February 2010
12 posts
Fleysh - פלייש
Fleysh - פלייש \FLEYSH\ Noun:
Meat; flesh.
Pronunciation: Click here to hear a native Yiddish speaker use this word in conversation.
Synonym: boser (בשר).
German equivalent: das Fleisch.
Etymology: The word derives from Modern German “das Fleisch,” which comes from Old High German “fleisk,” related to Old English “flaesc,” the basis for Modern English...
Zelda Kahan Newman Interviews Hasidim in Yiddish
For those interested, Zelda Kahan Newman of CUNY recently interviewed a couple of male Chasidim in New York and asked them to tell stories using their own unique Yiddish accents. The recordings and transcripts she produced reveal a lot about the actual spoken Yiddish of contemporary American Chasidim, as well as the extent to which English has infiltrated their speech. They are available here on...
Shuch - שוך
Shuch - שוך \SHUCH\ Noun:
A shoe.
Pronunciation: Click here to hear a native Yiddish speaker use this word in conversation.
German equivalent: der Schuh.
Etymology: The word derives from the German “der Schuh,” which itself comes from Middle High German “schuoch,” related to Old English “scoh,” the basis for Modern English “shoe.”
Derivatives...
Mendele
For those interested, Mendele is the website of the Mendele Yiddish listserv, a forum for the discussion of all things Yiddish. People often begin a discussion by asking the rest of the members of the listserv a question and others respond, so that a whole e-mail thread develops. The listserv also features a Personal Notices and Announcements component, announcing Yiddish-related events, as well...
Tzibele - ציבעלע
Tzibele - ציבעלע \TZIB-el-e\ Noun:
Onion; bulb.
Pronunciation: Click here to hear a native Yiddish speaker use this word in conversation.
Alternate: tsibelke (ציבעלקע).
German equivalent: die Zwiebel.
Etymology: The word derives from the German “die Zwiebel,” from Old High German “Zwibbolo,” which ultimately comes from Latin “cepula,” the diminutive of...
Der Bay
For those interested, Der Bay is an extremely useful website for lovers of Yiddish. It most prominently functions on behalf of the International Association of Yiddish Clubs (IAYC), which organizes a (mostly) annual conference in various cities in the US, but also has links to all sorts of Yiddish resources on the Net (including Yiddish translators, publications, fun websites, word lists, etc.),...
Broyt - ברויט
Broyt - ברויט \BROYT\ Noun:
Bread, loaf; livelihood.
Pronunciation: Click here to hear a native Yiddish speaker use this word in conversation.
Synonyms: koyletsh (קוילעטש), chale (חלה), lechem (לחם). The truth is that both koyletsh and chale are different from broyt and lechem, as the former refer to special bread baked specifically for Shabbes and Yontif, as opposed to the latter which are...
Lebns-Fragn
For those interested, Lebns-Fragn is the bimonthly publication of the Arbeter Ring-Workmen’s Circle in Israel. Founded by Bundists in 1951, it remains a socialistic, left-leaning magazine, with articles mostly on politics but on other subject as well, including art and book reviews. It is also available for subscription in America.
