YIDDISH LESSON OF THE DAY
Each episode of Two Jews Making Food includes a Yiddish Lesson of the Day with loved ones.
Amy's parents Sandy and Al, Rebecca's mom Janet, and other special guests share some of their favorite Yiddish words. Here is a list of all our Yiddish Words of the Day. Learn them. Love them. Use them.
BALABUSTA
The perfect homemaker.
Ex. "That Rebecca is a real balabusta. Her house is impeccable!"
BUPKIS
Absolutely nothing; nothing of value, significance, or substance.
Ex. "I gave my brother the most thoughtful gift for Hanukkah, and he gave me bupkis. Not even a card!"
CHAZERAI
Trash, junk, or anything loathsome.
Ex. "That convenience store is just full of chazerai. Everything is unhealthy garbage."
CHUTZPAH
Audacity, good or bad. Bravery bordering on rudeness but also can imply confidence. Generally considered a negative trait - brazen nerve, insolence, impudence, or arrogant self-confidence.
Ex. "Amy's got some serious chutzpah for disrespecting her boss."
Note: Amy would NEVER do this!
FaMISHED
Mixed up, confused, crazy, stressed out, pronounced with the accent on the second syllable.
Ex. "I'm famished over this homework. It's too hard!"
FERKAKTE
Messed up, crazy, idiotic, ridiculous.
Ex. "That ferkakte TV is acting up again. I can't get the thing to turn off!"
FRESSER
A big or good eater.
Ex. "My niece is such a fresser. She eats everything!"
FROSK
A slap, usually in the face.
Ex. "My bubbe was so made at me for behaving badly that she gave me a frosk in the kisser!"
GONIFF
Swindler, thief, dishonest person, scoundrel.
Ex. "Aunt Yetta's ex-husband was a real goniff. He took off with all her money and blew it on the slots in Vegas."
KEINEHORA
An expression said to ward off the evil eye or bad luck in general. The verbal equivalent of knocking on wood. Often preceded with "Poo Poo" - at least for Amy and her mom when there is no wood to be knocked on.
Ex. "He is doing very well after his surgery, poo poo keinehora."
KIBITZ
Gabbing, chitchatting, babbling, or gossiping OR it can be used to describe one who is meddling in someone else’s business.
Ex. "It had been so long since Rebecca and Amy had seen each other that they spent hours kibitzing and drinking many cocktails."
KVELL / KVELLING
To be extraordinarily pleased. To be bursting with pride, especially over one's family.
Ex. "I was kvelling when my daughter sang to me at karaoke. She has the most beautiful voice."
KVETCH
Noun: A person who complains a great deal; Verb: To complain, express discontent, displeasure or unhappiness
Ex: Stop kvetching about the state of our country if you aren't going to vote!"
MENSCH
A person of integrity and honor. A selfless do-gooder. Someone of notable character to be admired and emulated.
Ex. "My son is a mensch. He is always thinking of others and making sure everyone is taken care of."
MESHUGGENEH / MESHUGA
Senseless, Crazy. A person who acts foolishly.
Ex. "That meshuggeneh driver is all over the road. They are going to get in an accident."
MISHPOCHEH
An entire family network comprising relatives by blood and marriage and those you consider family.
Ex. "The whole mishpocheh is here for Passover. Even our distant cousins from Boca."
NACHES
Pride or gratification, especially at the achievements of one's children.
Ex. "My children give me such naches. They are all good people, happily married, with good jobs. And they gave me beautiful grandchildren."
NEBBISH
A person, especially a man, who is regarded as pitifully ineffectual, timid, or submissive.
Ex: "Your ex-husband is such a nebbish. He has no money, no prestige, no future. I'm so glad you got rid of that bum!"
NOSH
A snack (or to eat a snack). A little bite between meals.
Ex. "It's too early for dinner, but I'm really hungry, so I'll just have a little nosh."
PLOTZ
To burst with or be overcome by strong emotion. Give way to excitement, anger, delight.
Ex. "This episode of SVU is so intense - I'm gonna plotz!"
SCHLEMIEL / SCHLIMAZEL
Schlemiel: An inept, incompetent, foolish person. Schlimazel: One prone to misfortune.
Ex. "Did you see that schlemiel carelessly spill his coffee all over that poor schlimazel? Oy vey."
SCHLEP
To drag or haul (an object); to walk, especially to make a long, tedious journey. Also refers to a slovenly person.
Ex. "Rebecca has to schlep all the way from Shoreham to film episodes at LTV in Wainscott. It's at least an hour without traffic!"
SCHMEAR
Referring to the cream cheese that is spread on a bagel, or just "to spread" something.
Ex. "In the first episode of Two Jews Making Food at LTV, Amy set up a bounty of bagels and schmear."
SCHMENDRICK
An ineffectual, foolish, or contemptible person. A nincompoop.
Ex. "I gotta go tell that schmendrick next door to get his car off my lawn."
SCHMOOZE
To chat or converse. To network.
Ex. "That party was a schmooze-fest. It felt like everyone was trying to make a good impression."
SCHMUTZ
A filthy or soiling substance (such as dirt, mud, dust, or grime).
Ex. "Wipe the schmutz off your face before you come to the dinner table, you schmendrick!"
SCHTICK
A comic theme or gimmick. A contrived bit of business a performer uses to steal attention.
Ex. "Murray is up to his same old schtick, trying to be the center of attention with his terrible jokes."
SCHMATTA
Rag, old/ragged piece of clothing, garment.
Ex. "When I get home from work the bra and clothes come off and I put on my favorite schmatta. It may not be cute, but it's comfy!"
SCHVITZ / SCHVITZING
Verb: To sweat, perspire; Noun: Sweat; Noun: A Turkish bath, steam bath.
Ex. "I can't stop schvitzing after schlepping that heavy box up a flight of stairs in this heat!"
SHANDA
Something scandalously shameful. In Yiddish, the word shand is used as “shame” is used in English.
Ex. "It's such a shonda that the Ravens lost the football game against the Chiefs and won't be in the Superbowl, but the Swifties are thrilled!"
SHAYNE PUNIM
Beautiful face.
Ex. "My mother always says I have a shayne punim - even when I'm looking my worst."
Note: Pronounced "Shayna"
SHPILKES
Impatience, restlessness. A state of agitation, and/or anxiety. Ants in your pants.
Ex. "Oy, I've got such shpilkes over this job interview tomorrow. I can't sit still!"
SIMCHA
A festive, happy occasion such as a wedding, Bar Mitzvah or engagement. Gladness, joy.
Ex. "Between Rachel's wedding, Joshua's Bar Mitzhah, and Miriam's birthday party, I have so many simcha's to attend this month."
SPIEL
A long, involved story or tale; Drawn-out explanation or introduction.
Ex. "When Amy worked at the ET Adventure at Universal Studios as a teenager she had to learn a long spiel to address guests as they entered the ride."
Note: Pronounced "shpeel"
TCHOTCHKE
Small bric-à-brac or miscellaneous item. An inexpensive showy trinket.
Ex. "My grandpa traveled all the time and now his house is filled with tchotchke's from around the world."
TSURIS
Troubles, worry, distress, stress, aggravation, woes.
Ex. "Even with all the money and accolades he gets with his job, is it really worth the tsuris it causes?"
TUCHUS
Buttox, heiny, tush, bottom.
Ex. "Jason Momoa has a nice tuchus."
TUMMLER
A person who makes things happen, in particular a professional entertainer or comedian whose function is to encourage an audience, guests at a resort, etc., to participate in the entertainment or activities.
Ex. "The tummler at Schmendrick's is way better than the guy at Kellerman's. He really gets the crowd going!"
UNGAPATCHKA
Something which is overly ornate, busy, ridiculously over-decorated, kitsch, and garish to the point of distaste.
Ex. "My mother-in-law's house is seriously ungapatchka. I have never seen so many kitschy things, all of which she thinks are so tasteful. To each his own, but definitely not my style."
VERKLEMPT
Overcome with emotion, perhaps even choked up or clenched by emotions.
Ex. "She was so verklempt when she won the Academy Award that she couldn't get through her speech and just walked off the stage in joyous tears."
ZETZ
A strong blow or punch.
Ex. "My dad was very naughty as a child and it was not uncommon for his father to give him a good zetz when he acted up, but he always apologized later."