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yiddishe kup - means "Jewish head;" refers to the Jewish mindset or way of thinking; Check out these funny Jewish sayings for more ideas of commonly used phrases and expressions.
- Funny Jewish Sayings
Since Jews have been around over 3000 years, there are many...
- Funny Jewish Sayings
For many Ashkenazi Jews, in particular, using Yiddish words can be a fun and humorous way to celebrate our heritage and our ancestors, while also helping to keep the language alive.
Since Jews have been around over 3000 years, there are many words of wisdom that are still true today. Here are some funny Jewish sayings and some wise proverbs.
Kvell — To experience pride in someone else, typically one’s children, as in “David decided to go into oncology, and I’m just kvelling.”. Kvetch — To complain, whine or fret, as in “He likes to kvetch at me when we serve kasha varniskes, because he doesn’t like it.”.
Jewish scriptwriters introduced many Yiddish words into popular culture, which often changed the original meanings drastically. You might be surprised to learn how much Yiddish you already speak, but also, how many familiar words actually mean something different in real Yiddish.
The first such word is “goy.” “Goy” literally means a nation, which includes the Jews. For example, in Genesis 12:2, G-d tells Abraham that his descendants (i.e., the Jews) will be “goy gadol” – “a great nation. In Exodus 19:6, Israel is referred to as “goy kadosh” – “a holy nation.”.
Shlep, tuches and oy vey are just a few of the many Yiddish words that have been incorporated into everyday American speech…so much so that their Yiddish flavor has faded a bit. Liven up your vocabulary with these 10 less familiar Yiddish terms. Fil shpass!
