Interesting Stories Behind 12 Yiddish Words in English Vocabulary

Yiddish language is actually Jewish language that was originally used in the central and eastern Europe. The language was developed based on German dialect, combined with words from the old Hebrew as well as several other languages like Slavic. Yiddish is still used in many parts of the world including Europe, USA and Israel. Nevertheless, you can find many Yiddish words in the current English vocabulary and here are the stories behind some of such words.

1. Chutzpah [noun: khoots-pah]

Basically this Yiddish word can be found in most of the English dictionaries including Oxford Dictionary, which describes a person’s behaviour that is shocking but full of confidence and brazen audacity.

2. Gazump [verb: ge-zamp]

This word derives from Yiddish word ‘gezumph’ which originally meant “to unnecessarily overcharge” or “to swindle”. However, since the early 1970s, this word is widely associated with the buying and selling of properties. This word now means “to raise the price of a house after agreeing to sell at a certain price”.

3. Glitch [noun: glich]

This word is a derivation of the Yiddish word ‘glitsh’, which actually means “slippery place”. In the early 1960s, American electrical engineers began to use this word to refer to sudden surge of electrical power. Now, the word glitch is used to refer to any kinds of hitch or sudden malfunction of equipment.

4. Kvetch [verb: ke-vech]

This Yiddish word can also be found in the English vocabulary, which refers to the attitude of a person who loves to complain about something, all the time or to whine.

5. Maven [noun: me-ven]

Basically, this Yiddish word refers to an expert of something or can also be a connoisseur.

6. Nosh [noun or verb: nosh]

This word derives from Yiddish word ‘nashn’. In the late 19th century, the word is absorbed into the English language to refer to “the act of chewing or munching food quickly” or can also refer to “food or meal”.

7. Schlep [verb: sh-lep]

This word originated from Yiddish word ’shlepn’ which means “to drag something”. However, nowadays, this word is informally used in the English language to refer to the act of going somewhere or moving something with much effort.

8. Schlock [noun: sh-lok]

This Yiddish word is now informally used in the English language to refer to goods that are cheap and of very poor quality.

9. Schmooze [verb: sh-muz]

From the late 19th century, this Yiddish word has been used by the English community to refer to informal and friendly chat with someone.

10. Schmuck [noun: sh-mak]

This word literally means “penis” in Yiddish language. Now this word is a slang to refer to a stupid of foolish person.

11.Slapper [noun: slep-per]

This word is of an unknown origin. However, it is suggested that this word could be connected to a Yiddish word ’schlepper’ which means “a scruffy person”. Over the years, this word has developed into an offensive slang word in the English language, referring to a woman who has many sexual partners.

12. Smack [noun: smek]

There are several meanings of the above word in the English vocabulary, which among others includes a slang word referring to “drug, especially heroin”. It is believed that this word could derive from the Yiddish word ’schmeck’, which literally means “sniff” or “smell”.