First of all, you might be asking what is Yiddish?  You might know more than you think - Here's a fun list of Yiddish Words found in English.

Some other reading that is really funny - Haikus for Jews.

Favorites from Matt's
Yiddish Word of the Day 2002 calendar!

Thursday, May 16
Fartz
Yes, to pass gas. However, the funny part are these two common Yiddish expressions.  Words to live by for sure.
A vort un a fartz ken men nit tzuriknemen- Neither a word nor a fart can be taken back.
A pish on a fartz iz vi a regn on a duner- To pee without farting is like rain without thunder.

Friday, June 7
Pupik
The pupik from the Russian pupok, is the navel, but it can refer to a chicken's gizzard or to the human stomach. Pupik can also be pronounced pipik, and the name Moishe Pipik can be used as we say Joe Blow in English.

Thursday, June 6
Hoch
One of the great Yiddish idiomatic expressions is HOCH MIR NISH KEN TCHINAK, or, "Don't knock (or chop) my teapot."  This is said to children to make them stop NUDZHING (fidgeting, being a nuisance).  If someone is HOCHEN A TCHINAK, they are chattering on foolishly and probably driving you crazy.

In Russian, TCHAI is tea and TCHINAK is a teapot. To HOCH is to chop, from the german HACK.

Thursday, June 27
Plotz

Plotz can mean a place or a seat, like the German platz. But more often, plotz means the same thing as the German platxen, to burst. In Yiddish it suggests an explosive bursting, cracking, or splitting open.  It can be used to suggest the aftereffects of a large meal or the result of a complete emotional meltdown. We can be so angry, surprised, out of patience, put upon, or outraged that we could plotz.

Monday, July 1
Mazel

Mazel is Hebrew for a star, planet, constellation, or sign of the zodiac; it implies our lucky star, the star we were born under, and the protecting, threatening, or indifferent angel who rules that star. Mazel tov, a good star or good luck, means congratulations.

On the other side... Shlimazel. Shlimazel is bad luck or an unlucky person.

Tuesday, July 23

Mishpocheh -  Hebrew for family, clan or tribe. In Yiddish it implies not the American nuclear family, but the largest possible interpretation we can give to the word "kinfolks."

Chachem- A chachem is a wise person. It comes from the Hebrew for wisdom. Chachem is more often used sarcastically to refer to someone who tries to be a wise guy buy fails. It is one more way to say fool.

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