YIDDISH..the language we love.

Yiddish offers words that are so richly expressive, they make us smile. Some of our favorites? Schlep. Nosh. Plotz. Nudge. Chutzpah. Mensch. Just imagine life without them. Oy!

Here are some of our favorite Yiddish words and phrases:

• Balaboosta: A great Jewish mama, who does it all—cooks, cleans, kids, etc.
• Bubbe: A Jewish Grandma who embraces Jewish culture and stereotypes
• Bubbelah: an endearing term for someone you love
• Chutzpah: brave, daring, audacious, "he has a lot of chutzpah to do that..."
• Dreck: crap, worse then schlock
• Fress: eat
• Heymish: homey, down to earth, no frills, just right
• Kibbitz: chat in a fun and light hearted way
• Kvell: to swoon with happiness and pride, “I’m kvelling over my son’s accomplishments”
• Maven: an expert “The staff at Challah & Co. are food mavens”
• Mazel: luck
• Mazel Tov: Congratulations
• Mensch: a genuinely nice person “What a mensch, that son of yours”
• Meshugge: crazy in a loving way “he is meshugge”
• Naches: Joy
• Nosh: eat, in a grazing sort of way
• Nudge: a gentle poke or push to get someones' attention
• Nu?: “so what’s new?” “what are you waiting for?”
• Oy, Oy Vey, Oy Gevalt: “Oh No!” All versions mean the same. Oy and Oy Vey are shortened versions of Oy Gevalt
• Plotz: shocked, surprised “I am plotzing over the new car you bought me” Refers to either happy or sad occasion/event
• Schlep: carry heavy stuff, unhappily
• Schlock: crap, garbage “the stuff at that tag sale is all schlock”
• Simcha: Happy occasion
• Tuchas: tushy, tush
• Yiddishe Mama: a Jewish mother
• Zaftig: fat or chubby in a loving/lovely sort of way

Want to learn even more Yiddish and laugh a lot too? Yiddish with Dick and Jane, Oy Vey, it's a lesson like no other!