Jewish English Lexicon

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

behema

a boor, an uncouth, unmannered individual

an animal, especially a large one

bekies

"range of personal knowledge" (Weiser)

broad but not deep knowledge

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

broiges

a dispute (n)

angry, annoyed (adj.)

bubbale

sweetie, darling [term of endearment]

bubbe

grandmother

bubbe meise

"Something of little importance, an inconsequential thing or minor happening." (JPS)

"old wive's tale"; an untrue story, sometimes related to superstition

bulvan

loud mouth know-it-all; "a boorish, brutish person" (Steinmetz)

bupkis

Nothing

Something worthless

chag sameach

"Literally, 'Happy Holiday.' The traditional, all-purpose greeting exchanged on almost any Jewish holiday" (JPS).

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

chaver

comrade, mister (in left-wing political organizations)

friend

chayav

Guilty of transgressing. Liable.

chazir

1. pork 2. a pig, greedy person (JPS)

cherem

"excommunication; ostracism" (Yiddish)

chesed

an act of kindness

kindness

chevra

"society; close-knit group" (Yiddish)

chiyuv

obligation

one who is in mourning and must say Kaddish

chrain

A spicy paste made from grated horseradish.

chrein

horseradish

chug

elective class, group activity

group, circle (of people)

chuppah

wedding ceremony (not including reception)

"The Jewish wedding canopy; that is, the cloth under which the Jewish wedding ceremony is conducted." (JPS)

chush

sense

flair

feeling

chutzpah

guts (positive)

nerve, audacity, the quality of over-stepping boundries with no shame (negative)

chutzpahdik

impertinent

dati

Modern Orthodox

religious

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.)

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

emes

Truth, true

"In accordance with the truth: True" (Weiser)

emesdik

"As a matter of fact: Genuinely" (Weiser)

"Truthful, genuine" (Steinmetz)

emunah

"faith"; sometimes contrasted with practical striving in the material world

erev

"Eve of." (Glinert) Evening, or the day before a Jewish holiday

erlech

honest, legitimate

religious

ess

Eat

farbissiner

adj. embittered, sullen, mean

n. sourpuss, mean person

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']

farchadat

"Having a headache." (Rosten)

"Smitten, charmed, beguiled." (Rosten)

"Surprised, stunned, shocked." (Rosten)

"Confused, distracted, mixed up." (JPS)

"confused; dazed; stunned" (Steinmetz)

"Dizzy, confused, dopey, 'punchy.'" (Rosten)

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)

freilach

adj: happy, merry

noun: (frailach or freylekhs) a lively song/dance performed at simchas

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)

frosk

a slap

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

gaon

"A title of honor for the rabbis and teachers who were the spiritual heads of the Babylonian yeshivot between the 6th and 11th centuries C.E." (JPS)

"A rabbi whose learning was so great that he was given the honorary title of gaon" (Rosten), e.g. the Vilna Gaon

Modern Hebrew: genius (JPS)

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

Hell (metaphoric)

Considered to be a temporary place one's soul goes after death, for atonement, before reuniting with God.

gelt

Money (slang usage)

"The foil wrapped chocolate coins that are a traditional Hanukkah treat for children." (JPS)

gemilas chesed

(pl. gemilas chasodim) A loan of money without interest to help a needy person.

genug

enough

ger

(pl. gerim) A convert to Judaism.

geschrei

yell, shout

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!"

gezerah

In Jewish law, a prohibition enacted by the Sages as a measure to protect religious observance under changed conditions.

"evil decree" (Steinmetz)

"An authoritative command either to perform or to refrain from performing a particular act" (Weiser)

"an addition to a previously existing precept" (Weiser)

gezunt

n. health

adj. healthy

glatt

Showing consistency of reason (Weiser).

Super-kosher (not only of food), or acceptable to the Haredi community.

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

"most often used among Jews to refer to someone who is not a Jew" (JPS)

a nation, but not the Jewish nation

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)

gut voch

"Good week!" Ashkenazi greeting at the conclusion of the Sabbath.

gut yontef

"Happy holiday!" Ashkenazi greeting used on any of the holidays, including Rosh Hashanahh and Yom Kippur.

gut yor

"Good year!" Ashkenazi greeting on Rosh Hashanah.

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

halevai

If only

"Would that it be so" (Steinmetz, Yiddish and English)

I wish!

handl

to bargain, do business

hashgacha

Rabbinic supervision designating food as kosher

Divine providence, interference, attention

hashpa'ah

motivating force, source for change in one's actions, influence

influence, or effect, particularly on one's character, development, and/or behavior

hazarai

junk food

"Junk, trash" (Rosten)

treyf (non-kosher) food

hechsher

(Rabbinic) stamp or seal of approval-- typically designating a product as kosher

hefker

running wild, undisciplined

ownerless

heimish

1. familiar, homey, informal, cozy, warm

2. Haredi Orthodox

3. at home, comfortable

heter

rabbinic allowance

hock

"to bother incessantly: ANNOY" (Weiser)

hoo-ha

interjection of admiration or astonishment

vagina

hullabaloo, commotion

inyan

significance within Jewish law.

topic [of conversation] (Weiser, Glinert).

matter (Steinmetz)

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.

kallah

bride

Jewish communal gathering, conference

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

A question posing some difficulty because of apparent inconsistencies with accepted premises: problem. A tough, perplexing question.

Question, difficulty (Steinmetz), challenge, objection.

kedai

"worth it" (Weiser)

kein yirbu

"So they may increase in number"

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)

kichel

small cookie or biscuit

cookies (plural)

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)

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

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 hakavod

Literally, "All the honor", as in "More honor to you!"

"well done" (Glinert)

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

feat, stunt, trick, challenge, ingenuity

peculiarity, particular oddness (JPS)

strategy (Weiser)

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

lekech

"Honey cake, traditionally served on Rosh Hashanah... made with honey, eggs, cinnamon, and, often, coffee" (JPS).

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)

mabul

the Biblical Flood

a deluge; a torrent of rain

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

1. Youth counselor or supervisor 2. A teacher's assistant for elementary and middle schoolers during classes in religious schools.

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)

matzav

political, military situation in Israel/the Middle East

situation

matzeivah

headstone

mayofes

a servile person (see note below)

mazel

congratulations

luck (good)

mazel tov

congratulations [lit. "good fortune"]

mazik

a mischievous person, often a child

(with verb "to be") to ruin partially; damage (Yeshivish usage)

mazume

"A group of three or more adult males who join together to recite the after-meal blessings..." (Steinmetz).

"ready money, cash" (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

mieskeit

someone/something ugly

ugliness

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)

mitzvah

Literally, "commandment"

good deed

moadon

clubhouse, lounge

moshl

parable, example

musar

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.

reproof; system of ethics; discipline

mutche

harass, torment, bother, annoy, nag

(obsolete) to struggle financially

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

oilam

the world; the public

a group of people

okh un vey

an unenviable position

"a pity on him"

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.

ongeblozzen

puffed-up; haughty; conceited

pouting (can have a sense of about to cry)

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

patsh

to give a light slap

a smack (playful)

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.

(vulgar) snout, grimace (Steinmetz)

Colloquialism: an eloquent or garrulous speaker. (Rosten)

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, pity, empathy

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)

safek

"Doubt in the integrity of: Suspicion" (Weiser)

A doubt or doubtful case.

"Unresolved question: Uncertainty" (Weiser)

savta

grandmother

schlemiel

idiot; contemptible person. "Clumsy, bungling person." (Steinmetz)

schlep

"To carry, lug" (JPS)

To travel from one place to another when one would prefer not to

An annoyingly long journey

schlimazel

Unlucky person; the constant butt of idiotic or unfortunate happenings

schmatta

rag, old/ragged piece of clothing, garment

schmegege

"An untalented loser; a whiner; a petty person" (JPS).

"An unadmirable, petty person" (Rosten)

"silly or stupid person; simpleton; nitwit" (Steinmetz)

schmo

a fool; a jerk

schmonzes

small pieces of valueless decorative bric-a-brac

idle talk

schnapps

"A strong, dry liquor." (JPS)

schnorrer

a begger, a parasite. "A moocher" (JPS)

schvitz

steam bath (n.)

sweat (v., n.)

sechel

"Common sense" (JPS), intelligence

sefer

Hebrew or Aramaic book

"A literary composition written particularly of, on, or about the Torah" (Weiser)

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

Pertinent, relevant (Steinmetz).

1. Capable of being true or believable: Conceivable. / 2. Capable of being done: Surmountable / 3. Practical, reasonable, or possible: Feasible. (Weiser)

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)

shidduch

mate

arranged spousal match

match

a date in the process of finding one's spouse

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'

shpritz

(n., v.) spray; squirt

soda drink

shtarker

a strong, stout fellow

thug

big shot, an arrogant person

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.

svara

guess, hypothesis

justification, reason, plausible explanation

svive

group or get-together

environment, surroundings

tachlis

purpose, aim

practical details of a matter, "brass tacks" (as in, "Let's get down to brass tacks.")

tachrichim

burial shrouds

tate

dad

teshuvah

repentance [lit. "return"]

titchadesh

"Use it in good health" or "Enjoy your new item"

toda

"thank you"

toyve

A favor

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

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).

Someone who does extremely righteous deeds.

tzimmes

"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).

"Troubles, difficulties, a contretemps" (Rosten).

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.