INQUIRING MINDS WANT TO KNOW A 'BISL' YIDDISH by
Marjorie Gottlieb Wolfe

Syosset, New York

The Yiddish word for the number eleven is "elf."  Shown below are some 11-letter Yiddish words.  Yes, they're more difficult than "Yiddishkayt" (Jewishness or Judaism),  "onshikenish" (troublesome person or thing), or "shodnvinkel" (mischief maker).

Grab a #2 "blayer" (pencil) and see if you can match column A with column B.  Good luck!

      Word                           Meaning

  1.  oysleyzgelt            A.  creature

  2.  rekomendirn          B.  undertaking/enterprise

  3.  ureyniklekh            C.  jelly, jam

  4.  rezervatsye            D.  insult

  5.  shloftsimer             E.  little by little/gradually

  6.  shpayzkamer         F.  to roam/travel

  7.  shvakhkepik          G.  to devour/gobble

  8.  strakhirung            H.  to pardon/excuse

  9.  tsesheydung          I.   to come back/return

10.  tsherepakhe         J.  old-fashioned

11.  tsukerkrenk          K.  to withdraw

12.  tsonbershtl           L.  ransom

13.  tsunemenish        M.  bedroom

14.  tsuriktsien             N.  feebleminded

15.  tsurikkumen         O.  turtle

16.  unternemung       P.  nickname

17.  oysgematert        Q.  diabetes

18.  altfrenkish            R.  pantry

19.  antshuldikn          S.  to recommend

20.  arumblonken        T.  toothbrush

21.  ayngemakhts      U.  reservation

22.  aynshlingen        V.  separation

23.  baleydikung        W.  insurance

24.  bashefenish        X.  great-grandchildren

25.  bislekhvayz        Y.  exhausted

26.  farkhalesht         Z.  unconscious

KEY:

  1.  L                        14.  K

  2.  S                        15.  I

  3.  X                         16.  B

  4.  U                          17.  Y

  5.  M                          18.  J

  6.  R                           19.  H

  7. N                             20.  F

  8.  W                           21.  C

  9.  V                            22.  G

10.  O                          23.  D

11.  Q                          24.  A

12.  T                           25.  E

13.  P                          26.  Z

Marjorie Gottlieb Wolfe's favorite "Yiddish-type" word found in Steve Stern's book, "The Angel of Forgiveness"  is  "Scherera-tzadik.
 

home

Search for Stories Beginning with the Letter

A

B

C

D

E

F

G

H

I

J

K

L

M

N

O

P

Q

R

S

T

U

V

W

Y

Z

___________________________________________
Marjorie Gottlieb Wolfe is the author of
two books:

"Yiddish for Dog & Cat Lovers" and
"Are Yentas, Kibitzers, & Tummlers Weapons of Mass Instruction?  Yiddish
Trivia."  To order a copy, go to her
website: MarjorieGottliebWolfe.com

NU, what are you waiting for?  Order the book!

Yiddish Stuff Jewish Humor Schmooze News More Majorie Wolfe

Principle Jewish Stories All Things Jewish Jewish Communities of the World

Site Designed and Maintained by
Haruth Communications