List of English words of Yiddish origin

A

• Alter kacker or alte kacker (Yid. אַלטער קאַקער): literally "old crapper". Sometimes abbreviated as AK or A.K.; equivalent to English "old fart".

B

• Bagel: A ring-shaped bread roll made by boiling or steaming, and then baking, the dough (from Yiddish: בײגל, romanized: beygl, from Old High German boug with diminutive -el suffix).
• Balabusta, balabosta, balebosta (Yid. בעל־הביתטע): a Jewish mistress of the house; usually applied with positive connotations.
• Blintz: A sweet cheese-filled crepe (בלינצע, blintse, from Belarusian: блінцы, romanized: blincy, lit. 'pancakes' (plural)).
• Bris: The circumcision of a male child. (ברית, bris, from Hebrew: ברית, romanized: brith, lit. 'covenant').
• Broigus (Yid. ברוגז broygez): (n) a bitter feud of anger; (adj.) angry, irritated; from Hebrew ברוגז (berogez, "angry").
• Boychik: Boy, young man. (English boy + Eastern Yiddish: טשיק, -chik, diminutive suffix (from Slavic).
• Bubbeh, bubbe (Yid. באָבע): grandmother; elderly woman.
• Bubbeleh (Yid. באָבעלע): a term of endearment; esp. for a young child or elderly relative.
• Bupkis (also Bupkes, Bupkus, Bubkis, Bubkes): Emphatically nothing, as in 'He isn't worth bupkis' (באָבקעס, bobkes; of uncertain origin; perhaps originally meaning '[goat] droppings', from a word meaning 'beans', of Slavic origin)

C

• Cholent, cholnt, tcholent, etc. (Yid. טשאָלנט tsholnt): traditional slow-simmering Sabbath stew prepared overnight.
• Chutzpah /ˈxʊtspə/: Nerve, gall, guts, balls, daring, self-confidence, audacity, effrontery (חצפּה, khutspe, from Hebrew).

D

• Daven: To recite Jewish liturgical prayers (דאַוונען, davnen).
• Dreck, drek: Worthless, distasteful, or nonsensical material (דרעק, drek, from Middle High German: drec, lit. 'rubbish'; cognate with German: Dreck, 'dirt, filth').
• Dybbuk: The malevolent spirit of a dead person that enters and controls a living body until exorcised (דבּוק, dibbuk, 'a latching-onto').
• Dreidel: Yiddish: דרײדל, romanized: dreydl, a four-sided spinning top.

F

• Fleishig: Made with meat or poultry (פֿליישיק, fleyshik, 'meaty', from fleysh, 'meat'; cf. German: fleischig, 'meaty'). It is usually used to denote a class of kosher products.
• Frum (Yid. פֿרום): adjective; religious, observant of Judaism laws (cf. German "Fromm" = pious).

G

• Ganef or Gonif: A thief, scoundrel, rascal (גנבֿ, ganev/ganef, 'thief', from Hebrew: גנב, gannav).
• Gelt /ɡɛlt/: Money in general; also the chocolate coins given to children on Hanukkah (געלט, gelt, 'money'; cognate with German: Geld, 'money'; related to 'gold').
• Glitch: A minor malfunction (גליטש, glitsh, from גליטשן, glitshn, 'slide'; cf. German: glitschen, 'slither').
• Golem: A man-made humanoid; an android, Frankenstein monster (גלם, goylem, from Hebrew: גלם, gōlem).
• Goy: A gentile, term for someone not of the Jewish faith or people (גוי; plural גויים or גוים, goyim; from Hebrew: גויים or גוים, goyim, 'nations', plural of גוי, goy, 'nation').

H

• Haimish (also Heimish) /ˈheɪmɪʃ/: Home-like, friendly, folksy (היימיש, heymish; cf. German: heimisch).

K

• Kasha: buckwheat porridge or grains (prefabricated for a porridge). Originally a Slavic term, it probably entered into English usage with Jewish emigrants, especially the plural form Yiddish: קאַשי, romanized: kashi.
• Kibitz /ˈkɪbɪts/: To offer unwanted advice, e.g. to someone playing cards; to converse idly, hence a kibitzer, gossip (קיבעצן, kibetsn; cf. German: kiebitzen, may be related to German: Kiebitz, 'lapwing').
• Kishke (Yid. קישקע, the word is borrowed from Slavic): A kind of sausage stuffed with finely chopped potatoes, carrots, onions, spices, etc., rather than meat; in the plural kishkes informally means 'abdomen'.
• Klezmer, instrumental musical tradition of the Ashkenazi Jews of Central and Eastern Europe.
• Klutz: A clumsy person (קלאָץ, klots, 'wooden beam'; cf. German: Klotz, 'block').
• Knish /kəˈnɪʃ/: A doughy snack stuffed with potato, meat, or cheese (קניש), from Polish: knysz.
• Kosher: Correct according to Jewish law, normally used in reference to Jewish dietary laws; (slang) appropriate, legitimate (originally from כּשר, kašer/kasher).
• kugel (Yid. קוגעל): a casserole or pudding, usually made from egg noodles or potatoes.
• Kvell: To express great pleasure combined with pride (קװעלן, kveln, from an old Germanic word; cognate with German: quellen, 'swell').
• Kvetch /kəˈvɛtʃ/: to complain habitually, gripe; as a noun, a person who always complains (קװעטשן, kvetshn, 'press/squeeze'; cognate with German: quetschen, 'squeeze').

L

• Latke /ˈlɑːtkə/: Potato pancake, especially during Hanukkah (לאַטקע, from Russian: ладка, romanized: ladka, lit. 'pancake (colloquial; regular: оладья)' or Ukrainian: оладка, romanized: oladka, lit. 'pancake/fritter'.
• Litvak: A Jewish person historically residing in the territory of the former Grand Duchy of Lithuania, or a dialect of Yiddish used by them (ליטוואַק, litvak).
• Lox: Cured salmon, sometimes referred to as Nova, often used loosely to refer to smoked salmon (לאַקס, laks, 'salmon'; cf. German: Lachs.

M

• Mama-loshen / mame-loshen / mame-loshn (Yid. מאמאלושן): one's first or native language, from Yiddish mama (mother) plus Hebrew לשון lashon, tongue or language; usually meaning "Yiddish"

• Mamzer: Bastard (from Yiddish/Hebrew: ממזר, mamzer)

• Maven: Expert, aficionado (מבֿין, meyvn, from Hebrew: מבין, mevin, 'understands')

• Mazel tov, also Mazal tov: Congratulations! (מזל־טובֿ, mazl-tov, from Hebrew מזל טוב, mazzāl ṭōv: מזל, mazzāl, 'fortune' or 'luck' + טוב, ṭōv, 'good')

• Megillah: A tediously detailed discourse (מגלה, megile, 'lengthy document, scroll [esp. the Book of Esther]', from Hebrew מגלה, məgillā, 'scroll'. Usually used in American English as "the whole Megillah" meaning an overly extended explanation or story.

• Mensch: An upright person; a decent human being (מענטש, mentsh, 'person'; cognate with German: Mensch, 'human')

• Meshuga, also Meshugge, Meshugah, Meshuggah /məˈʃʊɡə/: Crazy (משגע, meshuge, from Hebrew: משוגע, m'shuga') Also used as the nouns meshuggener and meshuggeneh for a crazy man and woman, respectively.^{[citation needed]}

• Meshugaas, also Mishegaas or Mishegoss /mɪʃəˈɡɑːs/: Crazy or senseless activity or behavior; craziness (משוגעת, meshugaas, from Hebrew: משוגעת, məšugga‘ath, a form of the above)

• Milchig: made with milk or dairy products (מילכיק, milkhik, 'milky', from מילך, milkh, 'milk'; cf. German: milchig) Usually, it is used to denote a class of kosher products.

• Minyan: The quorum of ten adult (i.e., age 13 or older) Jews that is necessary for the holding of a public worship service; in Orthodox Judaism ten adult males are required, while in Conservative and Reform Judaism ten adults of either sex are required. (מנין, minyen, from Hebrew: מנין, minyān)

• Mishpocha /mɪʃˈpɒxə/: relative or extended family member (משפּחה, mishpokhe, from Hebrew: משפּחה, mišpāḥā)

N

• Naches /ˈnɑːxəs/: The feeling of pride and/or gratification in 1: the achievements of another; 2. one's own doing good by helping someone or some organization (נחת, nakhes, from Hebrew: נחת, naḥath, 'contentment'.
• Narrischkeit /ˈnɑːrɪʃkaɪt/: Foolishness, nonsense (נאַרישקייט, narishkeyt, from נאַריש, narish, 'foolish' + ־קייט, -keyt, 'ness'; cf. German: närrisch, 'foolish'.
• Nebbish, also Nebbich: An insignificant, pitiful person; a nonentity (from interjection נעבעך, nebekh, 'poor thing!', perhaps from Czech nebohý or other Slavic source.
• Noodge, also Nudzh: To pester, nag, whine; as a noun, a pest, whiner, or anxious person (נודיען, nudyen, from Polish nudzić 'to bore' or Russian nudit' 'to wear out'.
• Nosh: Snack (noun or verb) (נאַשן, nashn; cf. German: naschen.
• Nu: A multipurpose interjection analogous to "well?", "so?", or "so what?" (נו, nu, perhaps akin to Russian: ну, nu.
• Nudnik: A pest, "pain in the neck"; a bore (נודניק, nudnik, from the above נודיען, nudyen; cf. Polish or Russian: nudny, 'boring, annoying'.

O

• Oy, Oy vey: Interjections of grief, pain, or horror (אוי וויי, oy vey, 'oh, pain!' or 'oh, woe!'; cf. German: oh weh, 'oh, woe!'.

P

• Pareve / parve /ˈpɑːrəv/: Containing neither meat nor dairy products (פּאַרעווע, pareve). Usually it is used to denote a class of kosher products.
• Pisher: a nobody, an inexperienced person (פּישער, pisher, from פּישן, pishn, 'piss'; cf. German: pissen or dialectal German: pischen.
• Potch also Petch: Spank, slap, smack (פּאַטשן, patshn; cf. German: patschen, 'slap'.
• Plotz: To burst from strong emotion; often used humorously to express minor shock or disappointment (פּלאַצן, platsn, 'crack'; cf. German: platzen).
• punim: the face (Yiddish פּנים ponem, from Hebrew פָּנִים panim).
• Putz: (vulgar) A penis, term used as an insult, a fool (פּאָץ, pots. Also an insignificant person, incompetent, or loser. As a verb, to idle, bodge, goof off.^{[citation needed]}

S

• Schav: Sorrel soup. (שטשאַוו, shtshav, from Polish: szczaw).

• Schlemiel /ʃləˈmiːl/: An inept clumsy person; a bungler; a dolt (שלעמיל, shlemil or שלימיל, shlimil, probably from the Hebrew name Shelumiel; OED) The word is widely recognized from its inclusion in the Yiddish-American hopscotch chant "...schlemiel, schlimazel..." from the opening sequence of the American sitcom Laverne & Shirley.^{[citation needed]}

• Schlep: To drag or haul (an object); to walk, esp. to make a tedious journey (שלעפּן, shlepn; cf. German: schleppen; OED. Also a noun, a lackey, hanger-on, or loser.

• Schlimazel also Schlemazl: A chronically unlucky person (שלימזל, shlimazl, from [Middle Dutch: slimp, 'crooked/bad' or Middle High German: slimp, 'awry' or schlimm, 'poor/lacking'] + Hebrew: מזל, mazzāl, 'luck'; cf. German: Schlamassel; OED). The difference between a schlemiel and a schlimazel is described through the aphorism, "The schlemiel spills his soup on the schlimazel."

• Schlock: something cheap, shoddy, or inferior (perhaps from שלאַק, shlak, 'a stroke'; cf. German: Schlag) OED

• Schlong: (vulgar) A penis (שלאַנג, shlang, 'snake'; cf. German: Schlange; OED)

• Schlub: A clumsy, stupid, or unattractive person (זשלאָב, zhlob, 'hick', perhaps from Polish: żłób; OED)

• Schmaltz: Melted chicken fat; metaphorically, excessive sentimentality (שמאַלץ, shmalts or German: Schmalz) OED ; adjective: schmaltzy

• Schmatte: A rag (שמאַטע, shmate, from Polish: szmata; OED)

• Schmear, Shmear: Smear, spread (e.g., cream cheese on a bagel); colloq. bribe (noun or verb): (שמיר, shmir, 'smear'; cf. German: schmieren; OED). The idiom "the whole shmear" means "an entire set or group of related things" (OED).

• Schmo: A stupid person (akin to schmuck, but disputed by OED)

• Schmooze: To converse informally, make small talk or chat (שמועסן, shmuesn, 'converse', from Hebrew: שמועות, shəmūʿōth, 'reports/gossip'; OED) To persuade in insincere or oily fashion; to "lay it on thick". Noun: schmoozer, abbr. schmooze. Derivative : schmoozeoisie is the social class of those who earn their lives by talking, a portmanteau of "schmooze" + "bourgeoisie".

• Schmuck: (vulgar) A contemptible or foolish person; a jerk; (שמאָק, shmok, 'penis', probably from Old Polish smok, 'grass snake, dragon'.)

• Schmutter: Pieces of clothing; rubbish (שמאַטע, shmate, 'rag'; cf. schmatte; OED)

• Schmutz /ʃmʊts/: Dirt (שמוץ, shmuts or German: Schmutz; OED)

• Schnook: An easily imposed-upon or easily cheated person, a pitifully meek person, a particularly gullible person, a cute or mischievous person or child (perhaps from שנוק, shnuk, 'snout'; cf. Northern German: Schnucke, 'sheep'; OED)

• Schnorrer: beggar, esp. "one who wheedles others into supplying his wants" (שנאָרער, shnorer; cf. German: Schnorrer; OED)

• Schnoz or Schnozz also Schnozzle: A nose, especially a large nose (perhaps from שנויץ, shnoyts, 'snout'; cf. German: Schnauze; OED)

• Schvartze: (offensive) A Black person (from שוואַרץ, shvarts, 'black'; cf. German: schwarz; OED)

• Shabbos, Shabbas, Shabbes: Shabbat (שבת, Shabes, from Hebrew: שבת, Shabat)

• Shammes or Shamash /ˈʃɑːməs/: The caretaker of a synagogue; also, the ninth candle of the Hanukkah menorah, used to light the others (שמשׂ, shames, from Hebrew: שמש, šammāš, 'attendant'; OED)

• Shamus: a detective (possibly שאַמעס, shammes or the Irish name Seamus; OED, Macquarie)

• Shegetz: (derogatory) a young non-Jewish man (שגץ or שײגעץ, sheygets, from Hebrew: שקץ, shekets, 'abomination')

• Shemozzle: (slang) Quarrel, brawl (perhaps related to schlimazel, q.v.; OED). This word is commonly used in Ireland to describe confused situations during the Irish sport of hurling, e.g. "There was a shemozzle near the goalmouth". In particular, it was a catchphrase of 1940s–1980s television commentator Michael O'Hehir.

• Shikker, Shicker, Shickered: Drunk (adjective or noun) (שכּור, shiker, from Hebrew: שיכור, shikor; OED)

• Shiksa or Shikse /ˈʃɪksə/: (often derogatory) A young non-Jewish woman (שיקסע, shikse, a derivative of sheygets, from Polish: siksa)

• Shmendrik or Shmendrick: A foolish or contemptible person (from a character in an operetta by Abraham Goldfaden; OED)

• Shtetl: A small town with a large Jewish population in pre-Holocaust Eastern Europe (שטעטל, shtetl, 'town', diminutive of שטאָט, shtot, 'city'; cf. German: Städtl, South German / Austrian colloquial diminutive of Stadt, 'city')

• Shtibl: A small synagogue or place of prayer (שטיבל, shtibl, 'little room'; cf. German: Stüberl; OED)

• Shtick: Comic theme; a defining habit or distinguishing feature or business (שטיק, shtik, 'piece'; cf. German: Stück, 'piece'; AHD)

• Shtum: Quiet, silent (שטום, shtum, 'mute'; cf. German: stumm); OED)

• Shtup: (vulgar slang) To have sexual intercourse (שטופּ, shtoop, 'push/poke/intercourse'; cf. German: stupsen, 'poke'; OED)

• Shul: a synagogue (שול, shul, 'school', from Middle High German: schuol, 'school'; cf. German: Schule, 'school')

• Shvitz: to sweat (v.), a sauna or steam bath (n.) (שוויצן, shvitsn; cf. German: schwitzen; OED)

• Spiel or Shpiel: A sales pitch or speech intended to persuade (שפּיל, shpil, 'play' or German: (Theater-) Spiel, 'play (theater)'; AHD)

T

• Tchotchke: A knickknack, trinket, curio (צאַצקע, tsatske, טשאַטשקע, tshatshke, from Polish: cacko.
• Tref or Trayf or Traif /ˈtreɪf/: Not kosher (טרייף, treyf, from Hebrew: טרפֿה, ṭərēfā, 'carrion'.
• Tsuris /ˈtsʊrɪs/: Troubles, grief (צרות, tsores/tsoris, from Hebrew: צרות, tsarot, 'troubles'.
• Tuchus (also tuches, tuchis, tukus, tuchas, or tukhus) /ˈtʊxəs/: The buttocks, bottom, rear end (תחת, tokhes, from Hebrew: תחת, taḥath, 'underneath'.
• Tummler: An entertainer or master of ceremonies, especially one who encourages audience interaction (טומלער, tumler, from טומלען, tumlen, 'make a racket'; cf. German: (sich) tummeln, 'go among people' or 'cavort'.
• Tush (also Tushy): The buttocks, bottom, rear end (תּחת, tokes; cf. tuchus.
• Tzimmes: A sweet stew of vegetables and fruit; a fuss, a confused affair, a to-do (צימעס, tsimes.

V

• Vigorish (also contraction Vig): That portion of the gambling winnings held by the bookmaker as payment for services (וויגריש, vigrish,^{[citation needed]} from Russian: выигрыш, vyigrysh, 'winnings'.
• Verklempt: Choked with emotion (פֿאַרקלעמט, farklemt, 'depressed/grieving', originally 'pressed, gripped'; cf. German: verklemmt meaning 'uptight'.

Y

• Yarmulke: A round cloth skullcap worn by observant Jewish men (יאַרמלקע, yarmlke, possibly from Polish: jarmułka and Ukrainian: ярмулка, yarmulka, 'skullcap', possibly from Turkish: yağmurluk, lit. 'raincoat/oilskin'.
• Yekke: (humorous, mildly derogatory) A German Jew; its most common usage derives from the British Mandate period to describe Fifth Aliyah German Jews, who were perceived to be more formal in dress and manners. (יעקע, yeke, 'jacket'; cf. German: Jacke.
• Yenta (variants: yente, yentl): A talkative woman; a gossip; a scold (יענטע, yente, from a given name.
• Yiddish: The Yiddish language (ייִדיש, Yidish, 'Jewish'; cf. German: jüdisch.
• Yontef also Yom Tov: A Jewish holiday on which work is forbidden, e.g. Rosh Hashanah, Yom Kippur, Pesach (יום- טובֿ, yontef, 'holiday', from Hebrew: יום טוב, yōm ṭōv, 'good day'.
• Yutz: A fool (יאָנץ, yonts, perhaps derived from putz.

Z

• Zaftig, also Zaftik /ˈzɑːftɪk/: Pleasingly plump, buxom, full-figured, as a woman (זאַפֿטיק, zaftik, 'juicy'; cf. German: saftig, 'juicy'.
• Zayde (Yid. זײדע zeyde): grandfather, old man, often a term of respect or endearment.