Comments on: Ten Yiddish Expressions You Should Know

By: Stephanie

Stephanie — Wed, 28 Dec 2011 03:19:01 +0000

I hear Fran and her family using these phrases in my head all the time

Sylvia: Morty! Lay off the horn, ya yatz!
Fran: You could have a zillion goyisha guys!
Fran: Well, that was a shlep I could’ve lived without.
Sylvia: Oy, we slepped all the way to Jersey for this negligee and in 2 seconds he’s gonna rip it off, cover you in chocolate coolwhip, and ravage you!
Fran: Aren’t you just platzing?!
Fran: Mr. Sheffield, your problem is that you are emotionally… fachoched.

Watch “The Nanny” for a daily dose of Yiddish at it’s best and most clever uses.

By: Suzan

Suzan — Mon, 26 Dec 2011 00:03:43 +0000

Linda. If that is asked in the form of a question with the voice going up at the end, it is equivalent to calling you a know it all. “By you there’ll be a light!” as a positive statement means you will go far. In that context it’s a “atta boy”. Most Jews in the US are now so far removed from the Yiddish culture that they have no idea. My grandmother was born in 1885 and spoke Yiddish. Being only 2 generations out has it’s advantages. It’s not what is said, it is how it is said.

Also spiel is pronounced with a shhh sound for the s. schpiel is a better spelling.

By: linda

linda — Sun, 30 Oct 2011 06:15:40 +0000

Has anyone heard the expression “by you there’ll be a light?” I grew up hearing it in my home, but recently when I mentioned it in a group discussion amongst Jewish people no one heard of it.. It means will you make something of yourself? I’d appreciate any feedback.

By: Gary c Tesser

Gary c Tesser — Thu, 12 May 2011 17:04:50 +0000

Ugh, I made a mess. I didn’t mean to say that most Yiddish words or expressions can mean any informal garment such as any kind of head sash. I meant that most Yiddish that is adopted into English will wind up with extended meanings. But I take that back too. It goes for some, sure; but mostly, extended meanings are limited. For example, “Schmuck” literally means “penis” (sorry, Mr Wilgus — yes, your friends are egregiously wrong), and by extension, it means contemptible person.

By: Gary c Tesser

Gary c Tesser — Thu, 12 May 2011 16:56:38 +0000

A shmata is a rag, literally. By extension — as with most Yiddish words or expressions used in English — it can mean any informal garment. For decades, the garment industry itself was informally called the rag trade.