List of English words of Yiddish origin - Definition and Overview

This is a list of English language words of Yiddish language origin, many of which have entered the language by way of American English. Spelling of some of these words may be variable (sch or sh, for example).

It is worth noting that many of these words are infact of Hebrew origin but have entered the English language via their Yiddish forms. Some of these words may also have similar German counterparts but most likely entered the English vocabulary via Yiddish.

bagel 

from בײגל beygl - a hard ring-shaped bread roll

blintz 

a sweet cheese-filled crepe (from Yiddish בלינצע blintse)

bris 

the circumcision of a male child (from Hebrew ברית, brit)

chutzpah 

audacity, effrontery (Hebrew via Yiddish חוצפּה khutspe)

dybbuk 

the malevolent spirit of a dead person which enters and controls a living body until exorcised (from Hebrew dibbuk that which clings)

dreck 

worthless, especially of merchandise

gelt 

chocolate coins eaten on Chanukah, (from Yiddish gelt 'money')

kibbitz 

1. to observe an event and offer unwanted advice, for example, to the players of a game; 2. to chat informally (from Yiddish kibitsen)

kibosh 

put the kibosh on, to finish off, dispose of

klutz 

clumsy person (perhaps from Yiddish קלאָץ klots 'wooden beam')

kosher 

from Hebrew כּשר via Yiddish - fit, proper, conforming to Jewish dietary laws. Slang: appropriate, legitimate.

kvetch 

complain (from Yiddish קװעטשן kvetshn 'press, squeeze')

latke 

potato pancake, especially during Chanuka (from Yiddish, from either Ukrainian or Russian)

lox 

smoked salmon (from Yiddish לאַקס laks 'salmon')

maven 

expert (from Yiddish מבֿין meyvn, from Hebrew mevin 'one who understands')

minyan 

the quorum of ten Jewish males who are necessary for the holding of a public worship service; they must be bar-mitzvah, i.e. at least 13 years of age and circumcised

mishmash 

hodgepodge (from Yiddish מישמאַש mishmash)

nosh 

snack (from Yiddish נאַשן nashn)

schlock 

A poorly made product or poorly done work, usually quickly thrown together for the appearance of having been done properly; "this writing is schlock." Something shoddy or inferior. Also the making of such work; "I'm just going to schlock it."

schmaltz 

excessive sentimentality; chicken fat or drippings used as a shmeer on bread

schmear 

as a verb, to spread, e.g. the cream cheese on your bagel; also, as a noun, that which you spread on something, e.g. "I'll have a piece of challah with schmeer." (from שמיר)

schmo 

a stupid person

schmooze 

to socialize

schnoz 

nose (possibly from Yiddish shnoits 'snout')

shammes 

a beadle or sexton for a synagogue, possibly contributory to the American slang word "shamus," for a policeman, by way of the Irish "Seamus" (from Yiddish shames, an attendant) (originally from Hebrew: "shamash" = caretaker)

shlep 

from שלעפּן şlepn - to drag (an object)

shlong 

penis (from Yiddish שלאַנג shlang 'snake')

shmuck 

a jerk, an unpleasant person (from Yiddish שמאָק shmok lit. Penis)

shtick 

comic theme; a defining habit or distinguishing feature (from Yiddish שטיק shtik 'piece, whims')

spiel 

a lengthy talk (from Yiddish שפּיל shpil 'play')

tchotchke 

knickknack, trinket

See also: Yiddish words and phrases used by English speakers, Lists of English words of international origin, List of English words of Hebrew origin