In German, Mensch (a capitalized noun) means generic man, human being. … Furthermore, in English, one never hears a woman referred to as mensch, while in German a woman can be called mensch, as in ein Heber Mensch, meaning “a dear person.” So somewhere on its way from German to (modern-day?)
What is a Shanda?
Shanda. Definition: A shame, a scandal. Example: “Can you even believe he slept with her best friend?! Oh, what a shanda!”
What is the opposite of a mensch?
The opposite of a mensch is an unmensch (meaning: an utterly cruel or evil person). According to Leo Rosten, the Yiddish maven and author of The Joys of Yiddish, mensch is “someone to admire and emulate, someone of noble character.
What is a Shmegegge?
Definitions of shmegegge. (Yiddish) baloney; hot air; nonsense. synonyms: schmegegge. type of: bunk, hokum, meaninglessness, nonsense, nonsensicality.
What is the opposite of Mensch in Yiddish?
Opposite of mensch. boor. opposite sense of same term. Noun. ▲
Is Schmuck a bad word?
Although schmuck is considered an obscene term in Yiddish, it has become a common American idiom for “jerk” or “idiot”. It can be taken as offensive, however, by some Jews, particularly those with strong Yiddish roots.
Is Mensch a compliment?
The key to being ‘a real mensch’ is nothing less than character, rectitude, dignity, a sense of what is right, responsible, decorous.” The term is used as a high compliment, implying the rarity and value of that individual’s qualities.
What does schmaltz mean in Yiddish?
Schmaltz is a noun derived from the German verb schmelzen, meaning “to melt”. … The term entered English usage through Yiddish-speaking Ashkenazi Jews who used “schmaltz” to refer to kosher poultry fat; the word שמאַלץ shmalts is the Yiddish word for rendered chicken fat.
What does Oy vey Schmear mean?
Oy vey (Yiddish: אױ װײ) is a Yiddish phrase expressing dismay or exasperation. Also spelled oy vay, oy veh, or oi vey, and often abbreviated to oy, the expression may be translated as, “oh, woe!” or “woe is me!” Its Hebrew equivalent is oy vavoy (אוי וא’וי, ój vavój).
What does goyim mean in English?
In modern Hebrew and Yiddish goy (/ɡ”ɪ/, Hebrew: ‘וי, regular plural goyim /ˈɡ”ɪ. ɪm/, ‘וים or ‘ויים) is a term for a gentile, a non-Jew. Through Yiddish, the word has been adopted into English (often pluralised as goys) also to mean gentile, sometimes with a pejorative sense.
What is Schmeckle?
A Schmeckle is worth approximately $148 USD. “Schmekel” is Yiddish slang for “penis“.
What is the male version of a Yenta?
The correct term for a Jewish matchmaker is shadchanit for a woman, shadchan for a man.
What is the Yiddish word for balls?
Chutzpah (Yiddish)
balls. It could easily be swapped into the phrase: “I can’t believe you had the balls to do that.” It implies audacity, risk, and confidence.
What does Oy gevalt?
: oh, violence! ” used to express shock or amazement.
What nationality speaks Yiddish?
Yiddish is the language of the Ashkenazim, central and eastern European Jews and their descendants. Written in the Hebrew alphabet, it became one of the world’s most widespread languages, appearing in most countries with a Jewish population by the 19th century.
What does schmuck mean?
slang. : a stupid, foolish, or unlikeable person : jerk sense 1b Do not be the poor schmuck who runs out of gas and is stranded when a natural disaster is about to hit.”