Like the perfect seasoning in a meal, words provide flavor to sentences. Yiddish words are extra flavorful, sweet, sour, tangy and filled with zest. Understand tateleh?
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Just my type- a Yiddish typewriter |
Yiddish words are stuffed, like a kishka, with power and charm. Recently I kept hearing those words pop up in many conversations at work, on the radio, in blogs and online newspapers. I was surprised at how many Yiddish words are part of the common American lexicon. This is one of the things I love about America- it is like a stew taking bits and pieces from different cultures and blending them into one feast.
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Oy Vey |
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Are you a mensch? |
All of the following words came across my path in the last two weeks. I wrote them down on an index card as I heard or read them. They are all filled with rich personal memory triggers and most importantly, they are funny words that make me laugh. To this day, I hear my grandparents, aunts, uncles and family members using these words and they reminded me of moments passed. I added a few photos to help with the explanations
Enjoy, bubbee...
ALTER KOCKER- a crotchety, cranky old man, an old fart
BOYCHICK - affectionate term for a boy
BUBELEH – little grandma, a term of endearment
BUBBEE- A friendly term for anybody you like
GONIF - thief
BUPKIS – nothing
COCKAMAMIE- not credible, foolish, muddled
DREK- worthless junk
ECKVELDT – the farthest place on the earth
FAKAKATA – lousy, crappy and completely messed up
FATOOZ – bewildered, disoriented
FARKLEMPT – choked up, too emotional to talk
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Linda Richman (Mike Myers is Farklempt) |
FEH – how disgusting
HAYMESH – homey, plain and simple, of the home - unaffected
KIBBITZ – to make small talk
K’NOCKER – a big shot
KVETCH – to complain excessively
MACHER – big shot
MENSCH – a fine man, someone who does good deeds
MESHUGGANEH - crazy
MISHEGOSS- madness, craziness
NACHES – good pleasure and special joy
NEBISH- a loser
NUDNIK – a pest
OY GEVALT - An exclamtion of fear or panic.
PLOTZ – to explode
PUNIM – face
PUPIK - bellybutton
SHAYNA MADELEH – a beautiful girl
SCHNORRER- moocher or freeloader
SCHNOZ – nose
SCHLEP – to carry or drag something
SHTIK- a routine
SHMATTE – a rag, an old tattered dress
SCHMUTZ – dirt
SHTUP – fornicate
SCHVITZ – to sweat
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Schvitzing away |
TATELEH- little darling
TZCHATZKIES- little treasures
TUCHAS- behind, buttocks
ZAFTIG- fat, plump and buxom
ZIE GEZUNT – be healthy and well
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Licensed to laugh |
Labels: Yiddish, Zen Moments