Let's Keep It Alive

Hola! That's hello in Spanish. You're very welcome for dropping that little piece of knowledge on you. I took 6 years of Spanish but can barely speak it conversationally. I do know many words and can put a sentence together if need be but should know a lot more than I do. I lost so much of it over time. Spanish is one of those language that everyone seems to use and will throw in Spanish or even Spanglish words in everyday convo here and there. But most people know when they are using these non-English words and use them on purpose. But there is another language that people also use quite often and don't even realize its not English. That language is Yiddish.

Does anyone speak Yiddish anymore? Anyone besides my grandparents, that is? They both still speak pretty fluent Yiddish and speak it around us when they don't want us to know what they are talking about. They will talk about us right in front of our faces and we will have no idea what they are saying. Even though that can be sometimes be annoying, the Yiddish language is becoming lost and it's a damn shame.


Being brought up Jewish, and even being Bat Mitzvahed, I know very little Hebrew (I took it for many years so I should def know a lot more) but I do know a decent amount of Yiddish. It's much more common. I am also pretty confident with the idea that even many non-Jews know more Yiddish than they even think. Many people say Yiddish words in their everyday life that they don't even know its not English because it is used so frequently.

Below are some of my favorite Yiddish words. Some are more commonplace than others, but I really wish more people would start embracing this language a little more and working it into their vocabulary more often. 

1) Oy vey. Its basically the Yiddish OMG. It can also mean "oh no." People often use this when they hear or see something shocking. Sometimes they just let out an simple "Oy" and leave out the vey. I think this is the most commonly used Yiddish phrase used. I have heard people of all races and religions use this phrase.

2) Kvell. To beam with pride and joy. Many Jewish grandparents and parents kvell when their children or grandchildren accomplish something (big or small). At one of my graduations, my mom told me she was "kvelling." Her baby girl has accomplished so much. Yes, I know, I am awesome and there is so much for my parents to kvell over, natch.

3) Kinahora. Basically means "knock on wood." Often times we kind of use it in a "God bless 'em" type way. Like in a I-can't-believe-they-are-doing-that way. My mom and I often use this term when we see elderly people doing something we didn't expect them to do like run a race, carry something heavy, etc... We are impressed in their actions at such an old age. Everyone should only be so lucky.

4) Shpilkes. This is nervous energy. It's the ability not to sit still. This is something my mother and I are both afflicted with. We often times both have a lot of energy and like to keep busy and keep going and going all the time. (It's even worse if we are together.) My dad can often be quoted saying "Sit down already, you have major shpilkes right now" to either one of us.

5) Mazel Tov. Literally means good luck. People often use it as a congratulatory term, like when someone gets married, has a baby, or buys a new home. It's also very common. People can also often leave off the tov and just say "Mazel" to someone.  Andy Cohen has his "Mazel of the week" on his Watch What Happens show every night. Also, this scene in Along Came Polly uses it nicely too. (He also uses a another fave of mine in this scene: Mehsugge. It means crazy.)

Other words I frequently use that you may or may not use yourself as well: Mensch, meshugge, nosh, schmooze, schnoz, shnorrers, shmatte, shiksa, shtikl, shtupping, tuchas, schluffin, goy, maven, yenta, and ferclemp.

So how many of these did you know? And how many of these do you use? Which ones have you heard of but have no idea what they mean? Some of these have shown up in multiple Seinfeld episodes. (Can you guess which ones?) And even on SNL as well! (Coffee Talk with Linda Richmond, anyone?) Whether you're Jewish or not, we should all do our part and use Yiddish a little more often and really keep this language alive. It's too good to disappear.