complain or gripe to others over minor issues" (JPS)
-
l'hachis
spitefully; deliberately; literally "in order to anger"
-
lamden
a proficient Talmudic scholar
-
lashon hara
"gossip" (lit. "evil tongue") (JPS)
-
leibedik
lively, enthusiastic; warm, heartfelt
-
levaye
funeral
-
leytsanus
silliness; buffoonery
-
ligner
liar
-
linker
leftist, socialist, secularist
-
lo aleynu
"I hope it won't happen to us"; "God forbid" lit. "not unto us"
-
lokshen
noodles
-
luftmensch
"an impractical contemplative person having no definite business or income" (Merriam-Webster)
-
macher
"1. Someone who arranges, fixes, has connections...someone who is [very] active in an organization" (Rosten) "important person", "hot shot"
-
machloket
disagreement, dispute, argument, conflict, especially one about a halachic issue
-
madrich
youth counselor or supervisor
-
maidel
girl
-
mame-loshn
"mother tongue", usually refers to Yiddish
-
mamzer
bastard [see note]; "A detestable [person] like the colloquial English "He's a bastard"" (Rosten)
-
matzeivah
headstone
-
mayofes
a servile person (see note below)
-
mazel tov
congratulations [lit. "good fortune"]
-
mazik
a mischievous person, often a child
(with verb "to be") to ruin partially; damage (Yeshivish usage)
-
mazume
"ready money, cash" (Steinmetz)
"A group of three or more adult males who join together to recite the after-meal blessings..." (Steinmetz).
-
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).
-
mechuteneste
the mother of one's child's spouse
-
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
-
mensch
"An upright, honorable, a decent person." (Rosten)
-
meshuga
crazy
-
mesiras nefesh
self-sacrifice
-
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)
-
mise meshune
horrible, violent, or unnatural death, often used as a curse
-
mishpacha
"Literally, "family". ...The word conveys a warm feeling of friendship." (JPS)
-
moadon
clubhouse, lounge
-
moshl
parable, example
-
musar
reproof; system of ethics; discipline
a Jewish ethical movement that crystallized among non-Hasidic Orthodox Jews in Lithuania in the 19th century, led by Israel Salanter, focusing on character development.
-
naches
"Proud pleasure, special joy--particularly from the achievements of a child... 2. Psychological reward or gratification." (Rosten)
-
nachon
correct, right
-
nafke mine
practical difference
-
navi
prophet; class on Prophets
-
nebach
interjection, adverb: "unfortunately"; noun: an unfortunate person
-
nebbish
noun: nerdy, clumsy, awkward person. "An innocuous, ineffectual, weak, helpless, or hapless unfortunate" (Rosten)
-
neder
a vow
-
nes
miracle
-
nifter
deceased
-
noch
still, yet, moreover
-
nosherai
snacks
-
olam habah
"The world to come"; the messianic age; Heaven
-
olav ha-sholom
"peace be upon him"; said of someone who is deceased
-
oleh
Immigrant to Israel; a person who makes aliyah.
-
ongepotchket
overly elaborate, excessively decorated, slapped together senselessly
-
oy vey
exclamation of dismay, exasperation, or surprise
-
oy vey iz mir
woe is me
-
oysgeputst
dressed-up, decked out in finery (Steinmetz), overembellished.
-
pasken
to rule halachically
-
patshke
"1. To fuss or "mess around" inefficiently and inexpertly. 2. To dawdle, to waste time." (Rosten)
-
patur
not liable, exempt
-
pekel
little bundle
-
pintele yid
"essential Jewishness"
-
pisk
mouth, loud-mouth, similar to English slang "trap" for mouth.
Colloquialism: an eloquent or garrulous speaker. (Rosten)
(vulgar) snout, grimace (Steinmetz)
-
Pitseleh
Little one, dear
-
poshet
simple
-
posl
invalid
-
pritse
an immodest woman
-
prost
coarse, base, not classy, vulgar, common
-
psak
rabbinic ruling
-
pupik
Navel, belly button
-
pushke
"The little container...in which money to be donated to charity is accumulated." (Rosten)
-
rachmones
mercy
-
refua shlema
"Get well soon." Lit. "full recovery"
-
ruach
spirit, "spiritedness, morale" (JPS)
-
ruchnies
spirituality
-
saba
grandfather
-
sabra
a prickly pear, "tough and prickly on the outside, tender and sweet on the inside--a description that many say fits citizens of the Jewish state." (JPS)
-
savta
grandmother
-
schlemiel
idiot; contemptible person. "Clumsy, bungling person." (Steinmetz)
-
schlemozel
The constant butt of idiotic or unfortunate happenings
-
schlep
An annoyingly long journey
"To carry, lug" (JPS)
To travel from one place to another when one would prefer not to
-
schmatta
rag, old/ragged piece of clothing, garment
-
schmegege
"An unadmirable, petty person" (Rosten)
-
schmo
a fool; a jerk
-
schnapps
"A strong, dry liquor." (JPS)
-
schnorrer
a begger, a parasite. "A moocher" (JPS)
-
sechel
"Common sense" (JPS), intelligence
-
sefer
"A literary composition written particularly of, on, or about the Torah" (Weiser)
Hebrew or Aramaic book
-
seforim
Religious books written in Hebrew or Aramaic.
-
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))
-
shadchen
matchmaker
-
shaila
a question, usually while looking for a halachic ruling
-
shalom
hello, goodbye, peace
-
shalom bayit
"Literally, 'peace in the home'. Contentment and harmony among family members." (JPS)
-
shanda
"Scandal, shame." (JPS)
Misbehavior by a particular Jew or Jewish group that leads to embarrassment among the broader Jewish community.
-
Shayach
1. Capable of being true or believable: Conceivable. / 2. Capable of being done: Surmountable / 3. Practical, reasonable, or possible: Feasible. (Weiser)
Pertinent, relevant (Steinmetz).
-
Sheket
Quiet!
-
sherut
Lit. "service"; specifically a shared taxi used in israeli transportation
-
shicker
tipsy/drunk
-
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)
-
shiksa
"1. A non-Jewish girl. 2. A housemaid. 3. An irreligious or nonobservant Jewish girl. The term is often regarded as disparaging." (Steinmetz)
-
shlump
an unkempt person, a loser
-
shnook
"An incompetent person who is deserving of pity but also likable" (JPS); "A customer easily persuaded, a sucker." (H.L. Mencken, American Language)
-
shpatzir
literally 'to walk, take a stroll'; figuratively 'to delay, tarry, procrastinate'
-
shpilkes
nervous energy, anxiousness, restlessness. Lit. 'pins'
-
shtetl
"A town or village with...Jewish inhabitants, commonly found in Eastern Europe before World War II." (Steinmetz)
-
shuk
Open air market in Israel
-
shul
synagogue
-
shvach
weak, pathetic, (a place or gathering that is) lacking in activity
-
shver
difficult, onerous, complex
-
siddur
Jewish prayer book
-
slicha
"Excuse me", "Sorry"
-
sofer
A scribe trained in transcribing the Torah, mezuzah, tefillin scriptures and other religious texts on parchment.
-
tachlis
practical details of a matter, "brass tacks" (as in, "Let's get down to brass tacks.")
purpose, aim
-
tachrichim
burial shrouds
-
tate
dad
little boy; especially when using diminutive tatele / tattele / tattaleh / tattale / tateleh (in child-directed speech)
-
teshuvah
repentance [lit. "return"]
-
toda
"thank you"
-
treif
(adj or noun) food prohibited by the jewish dietary laws
-
tsedreyt
mixed up, twisted, distorted, turned around
-
tsu gezunt
a response after another person sneezes (analogous to "bless you")
-
tuches
buttocks
-
tumler
"A funmaker, a 'live wire,' a clown, a prankster, the 'life of the party." (Rosten)
-
tza'ar ba'alei chayim
pity for living creatures (Steinmetz), or compassion for animals.
-
tzadik
Someone who does extremely righteous deeds.
Common name for the 18th letter of the Hebrew alphabet (tzadi / tzade).
A highly learned and esteemed rabbinic leader (sometimes used as an alternative name for a Hasidic rebbe).
-
va'ad
"committee or council" (Steinmetz), group convened for a particular purpose, including rabbinical council, kashrut supervisory council, youth group/synagogue board of directors, study group, etc.
-
vort
a short lesson derived from the Torah; an engagement party, named after the short speech usually delivered in honor of the couple
-
Yekke
A Jew who behaves according to the stereotype of Jews of German heritage: punctual and concerned with details.
A Jew of German heritage
-
yemach shemo
"may his name be erased", appended to the names of evil people such as Haman and Hitler
-
yerida
emigration from Israel
-
yetzer hara
Lit. 'the evil inclination'
-
yichus
Bragging rights based on respected family history
"Pedigree, lineage, family background." (JPS)
-
yid
a Jewish person
A derogatory term used by non-Jews for a Jewish person (particularly so in Great Britain).
-
yiddishkeit
"Jewishness"; sometimes used interchangeably with 'Judaism' or 'Jewish culture'
-
yiras shamayim
"awe of heaven"
-
yold
fool, dupe
-
yontefdik
festive; related to or appropriate for a holiday
-
yontif
a Jewish holiday, especially one on which work is prohibited (in contrast to chol hamoed)
-
yosem
orphan
-
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
-
zaftig
pleasantly plump, buxom, lit. "juicy"
-
zaidie
grandpa, grandfather
-
zei gezunt
be healthy, be well; farewell!
(humorous) a recommendation for greater sophistication or awareness: "get real"
-
zichrona livracha
May her memory be blessed.
-
zichrono livracha
may his memory be for a blessing (often abbreviated 'z"l')
-
zise
a sweet, good person
-
zivug
(n.) mate, predestined match
-
zoykhe
to merit
- ← Prev
- Next →