Jewish English Lexicon

A round, crusty chewy bread roll with an indented center well, the bialy is usually topped with toasted onionsâ€”andâ€”at its most authenticâ€”with poppy seeds. (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.

borscht

"Borshtsh" is the Russian word for beet soup. Among Jews soup made from beets is considered Polish borshtsh, while Russian borshtsh is made from cabbage.

"An Eastern European soup traditionally made with beets." (JPS)

boychick

"A young boy...equivalent of the American expression 'buddy'" (JPS)

bris

circumcision ceremony; the celebration surrounding it. Lit. covenant.

bubbe meise

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

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

bulbenik

An actor "who talks as though he has a potato in his mouth"â€”that is, an actor who "blows" his lines, mixes them up, commits embarrassing spoonerisms, a malaprop

One who is inept, clumsy, all thumbs, who fouls things up (Rosten)

bulvan

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

chacham

rabbi (Sephardi)

wise, learned person; genius

wiseguy

chaleria

"wreck," in the phrase "nervous choleria." A person who behaves wildly or badly, such as a mischievous child.

Plague or cholera (literal or metaphorical)

cheder

Hebrew and religious classes (often on Sundays) for elementary school children.

Chelm

from Yiddish literature/folklore, "The 'legendary' town inhabited by befuddled, stupid, foolish, but endearing people." (JPS). Also a real town in Poland (CheÅ‚mno).

chochmah

"Brains; wisdom; a brilliant idea" (Glinert)

chrain

a spicy paste made from grated horseradish.

da'as torah

Intuitive knowledge that comes from a lifetime of Torah study.

The authoritative wisdom of the tradition mediated by "gedolim" or great rabbis.

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)

es gezunterheyt

Eat in good health, similar to bon appeÌtit

eyer kichlech

Egg cookies, usually in the shape of bow ties.

farbissiner

n. sourpuss, mean person

adj. embittered, sullen, mean

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)

farfel

a side dish including bits of noodle, often sauteed with vegetables and beef or chicken stock

noodle pellets

farfufket

befuddled, taken aback, disoriented, confused

faribel

to have a grievance, to be aggrieved

grievance

farkakte

"lousy, messed up, ridiculous" (JPS) Shitty, full of crap.

farmisht

stressed out, overly concerned, worked up

mixed up, confused, crazy

fartootst

"The state of being bewildered, disoriented, discombobulated; slightly more intense than tsedrayt." (Rosten)

fertig

Done! Often an exclamation of relief or accomplishment immediately after completing a task or chore.

fluden

log-shaped pastry stuffed with apricot preserves, chopped dates, walnuts, and raisins

forshpil

An Ashkenazi custom of entertaining the bride on the Sabbath afternoon or evening preceding the wedding.

frei

(with the particle "out") to become non-religious, "go off the derekh"

free; liberal, non-religious, the opposite of frum

frumkeit

"observance of the Torah's precepts: orthodoxy" (Weiser)

Jewish religiosity, frumness

"an observance considered stricter than normal" (Weiser)

gelt

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

Money (slang usage)

gemilas chesed

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

genosn oyfn emes

Sneezed on the truth, the sneeze confirms the truth.

geshikt

talented (especially in domains other than learning) and trusted to accomplish a task

gevaldig

tremendous, amazing

"exceptional or remarkable" (Weiser)

"extraordinary; terrific" (Steinmetz)

gezinta

a big healthy girl (or the adjective denoting such)

a sexy lady

gezunterheyt

lit., while in good health

"Fine, go ahead" (ironic).

goyish

"in the manner or style of a non-Jewish person" (JPS), especially something WASPy or "white bread"

goyishe kop

Someone who fails to use his/her head; a dull mind. Someone who thinks like a non-Jew. Lit. "non-Jewish head."

gribines

Deep-fried skin of chicken or goose, often prepared with onion and schmatlz. Also called cracklings.

gut chodesh

"Good month!" Ashkenazi greeting on Rosh Chodesh.

gut moed

"Good festival season!" Used by Ashkenazim on Chol Hamoed.

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.

hak mir nisht keyn tshaynik

lit. "Don't knock a teakettle at me!"

"Stop annoying me!"

"Don't bother me!"

hamentaschen

"Small, triangular-shaped cookies filled with fruit or jam that are eaten on Purim" (JPS)

hazarai

"Junk, trash" (Rosten)

treyf (non-kosher) food

junk food

helzel

chicken neck, poultry neck, stuffed poultry neck, the skin around the chicken's neck which is then stuffed

holishkes

Sweet-and-sour cabbage leaves stuffed with rice and ground meat.

hoo-ha

vagina

hullabaloo, commotion

interjection of admiration or astonishment

I wish you well to wear it

A saying uttered on seeing a friend or relative wearing a new garment or accessory. It is value-neutral, not implying that the garment is nice, just that it is new.

kaddishl

A son who will say kaddish for a parent (literally, "little kaddish").

Kahal

(the people of) a Jewish community

Synagogue, shul, congregation

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.

kasha

buckwheat groats, commonly served with bowtie noodles ('kasha varnishkes'); porridge

kasha varnishkes

kasha (buckwheat groats) with bowtie noodles

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)

keppele

head (smaller or cuter, often used in child-directed speech)

keppy

head, little head (informal, diminutive, often in child-directed speech)

ketzeleh

little kitten, can be used as a term of endearment

khnyok

a sanctimonious, holier-than-thou religious person

an unkempt or slovenly person

a mean or bigoted person

khremzl

"A fried fritter or latke, made of matzah meal and eggs, that may be stuffed with ground meat, nuts, or fruit. An old-fashioned Pesach recipe." (JPS Dictionary)

khurbn

"Destruction of the Temple" (Glinert)

Destruction, generally

the Holocaust

kimmel

"kimmel bread" is rye bread with caraway seeds on top

kishka

"Stuffed derma: a sausagelike comestible of meat, flour, and spices stuffed into intestine casing and baked" (Rosten) Also, "guts," literally, Slavic. (Wikipedia)

knaidel

matzah ball; "a dumpling made of matzah meal meal and beaten eggs, usually served in chicken broth, often at the Pesach seder" (JPS)

kochleffel

A cooking spoon, as for soup. By extension, a person who stirs up trouble; meddler, busybody.

kreplach

(meat-) stuffed dumplings usually served in soup; Jewish wontons

krotzer

One who is confused, literally "scratching their head"

kugel

Baked pudding or casserole made with eggs and various ingredients, including noodles, potatoes, or spinach

The South African equivalent of a "Jewish American Princess"

kuntz

strategy (Weiser)

feat, stunt, trick, challenge, ingenuity

peculiarity, particular oddness (JPS)

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"

Someone who comes from the same or nearby hometown, especially if one or both of you no longer lives there and all the more so if one or both now live far away from home, in which case an entire region (e.g., metro NY) or country e.g., Poland) may be the point of connection.

lapa

An animal's paw, dirty hands, especially that of a child or a lascivious man.

latka

"a potato pancake [fried in oil traditionally eaten on Chanukah]" (Rosten)

leibedik

lively, enthusiastic; warm, heartfelt

lekech

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

lekvar

prune filling

ligner

liar

linker

leftist, socialist, secularist

lobbus

a rascal, mischievous or cheeky child (usually a boy)

a young mischievous person with a lot of chutzpah

lokh in cup

"hole in the head" (Rosten)

lokshen

noodles

luftmensch

"an impractical contemplative person having no definite business or income" (Merriam-Webster)

mamaliga

A Romanian-Jewish dish of thick cornmeal mush.

mame

mom

mandelbrot

"Literally, 'almond bread.' A crunchy, dry cookie, similar to biscotti" (JPS).

mayofes

a servile person (see note below)

mazik

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

a mischievous person, often a child

mazume

"ready money, cash" (Steinmetz)

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

mechuten

In-law (http://www.pass.to/glossary/gloz2.htm#letm).

The father of one's child's spouse, though can sometimes be used to refer to the grandfather of one's grandchild's spouse.

mechuteneste

the mother of one's child's spouse

mieskeit

someone/something ugly

ugliness

mish

verb. To mix; to eat at other families' houses during the week of Passover.

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)

narishkeit

"1. Foolishness 2. A triviality" (Rosten)

nebbish

noun: nerdy, clumsy, awkward person. "An innocuous, ineffectual, weak, helpless, or hapless unfortunate" (Rosten)

nicht shabbos geret

Not to speak of on Shabbat (used when a subject is not suitable for the Holy Shabbat, primarily business and money manners, to indicate that one shouldn't discuss it). Usually followed by a short comment about the "forbidden" subject.

Nisht do gedacht

Exclamation, It shouldn't happen.

nisht geshtoygn un nisht gefloygn

"It's nonsense!" or "That's nonsense!"

nishtikeit

a nobody

no-goodnik

bad person, scoundrel (sometimes humorous or affectionate)

noch

still, yet, moreover

noodge

verb: bore, pester, nag

noun: pest, whiner

nosherai

snacks

okh un vey

"a pity on him"

an unenviable position

ongeblozzen

puffed-up; haughty; conceited

pouting (can have a sense of about to cry)

ongepotchket

overly elaborate, excessively decorated, slapped together senselessly, overdone, tacky, ostentatious, overcomplicated.

"Excessively and unaesthetically decorated; overly baroque." (Rosten)

orel

non-Jew (contemptuous, pejorative).

oy vey iz mir

woe is me

oysgeputst

dressed-up, decked out in finery (Steinmetz), overembellished.

pachech

a complainer

patshke

"1. To fuss or "mess around" inefficiently and inexpertly. 2. To dawdle, to waste time." (Rosten)

pekel

little bundle

petcha

Calves' foot jelly or jellied chicken served with garlic and spices as an appetizer.

pintele yid

"essential Jewishness"

pirog

(pl. pirogen, pirogn) A small dumpling filed with meat or vegetables.

pish

urine

urinate

pishachs

(vulgar) urine, piss

pisher, little pisher

a diminutive that combines amusement, admiration and annoyance

pisk

(vulgar) snout, grimace (Steinmetz)

Colloquialism: an eloquent or garrulous speaker. (Rosten)

mouth, loud-mouth, similar to English slang "trap" for mouth.

pitseleh

little one, dear

pletzl

"A thin, flat, crisp roll, often garnished with poppy seeds or onion" (Rosten)

plotz

"1. To split, to burst, to explode. 2. " To be aggravated beyond bearing" (Rosten) [lit. "to explode"]

prakes

Stuffed cabbage, also known by holiptshes, goluptshes, and golomkes, among other names

pripetshik

Yiddish-oriented pre-school

prost

coarse, base, not classy, vulgar, common

pushke

"The little container...in which money to be donated to charity is accumulated." (Rosten)

schav

A cold cream-of-sorrel soup.

schlimazel

Unlucky person; the constant butt of idiotic or unfortunate happenings

schlissel

key

schmegege

"An unadmirable, petty person" (Rosten)

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

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

schmonzes

idle talk

small pieces of valueless decorative bric-a-brac

schnoder

"to pledge a donation" (Steinmetz).

schnorr

to beg, to request money

to get something for free, to mooch

schnorrer

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

shaina maidel

pretty girl

well-behaved girl (female equivalent of mensch, which is sometimes used just for males but is often used for males and females)

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)

shayna punim

pretty face

sheymes

n., such content

adj., of or relating to printed material, such as a book or even an audio recording, that contains the name of God, and therefore must not be erased, put on the floor, etc., out of respect for the Divine Name

shissel

A small washtub.

A large bowl, especially for mixing

shkotz

berating term for a mischievous Jewish boy

shleger

Bully, violent person

shluffy

[to go] to sleep (child-directed speech)

shlump

an unkempt person, a loser

shmais

a Lubavitch news website: http://shmais.com/

Whack, wallop, smack

shmeckel

irritating, or contemptible behavior

little penis

shmecky

affectionate term used to describe a child, often connoting silly or slightly naughty behavior

child-appropriate word for penis

shnook

"An incompetent person who is deserving of pity but also likable" (JPS); "A customer easily persuaded, a sucker." (H.L. Mencken, American Language)

shomu shomayim

heaven forbid!

woe is me!

shpatzir

literally 'to walk, take a stroll'; figuratively 'to delay, tarry, procrastinate'

shpritz

(n., v.) spray; squirt

soda drink

shtarker

a strong, stout fellow

thug

big shot, an arrogant person

Shtati

Cool, modern, cosmopolitan.

shtickle

designation of second-class status, when applied to rabbis or other professionals.

a small amount; a little; a bit of (a)

shtunk

stinker, nasty person, smelly person, nickname for a smelly baby.

shtup

to stick [into]

the act of sexual intercourse

to have sexual intercourse

shvantz

very rude man, lowlife, snitch

penis, dick

tail

spodik

fur hat, similar to but taller (more cylindrical) than a shtreimel, worn by certain Chassidic groups

strudel

A pastry made by rolling up a thin sheet of dough with a fruit or cheese filling and baking it.

taka

(can also be used ironically)

Is that so? Really, actually, indeed, "in consideration of all the information available" (Weiser)

tatala

"'Little papa.' A term of endearment for a little boy. Old-fashioned usage." (Eisenberg)

tate

dad

teiglach

a confection of dough balls dipped in honey/syrup and eaten at Rosh Hashanah

tepple

a pot or a pan

a bedpan

truntor

old broken down car/ jalopy

tsedreyt

mixed up, twisted, distorted, turned around

tsekrochen

slovenly, [feeling] feeble or fragile, usually owing to minor illness or a night of excess.

tsemisht

mixed-up, confused

tsu gezunt

a response after another person sneezes (analogous to "bless you")

tsvuak

hypocrite

tuches afn tisch

lay your cards on the table [lit. "backside on the table"]

vantz

bedbug

varem

warm, kind-hearted, friendly

veiter

"Further; next." (Steinmetz)

"More distant: Farther." (Weiser)

"At a more advanced point: Further." (Weiser)

"A strong blow or punch" (Rosten)

zise

a sweet, good person

zulik

wild

a wild boy