Yiddish_Expressions
Yiddish			English

Billik			cheap, poor quality
Bobkes			worthless trifles
Bubbee			term of endearment
Chutzpah		nerve, brazeness, cheek
Danken Got!		thank God
Drek			junk, rubbish
Frum			religiously devout
Gai avek!		go away
Gelt			money
Goy			a non-Jew, gentile
Kaddish		a prayer in mourning
Kibbitzer		interfering person
Klutz, Klotz		a clumsy person
K'vetsh		to whine or complain
Le'chayim!		the tradional toast  'to life'
Loch in kop		hole in the head
Mashugga, Meshughe	crazy, bonkers
Mazel Tov		congratulations, good luck!
Mieskeit	 	an ugly person or thing
Nitzveh		a good deed, a commandment
Naches			pride, joy (often that occasioned by children)
Nebbish		a nobody, a weakling or awkward person
Nosh			snack food, to snak
Nu?			so?
Nudnick		a pest, a bore, often a term of endearment
Oi!			all-purpose exclamation
Oi, gevald!		exclamation of torment
Schmuck, Shmock	dick
Shaitel		wig worn by Orthodox married women
Shalom			peace, a greeting
Shikseh		non-Jewish girl
Shlep (or Shlap)	to carry unwillingly
Shmaltzy		sentimental, sickly, corny
Shmendrik		a foolish, inept person
Shmoe			a naive, easily deceived individual
Shmuts			dirt, mess
Shmutter, Shmatter	stiff, clutter, or a general term for cloth
Shnorrer		a beggar
Shtik			a special (theatrical) trick or turn
Shul			informal term for synagogue
Toches			arse
Traif			forbidden (non-kosher) food
Tsores			woe, troubles

Most Recent Change: Oct 19, 2003 /Yiddish_Expressions.html