[Sca-cooks] Yiddish Vocabulary [Was: Hamantaschen]

[Martin G. Diehl]

"Lonnie D. Harvel" inadvertently mentioned 'Megillah' in 
a recent message ... 

That word 'Megillah' sounded so familiar ... made me find ... 

"Yiddish for Yankees or, Funny, You Don't Look Gentile" 
(Yes! ... the actual title! IOW, G'nossen tsum emess! <g> )
http://www.yiddishforyankees.com/ 

Which may be found (sometimes) at 
http://www.alibris.com or 
http://www.www.amazon.com

For an online reference, 

>From the "List of Yiddish Words and Expressions"
http://www.pass.to/glossary/Default.htm
... and then click 'M' to see ... 

"Megillah - A long story"

But wait -- there's more!! Don't stop there!!  

On other pages of that glossary ... 

Darf min gehn in kolledj? - For this I went to college? 

G'nossen tsum emess! - The sneeze confirmed the truth! 

Hak mir nicht in tchainik - Don't get on my nerves 
(Lit., Don't bang my teapot.) 

Ich bin ahntoisht - I am disappointed. 

Kein briere iz oich a breire - Without choice is also a choice.  

Kenen oyf di finger - Have facts at one's fingertips 
[I wonder who that could be? <g> ]

Oder a klop, oder a fortz - Either too much or not enough 
(Lit., either a wallop or a fart) 

Oi vai iz mir! - Woe is me! 

Oy vey tsu meina baina - Woe is me (down to my toes)

Rebbe fon Stutz - A phrase to explain the unexplainable. 
(as though the fairies or mystical beings caused the broch. 

Shemevdik - Bashful, shy 

Shlemiel, Shlimazel, Shmegegi - The Shlemiel spills the 
soup on the Shlimazel; a Shmegegi has fewer brains even.  

Trepsverter - Lit. step words; zinger composed in retreat; perfect
retort after insult analysis (maybe too late a little). 

Vai is mir! - Woe is me!

Ver volt dos gegleybt? - Who would have believed it? 

And some food (or food related) items ... 

Bialy, Borekes, Chrain, Geshmak, Holishkes, Kasheh, 
Kishkeh, Knishes, Lokshen, Ongetrunken, Prezhinitse, 
Ptsha, Rossel flaysh, Shav, Shmaltz, Shtark gehert, 
Shtrudel, Ta'am, Taiglech, Varnishkes, Vursht, ... 

Also found on the same site ... 
The memory of a dear, wise relative always saying you can 
curse your enemy with love if you talk to them in Yiddish,

Vincenzo 
(not Jewish -- but collects and shares Yiddish Words -- an 
avocation that began while working in the garment district; 
is from the Italian Renaissance -- in theory anyway; 
at times, teaches/wears a Feileadh Mor -- Great Kilt; 
... the backstory to "connect those dots" is a very big 
Megillah!)

-- 
Martin G. Diehl

http://www.renderosity.com/gallery.ez?ByArtist=Yes&Artist=MGD

Reality: That which remains after you stop thinking about it.
  --inspired by P. K. Dick