My Yiddishe Bubbie Yiddish Glossary (G to M)

Glossary of Yiddish Words & Phrases

A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z

Yiddish is a hybrid language and takes much of its vocabulary from medieval German and Hebrew, but with a smattering of words from Aramaic, Slavic and Romance languages as well. Many of the words come from the specific cultures within Central and Eastern Europe.

Yiddish has a structure all its own. While the language is based on a mixture of Hebrew and medieval German, its alphabet is based on the Hebrew alphabet. The rules of Yiddish are not the same as either of the parent languages.

Yiddish went through a decline in popularity over the past 100 years but has found a resurgence in recent times and is taught at several prominent universities around the world. Next time you use a word of Yiddish origin, remember that you are speaking a foreign language.

G

Gai avek! – Go away

Gai feifen ahfen yam! – Go peddle your fish elsewhere!

Gai gezunterhait! – Go in good health

Gai in drerd arein! – Go to hell!

Gai kaken oifen yam! – Get lost (Lit: Go shit in the ocean!)

Gai mit dein kop in drerd – “Go with your head in the ground.” “Stick your head in the mud”

Gai platz! – Go split your guts!

Gai shlog dein kup en vant! – Go bang your head against the wall

Gai shoyn, gai. – Scram! also, Don’t be silly!

Gai strasheh di vantzen – You don’t frighten me! (Lit., Go threaten the bed bugs)

Gai tren zich. (taboo) – Go fuck yourself

Gait, gait! – Come now!

Gait es nit! – It doesn’t work!

Galitsianer – Jewish native of Galicia

Gants gut – Very good

Gantseh K’nacker! – “Big Shot”

Gantseh Macher – “Big shot.”

Gantseh megilleh – Big deal! (derisive)

Gantseh mentsh – Manly, a whole man, a complete man; an adult; a fellow who assumes airs

Gatkes – Long winter underwear

Geben shoychad – To bribe

Gebentsht mit kinder – Blessed with children

Gebentshte boych – Literally-blesses stomach (womb) (Said of a lady with a fabulous child or children,

Gebrenteh tsores – Utter misery

Gebrochener english – Fractured English

Gedainkst? – Remember?

Gedempte flaysh – Mystery meat

Gedicht – Thick, full, ample

Geferlech – Dangerous

Geharget zolstu veren! – Drop dead! (Lit., You should get killed.)

Gelaimter – Person who drops whatever he touches

Gelibteh – Beloved

Gelt – Money

G

Gelt gait tzu gelt. – Money goes to money.

Gelt is nisht kayn dayge – Money is not a problem.

Gembeh! – Big mouth!

Gemitlich – Slowly, unhurried, gently

Genaivisheh shtiklech – Tricky, sharp, crooked actions or doings

Genevishe oigen – Shifty eyes

Genug iz genug. – Enough is enough!

Gesheft – Business

Geshmak – Tasty, delicious

Geshtorben – The state of being dead.

Geshtroft – Cursed, accursed; punished

Geshvollen – Swollen, puffed up (Also applied to person with haughty pride)

Get – Divorce

Getchke – Statue

Gevaldikeh Zach! – A terrible thing! (often ironically)

Gevalt! – Heaven Forbid! (Exclamatory in the extreme.)

Gevalt geshreeyeh – good grief (“help” screamed)

Gezunde tzores – Healthy troubles. Troubles one should not take too seriously.

Gezunt vi a ferd – Strong as a horse

Gezunteh moid! – Brunhilde, a big healthy dame

Gezunterhait – In good health

Gib mir nit kain einorah! – Don’t give me a canary! (Americanism, Lit., Don’t give me an evil eye)

Gib zich a traisel – Get a move on

Gib zich a shukl – Hurry up! (Give yourself a shake)

Gitte neshomah – good soul

Gleichvertel – Wisecrack, pun, saying, proverb, bon mot, witticism

Glezel tai – Glass of tea

Glezel varms – comforting or soothing (Lit: Glass of warmth)

Glick – Luck, piece of luck

Gloib mir! – Believe me!

Glustiyah – Enema

G’nossen tsum emess! – The sneeze confirmed the truth!

G

Goldeneh chasseneh – Fiftieth wedding anniversary

Goniff – Crook, thief, burglar, swindler, racketeer

Gopel – Fork

Gornisht – Nothing

Gornisht Helfin – Nothing will help

Got in himmel! – G-d in heaven! (said in anguish, despair, fear or frustration)

Got tsu danken – Thank G-d

Got zol ophiten! – G-d forbid!

Gote-Vorte – A good piece of information or short concise Torahy commentary.

Gotteniu! – Oh G-d! (anguished cry)

Goy – Any person who is not Jewish

Goyeh – Gentile woman

Goyim – Group of non-Jewish persons

Goyishe kop – Opposite of Yiddishe kop. Generally used to indicate someone who is not particularly smart or shrewd. (Definitely offensive.)

Greps – Blech; a burp if it’s a mild one

Grob – Coarse, crude, profane, rough, rude

Grober – Coarse, uncouth, crude person

Grober finger – Thumb

Grois-halter – Show-off, conceited person

Groisseh gedilleh! – Big deal! (said sarcastically)

Groisser gornisht – Big good-for-nothing

Groisser potz! (taboo) – Big penis! Big prick! (derogatory or sarcastic)

Grooten – To take after, to favour.

Groyser finger – Middle finger

Guggle muggle – A concoction made of warm milk and honey for sore throats

Gunsel – A young goose. Also used to describe a young man who accompanies a tramp or a young tramp.

Gut far him! – Serves him right!

Gut gezugt – Well said

Gut Shabbos – Good Sabbath

Gut Yontif – Happy Holiday

G’vir – Rich man

H

Haimish ponem – A friendly face

Haiseh vanneh – Hot bath

Haissen – To hate

Haken a chainik – Boring, long-winded and annoying conversation; talking for the sake of talking (Lit., To bang on the tea-kettle)

Hak flaish – Chopped meat

Hak mir nit in kop! – Stop bending my ear (Lit.; Stop banging on my head)

Hak mir nit kayn chainik (arain) – Don’t get on my nerves; Stop nagging me. (Lit., Don’t bang my teapot.)

Halevei! – If only…

Hamoyn – Common people

Handlen – To bargain; to do business

Hanoe hobn – to enjoy

Harte mogen – constipation

H

Hartsvaitik – Heart ache.

Hecher – Louder

Hefker – A mess

Heizel – Whorehouse

Hekdish – Decrepit place, a slumhouse, poorhouse; a mess

Heldish – Brave

Heldzel – Stuffed neck flesh; sort of a neck-kishke

Hendl – Chicken

Hert zich ein! – Listen here!

Hetsken zich – Shake and dance with joy

Hikevater – Stammerer Hinten – Rear, rear parts, backside, buttocks; in the rear

Hit zich! – Look out!

Hitsik – Hothead

Hitskop – Excitable person

Hob derech erets – Have respect

H

Hob dir in arbel – Lit., I’ve got you by the elbow (Used as a response to a derogatory remark as you would use “sticks and stones”

Hob nit kain deiges – Don’t worry

Hoben tsu zingen un tsu zogen – Have no end of trouble (Lit.,To sing and to talk)

Hobn groyse oygn – To be greedy

Hock mir nisht en chinik – Don’t hit me in the head. or Dont’ give me a headache.

Hoizer gaier – Beggar

Hoizirer – Peddler (from house to house)

Holishkes – Stuffed Cabbage

Host du bie mir an avleh! – So I made a mistake. So what!

Hulyen – A hellraiser

I

Ibberbuttle – Senile

Ich bin ahntoisht – I am disappointed

Ich bin dich nit mekaneh – I don’t envy you

Ich darf es ahf kapores – It’s good for nothing! I have no use for it. (Lit., I need it for a [useless] fowl sacrifice)

Ich darf es vi a loch in kop! – I need it like a hole in the head!

Ich hob dir lieb – I love you!

Ich eil zich (nit) – I am (not) in a hurry

Ich feif oif dir! – I despise you! Go to the devil! (Lit., I whistle on you!)

Ich gai chaleshen bald avek – I’m about to faint (from sheer exhaustion)

Ich hob dich in bod! – To hell with you! (Lit., I have you in the bath house!)

I

Ich hob dir! – Drop dead! Go flap you ears! (Lit., I have you….!) (Americanism!)

Ich hob es in drerd! – To hell with it.

Ich hob im feint – I hate him.

Ich hob im in bod! – To hell with him.

Ich hob mir fer pacht – I have you in my pocket. (I know you for what you are.)

Ich hob nicht kain anung – I have no idea.

Ich ken dir nisht farfeeren – I can’t lead you astray

Ich loif – I’m running

Ich vais – I know

Ich vais nit. – I don’t know.

Ich vel dir geben a khamalye – I’ll give you such a smack

Ich vel dir geben kadoches! – I’ll give you nothing! (Lit., I’ll give you malaria or a fever.)

I

Ich yog zich nit. – I’m not in a hurry.

Ich zol azoy vissen fun tsores. – I should know as little about trouble (as I know about what you are asking me)

Iker – Substance; people of substance

In a noveneh – For a change; once in a blue moon

In di alteh guteh tseiten! – In the good old days!

In di oygn – To one’s face

In drerd mein gelt! – My money went down the drain! (Lit., My money went to burial in the earth, to hell.)

In miten drinen – In the middle of; suddenly

Ipish – Bad odor, stink

Ir gefelt mir zaier. – You please me a great deal.

Iz brent mir ahfen hartz. – I have a heartburn.

K

Kaas (in kaas oyf) – Angry (with)

Kabaret forshtelung – Floorshow

Kabtzen, kaptsen – Pauper

Kaddish – A mourner’s prayer

Kaddishel – Baby son; endearing term for a boy or man

Kadoches – Fever

Kadoches mit koshereh fodem! – Absolutely nothing! (Lit., fever with a kosher thread)

Kaftan – Long coat worn by religious Jews

Kakapitshi – Conglomeration

Kalamutneh – Dreary, gloomy, troubled

Kalleh – Bride

Kalleh moid – A girl of marriageable age

Kallehniu – Little bride

Kalta neshomeh – A cold soul

Kalekeh – A new bride who cannot even boil an egg.

Kalyeh – Bad, wrong, spoiled

Kam derlebt – Narrowly achieved (Lit., hardly lived to see)

Kam mit tsores! – Barely made it! (Lit., with some troubles) The word “Kam,” also is pronounced “Kom” or “Koim” depending on the region people come from.

Kam vos er kricht – Barley able to creep; Mr. Slowpoke

Kam vos er lebt – He’s hardly (barely) alive.

Kamtsoness – To be miserly

Kaneh – An enema

Kaporeh, (kapores) – Atonement sacrifice; forgiveness; (slang) good for nothing

Kaptsen – Penniless person

Karabeinik – Country peddler

Karger – Miser, tightwad

Kaseer – enema

Kasheh – Groats, mush cereal, buckwheat, porridge; a mess, mix-up, confusion

Kasheh varnishkes – Cooked groats and broad (or bowtie) noodles

Kashress – Kosher condition; Jewish religious dietary law

Kasnik, (keisenik) – Angry person; excitable person, hot head

Kasokeh – Cross-eyed

Katchka – Duck (quack, quack)

Katshkedik (Americanism) – Ducky, swell, pleasant

Katzisher kop – Forgetful (Lit., Cat head)

Kaynahorah – Lit: the evil eye. Pronounced in order to ward of the evil eye, especially when speaking of one’s good fortune. “Everyone in the family is happy and healthy kaynahorah.”

Kazatskeh – Lively Russian dance

K

Kein briere iz oich a breire – Not to have any choice available is also a choice.

Kemfer – Fighter (usually for a cause)

Ken zein – Maybe, could be

Kenen oyf di finger – Have facts at one’s fingertips

Ketzele – Kitten

(To) Kibbitz – To offer unsolicited advice as a spectator

Kibbitzer – Meddlesome spectator

Kiddish (Borai pri hagofen) – Blessing over wine on the eve of Sabbath or Festivals

Kimpet-tzettel – Childbirth amulet or charm (from the German “kind-bet-tzettel” meaning childbirth label containing Psalm 121, names of angels, patriarchs

Kimpetoren – Woman in labour or immediately after the delivery

Kind un kait – Young and old

Kinderlech – Diminutive, affectionate term for children

Kish mir en toches – Kiss my backside (slang)

Kishef macher – Magic-worker

Kishkeh – Stuffed derma (Sausage shaped, stuffed with a mixture of flour, onions, salt, pepper and fat to keep it together, it is boiled, roasted and sliced) Also used to describe a person’s innards. “You sweat your kishkehs out to give your children an good education, and what thanks do you get?”

(A) Kitsel – Tickle

Klainer gornisht – Little prig (Lit., A little nothing)

Klemt beim hartz – Clutches at my heartstrings

Klaperkeh – Talkative woman

Klipeh – Gabby woman, shrew, a female demon

Klog- Plague

Klogmuter – Complainer, chronic complainer

(A) Klog iz mir! – Woe is me!

Kloolye – A curse

Klop – Bang, a real hard punch or wallop

Klotz (klutz) – Ungraceful, awkward, clumsy person; bungler

Klotz kasheh – Foolish question; fruitless question

Kloymersht – Not in reality, pretended (Lit., as if it were)

Knacker – A big shot

Knackerke – The distaff k’nacker, but a real cutie-pie.

Knaidel (pl., k’naidlech) – Dumplings usually made of matzoh meal, cooked in soup

Knippel – Button, knot; hymen, virginity; money tied in a knot in a handkerchief

Knish (taboo) – Vagina

Knishes – Baked dumplings filled with potato, meat, liver or barley

K

Kochalain – Summer boarding house with cooking privileges (Lit., cook by yourself)

Kochedik – Petulant, excitable

Kochleffel – One who stirs up trouble; gadabout, busy-body (Lit., a cooking ladle)

Kolboynik – Rascally know-it-all

(A) Kop oif di plaitses! – Good, common sense! (Lit., A head on the shoulders!)

Komisch – Funny

Kopvaitik – Headache

Kosher – Jewish dietary laws based on “cleanliness”. Also referring to the legitimacy of a situation. “This plan doesn’t seem kosher”.

Koved – Respect, honour, reverence, esteem

Krank – Sick

Krank-heit – Sickness

Krassavitseh – Beauty, a doll, beautiful woman

Krechts – Groan, moan

Krechtser – Blues singer, a moaner

Kreplach – Small pockets of dough filled with chopped meat which look like ravioli, or won ton, and are eaten in soup; (slang) nothing, valueless

Kroivim – Relatives

Krolik – Rabbit

Kuch leffel – A person who mixes into other people’s business (cooking spoon)

Kuck im on (taboo) – Defecate on him! The hell with him!

Kuck zich oys! (taboo) – Go take a shit for yourself!

Kugel – Pudding

Kukn durkh di finger oyf – Shut one’s eyes to….., connive at……, wink at…..

Kum ich nisht heint, kum ich morgen – If I don’t come today, I’ll come tomorrow (procrastinator’s slogan)

Kumen tsu gast – To visit

Kuntzen – Tricks

Kuni leml – A nerd

Kunyehlemel – Naive, clumsy, awkward person; nincompoop; Casper Milquetoast

Kuppe drek- A piece of fecal matter (s–t)

Kurveh – Whore, prostitute

Kush in toches arein! (taboo) – Kiss my behind! (said to somebody who is annoying you)

Kushinyerkeh – Cheapskate; woman who comes to a store and asks for a five cents’ worth of vinegar in her own bottle

K’vatsh – Boneless person, one lacking character; a whiner, weakling

K’velen – Glow with pride and happiness, beam; be delighted

K’vetsh – Whine, complain; whiner, a complainer

K’vitsh – Shriek, scream, screech

L

Lachen mit yash-tsherkes – Forced or false laugh; laugh with anguish

Laidik-gaier – Idler, loafer

Lakeh – A funnel

Lamden – Scholar, erudite person, learned man

Lamed Vovnik – Refers to the Hebrew number “36” and traditionally each generation produces 36 wise and righteous persons who gain the approbation of “lamed vovnik.”

Lang leben zolt ir! – Long may you live!

Lange loksch – A very tall thin person , A long tall drink of water.

Lantslaite – Plural of lantsman

Lantsman – Countryman, neighbour, fellow townsman from “old country”.

Lapeh – Big hand

Layseh mogen – Diarrhea

(A) Lebedikeh velt! – A lively world!

(A) Lebediker – Lively person

(A) Leben ahf dein kop! – Words of praise like; Well said! Well done! (Lit., A long life upon your head.)

L

Lebst a chazerishen tog! – Living high off the hog!

Leck, shmeck – Done superficially (lick, smell)

L’chei-im, le’chayim! – To life! (the traditional Jewish toast); To your health, skol

Leffel – Spoon

Leibtzudekel – Sleeveless shirt (like bib) with fringes, worn by orthodox Jews

Leiden – To suffer

Lemechel – Milquetoast, quiet person

Lemeshkeh – Milquetoast, bungler

Leshem shomaim – Idealistically, “for the sake of heaven.”

Leshono toyvo tiko-seyvu – Happy New Year (May a good year be inscribed and sealed for you.)

Leveiyeh – Funeral

Lezem gayne – leave them be

Lig in drerd! – Get lost! Drop dead! (Lit., Bury yourself!)

Ligner – Liar

L

Litvak – Lithuanian; Often used to connote shrewdness and skepticism, because the Lithuanian Jews are inclined to doubt the magic powers of the Hasidic leaders; Also, a person who speaks with the Northeastern Yiddish accent.

Lobbus – Little monster

Loch – Hole Loch in kop – Hole in the head.

Loksch – An Italian gentleman.

Lokshen – Noodles

Lokshen strop – a “cat- o- nine tails”

Lominer gaylen – Clumsy fool (a golem-Frankenstein monster — created by the Lominer rebbe)

Loz mich tzu ru! – Leave me alone! (Lit., Let me be in peace!)

Luftmentsh – Person who has no business, trade, calling, nor income.

Luch in kup – A hole in the head ( ” I need this like a luch in kup”).

M

Machareikeh – Gimmick, contraption

Macher – big shot, person with access to authorities, man with contacts.

Machshaifeh – Witch

Maidel – Unmarried girl, teenager

Maideleh – Little girl (affectionate term)

Maven – Expert, connoisseur, authority

Maisse – A story

Maisse mit a deitch – A story with a (moral) twist

Makeh – Plague, wound, boil, curse

Mameleh – Mother dear

Mamelushen – Mother language (Yiddish)

Mamoshes – Substance, people of substance.

Mamzer – Bastard, disliked person, untrustworthy

Mamzerook – A naughty little boy

Mashgiach – Inspector, overseer or supervisor of Kashruth in restaurants & hotels.

Mashugga – Crazy

Matkes – Underpants

Maynster – Mechanic, repairman, workshop proprietor

Mayster – Master craftsman, champion,

Mazel Tov – Good Luck (lit) Generally used to convey “congratulations”.

Me ken brechen! – You can vomit from this!

Me ken lecken di finger! – It’s delicious!

Me krechts, me geht veyter – I complain and I keep going.

Me lost nit leben! – They don’t let you live!

Me redt zich oys dos hartz! – Talk your heart out!

Mechuten – In-Law

M

Mechutonim – In-Laws (The parents of your child’s spouse)

Mechutainista – Mother-In-Law

Megillah – A long story

Mein bobbeh’s ta’am – Bad taste! Old fashioned taste!

Mein cheies gait oys! – I’m dying for it!

Mekheye – An extreme pleasure, orgasmic, out of this world wonderful!

Mekler – Go-between

Menner vash tsimmer – Men’s room

Mentsh – A special man or person. One who can be respected.

Menuvel – A person who is always causing grief, can get nothing right, and is always in the way.

Meshpokha – Extended family

Meshugass – Madness, insanity, craze

Meshugeh – Crazy

Meshugeh ahf toit! – Crazy as a loon. Really crazy!

Meshugeneh – Mad, crazy, insane female.

Meshugener – Mad, crazy, insane man

Meshugoyim – Crazy people

Messer – Knife

Me zogt – They say; it is said.

Mezinka – A special dance for parents whose last child is getting married

Mezuzah – Tiny box affixed to the right side of the doorway of Jewish homes containing a small portion of Deuteronomy, handwritten on parchment.

Mies – Ugly

M

Mieskeit – Ugly thing or person.

Mikveh – Ritual bath used by women just prior to marriage as well as after each monthly cycle. This represents a “spiritual cleansing after a potential to create a new life was not actualized. There are some religious men who also use mikvehs prior to festivals and the Sabbath. Some Chassidim immerse every morning before praying.

Min tor nit – One (or you) mustn’t

Minyan – Quorum of ten men necessary for holding public worship (must be over 13 years of age)

Mirtsishem – G-d willing

Mitn derinnen – All of a sudden, suddenly

Mitn grobn finger – Quibbling, stretching a point

Mitzvah – Good deed

Mizinik – The youngest child in an immediate family

Mogen Dovid – Star of David

Moisheh kapoyer – Mr. Upside-Down! A person who does everything backwards. Not knowing what one wants.

Mosser – Squealer

Mossik – Mischief maker, prankster, naughty little boy, imp

Moyel – Person (usually a rabbi) who performs circumcisions.

Mutek – Brave

Mutshen zich – To sweat out a job

Muttelmessig – Meddlesome person, kibbitzer

Glossary of Yiddish Words & Phrases

A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z

G

G

G

H

H

H

I

I

I

K

K

K

L

L

L

M

M

M

Address

Follow Us

Site Map

Other Sites