In Praise of Yiddish Words

I have no ear for languages. But if I could go to sleep one night and miraculously wake up the next morning speaking a new language, it would be Yiddish. Why you ask? For the simple reason that it is THE singularly most onomatopoeia-Esq language in the world. For instance, you don't need to know the literal definition of a schmuck to know that its not a word you want to be called. And if something is so funny you could plotz? You don't have to know what plotz means to get a visual. Here are a few of my faves:

bubkes/bopkes (derived from the Slavic root for "bean"; literally: beans): something trivial; nothing; (as an exclamation) "nonsense!" I am slavic which must be why this word just resonates with me.

chutzpah/chutzpa/chutspa (from late Hebrew huspah): self-confidence, audacity, and arrogance (3-in-1); gall; "guts". To say this word right, you almost have to hock the first syllable.

mensch/mensh/mench (from German Mensch = person): a person of honor and integrity, of rectitude and dignity.

meshugge/meshuga/meshug(g)ah (from Hebrew meshugga): something absurd, crazy, or wildly extravagant.

nebach/neb(b)ech/nebbich/neb(b)ish (related to Polish nieboze = poor thing): a hapless, weak, and helpless individual, a "nobody"; sometimes used as an exclamation, as in the poor thing!

oy (as in oy vey! and oy gevalt!): a protean exclamation in Yiddish, used to express a vast gamut of negative feelings, ranging from surprise, incredulity, and shock to dismay, anxiety, and pain. In oy vey, vey is believed to derive from the German Weh (= pain; cf. English woe). In oy gevalt, gevalt is cognate with the German Gewalt (= force, violence)

shiksa/shikseh (the feminine of Yiddish shaygets (gentile boy), from Hebrew sheques = blemish, defect): a non-Jewish woman, especially a young one.

shlep/schlep (Yiddish shlepn, from German schleppen = to drag): to carry something very heavy, usually over a long distance.

shlock/schlock/schlack (from the Yiddish verb shlogn (to hit), derived from the German schlagen = to hit; cf. the English verb slay): originally, shlock meant damaged merchandise; now it means "junk", i.e. cheap and trashy merchandise. (Hence shlockmeister = somebody who sells cheap, shoddy goods.)

shtick/shtik/schtick (from German Stueck = piece, play): an entertainer's routine or somebody's particular talent; gimmick; bag of tricks.

schmuck jerk (form the Yiddish meaning penis.)

On a final note, if you're ever invited to my parent's house, pour a couple of high-balls down our throats and my entire family will reenact a very boisterous, goyish rendition of Fiddler on the Roof for your enjoyment.