name
Uncommon
Yiddish
YIHD-ihsh
Yiddish (name) means a Germanic language historically spoken by Ashkenazi Jews across central and eastern Europe, traditionally written in Hebrew script and blending German with Hebrew, Slavic, and other influences. Example: “Her grandparents still spoke Yiddish at home.”
name
1
A Germanic language historically spoken by Ashkenazi Jews across central and eastern Europe, traditionally written in Hebrew script and blending German with Hebrew, Slavic, and other influences.
"Her grandparents still spoke Yiddish at home."
adj
1
Relating to the Yiddish language or to Ashkenazi Jewish culture.
"“Many goyim are confused by the large number of Yiddish terms beginning with ‘schl’ or ‘schm’ (schlemiel, schlemazzle, schmeggegge, schlub, schlock, schlep, schmutz, schnook), and use them incorrectly or interchangeably,” he wrote."
— Justin Wm. Moyer, Donald Trump’s ‘schlonged’: A linguistic investigation (2015)
"Many Yiddish words, like "chutzpah" and "schlep", have entered everyday English."
"As a Yiddish proverb has it: Badarf men hunik ven tsuker iz zis? Who needs honey when sugar is sweet?"
— Stefan Kanfer, In Lower Manhattan, the Echo of the Yiddish Stage Endures (2007)
"Yiddish cooking; Yiddish music"
How to use Yiddish
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishThe historic language of Ashkenazi Jewish communities, closely related to German.
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Word forms
- Comparative
- more Yiddish
- Superlative
- most Yiddish
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Her grandparents still spoke _____ at home.
Etymology
From Yiddish yidish, itself from a Middle High German phrase meaning literally "Jewish German".
Frequently asked questions
What does “Yiddish” mean?
The word “Yiddish” means a Germanic language historically spoken by Ashkenazi Jews across central and eastern Europe, traditionally written in Hebrew script and blending German with Hebrew, Slavic, and other influences. In plain terms, the historic language of Ashkenazi Jewish communities, closely related to German.
How do you pronounce “Yiddish”?
“Yiddish” is pronounced YIHD-ihsh (/ˈjɪd.ɪʃ/ in IPA).
How do you use “Yiddish” in a sentence?
Here is “Yiddish” used in a sentence: “Her grandparents still spoke Yiddish at home.”
What part of speech is “Yiddish”?
Depending on how it is used, “Yiddish” can be a name and an adjective.
Where does the word “Yiddish” come from?
The word “Yiddish” comes from German. From Yiddish yidish, itself from a Middle High German phrase meaning literally "Jewish German".
Is “Yiddish” a common word?
“Yiddish” is an uncommon word in modern English.
How many meanings does “Yiddish” have?
“Yiddish” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: a Germanic language historically spoken by Ashkenazi Jews across central and eastern Europe, traditionally written in Hebrew script and blending German with Hebrew, Slavic, and other influences.
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