Yiddish is a language of European Jewry which is grammatically Germanic, but includes many words of Hebrew and Slavic origin. With Jewish migration in the last century to the UK and America, many Yiddish words have entered English usage. See if you can match up these words with their correct meaning. Let us hear how you get on 🙂
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Question of
Chutzpah
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Audacity
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Cowardice
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Clumsiness
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Question of
Mazel tov
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Commiserations
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Congratulations
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Amen
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Question of
Goy
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Rabbi
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Non-Jewish person
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Religious woman
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Question of
Mensch
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a decent human being
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a foreigner
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a non-religious Jew
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Question of
Schlemiel
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a non-Jewish woman
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a dolt
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a tailor
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Question of
Tchotchke
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Chicken soup
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rag
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knickknack
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Question of
Schlep
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Mutton
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shop
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make a tedious journey
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Question of
Schmooze
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To converse informally
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To get drunk
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To fast
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Question of
Schmaltz
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Gold
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Prayer
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sentimentality
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Question of
Nudnik
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A stripper
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A buffoon
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a bore
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Question of
Kvetch
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To haggle
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to complain habitually
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sauce
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Question of
Meshuggener
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crazy person
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Lithuanian Jew
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skullcap
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Question of
Yenta
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Sabbath meal
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Head covering worn by women
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gossipy woman
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Question of
Klutz
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A clumsy person
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A banker
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A successful businessman
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I have to say something here. I took the quiz a while ago but this time I got them all right. I forgot I took it before so no Oy Vey this time, but, Mazal Tov that I got them all right.
Mazel tov indeed, Hannihar!
Yiddish is something my parents spoke at home when they did not want us to know what they were saying. I know little bit which means bisila.
I should have known all of them but two I got messed up on.
Oy Vey that is life.
That’s a pretty impressive result!
Thanks Norman. I did not realize I took it before. This time I got them all right. I guess my eavesdropping on my parents when they spoke Yiddish paid off.
You caught me on “nudnik!” Otherwise, i would have had a perfect score 🙂
Very impressive 🙂
Thank you! I love the languages quizzes. Please keep them coming 🙂
Okay, with that sort of encouragement…
Blue Sailor. Did you know Yiddish while growing up or did you just want to take the quiz? You could take the quiz again and then get a perferct score.
7/14 my guess is so right.
You did well for guessing 50%!
Missed one, did much better than I expected to do…
Well done, Alex!
Haha.. Oh my! I got only 3.
Haha – I guess you never heard them 🙂 Thanks for playing!
That’s true. ? But I learned something.?
11 out of 14 the few missed some of them I never heard of before.
You did well 🙂 It seems the integration of these words into English is quite patchy, in terms of location. Most of those I know, I know from film or telly.
I got 8. But the truth I never heard of these words except for Klutz. As for the 7 correct answers, they were all lucky guesses…
Hmm.. I never believed in luck.
Hehehe
Well you are very lucky – especially for someone who doesn’t believe in Lady Luck 😉
Got half of it right.
Not bad for a non-Jewish non-American!
Those I got right were the ones commonly used by my friends when I was studying in Texas!?
Only 6. I didn’t know some of the English words in the answers either, haha.
haha – sorry about that 😀 Thanks for playing!
11 of 14, better than this goy expected…
That’s pretty good for a goyishce mensch 😉 Thanks for paying, Paul!
playing, even ^^
Shared on FB 21/8/17 @ 119V
13 out of 14. I thought nudnik was a buffoon.
Well done, you! I wouldn’t rule that out as an alternative meaning, Gina, but I am familiar with nudnik as meaning a bore/pain in the a**.
Woops 6 out of 14. I found that pretty difficult!
It was never supposed to be easy!! :p
7/14. The words were quite unfamiliar to me.
You did well getting 50% then 🙂 I’m not surprised they are unfamiliar; most are not really naturalised in English.
got 5 out of 14 right!
Roll on, Spanish 😀 Hey thanks for playing!
11/14, another great quiz.
Thanks, Kim 🙂 You did well!
lol, I have heard of a lot of them, the rest were guesses. Did you get back from vacation?
Yeah, got back Thursday. Can’t get used to wearing 3 layers instead of a half of one!
10 out of 14 right! I’m surprised at myself! 🙂
Well done 🙂
I got 11 which I’m pretty proud of since I had to guess at a few. This quiz was very fun and unique. More quizzes like this please! maybe I’ll be able to get them all one day
Hey Gina, thanks for your supportive and encouraging comments! You did really well 🙂 There’s a Spanish one on the way !
Looking forward to the Spanish quiz Norman!
So am I – it’s been sitting awaiting approval for a while!
Yes, and an Italian one! Or would that be kind of the same. lol
14 out of 14 wow nice quiz
Impressive score, Hamza! Thanks for playing 🙂
12 of 14
That’s a good score, Howard 🙂 Thanks for playing.
You know, I was that guy singing “Have another tequila” to the tune of Have Nagila …
Yep, that’s you 😀 😀
5 out of 14
I’m guessing there aren’t many yiddishisms in Kenyan English 🙂 Thanks for playing, Meshack!
Am learning from the net
Nine out of 14.
Not bad! Thanks for playing 🙂
14 our of 14.
As expected 😉 Thanks for playing
A nudnik is a nuisance or pest.
Shmaltz is fat.
I know the above to be true.
13/14
Well done, Nina! Yes, I know those additional meanings too 🙂
Got 9.. not familiar also..
Well you did well 🙂 Thanks for playing, Strikel!
Only 4 correct, not familiar at all! 🙂
I suspect many of these words would be better known in some places than others. Thanks for playing, Carol 🙂