Do you ever find yourself stumped when a word from your grandparents’ mouth, on Seinfeld, or Curb Your Enthusiasm is mentioned? If conversations sound somewhat similar to the video found below, you should find this post useful. Here is a comprehensive list of commonly used Yiddish words for the gentile’s and Jews who have not practiced the religion since the Hebrew School days.
Putz – a stupid, ignorant person; someone who doesn’t pay attention to anything going on; one who makes stupid remarks* (also known as a schmuck).
Meshuggina – also known as a crazy person but more importantly this is a real fun to word to say out loud.
Alter-Cocker- an old person who is constantly complaining.
Nosh – formally a snack or the food you eat after a late night smoke session.
Shmageggy – a personal TJML favorite. This term is used loosely: a lame, ineffectual, or pussy-whipped woman of a man.* Without the vulgarity, we’ll group this with a putz or schmuck.
Knish – not John Turturro who offers to bankroll Matt Damon in Rounders, rather a potato pastry
Chachka – things considered to be worth collecting, not necessarily because of value or antiqueness. Commonly called a “chachkey.” Think small decorations.
Chupah – alter where the wedding ceremony takes place under. You might be familiar with a chupah from “Meet the Parents” where Owen Wilson designed his own (which gets lit on fire from Greg Focker’s cigarette).
Facocta – pronounced fa-cock-ta. Used when something is messed up (such as: Marvin, the facocta car won’t start and we’re going to be late to the Jackie Mason show).
Kvetch – the Yiddish way to say complaining bitch*
Shiksa – a Gentile woman with an attraction to Jewish men.
Other commonly used words: kin-a-hurra , ay yay yay, bubbula, oy gevalt, schlep, schmooz, schnoze, yente, schvitz.
Missing any? Add on for us.
*Source: urbandictionary.com
Fotzing around