# Yiddish

/ˈjɪdɪʃ/ (US)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/yiddish
Updated: 2026-08-27

## Senses

### 1. the language

noun · CEFR B2

a language that developed from German and Hebrew, traditionally spoken by Jewish people in Europe.

For teachers: A West Germanic language developed from Middle High German with significant Hebrew-Aramaic and Slavic lexical components, traditionally written in Hebrew characters.

- My grandmother still speaks Yiddish when she talks to her sisters.
- Although Yiddish was once the primary tongue of millions in Eastern Europe, its use today is concentrated in specific communities and academic circles.

### 2. relating to the language

adjective · CEFR B2

related to the Yiddish language or the way it is written.

For teachers: Pertaining to the Yiddish language, its literature, or its linguistic characteristics.

- He is studying Yiddish literature at the university this year.
- The archive contains several rare Yiddish manuscripts that survived the war in a hidden basement.

### 3. Jewish culture

adjective · CEFR C1 · Informal

used informally to describe things that feel traditionally Jewish.

For teachers: Relating to Ashkenazic Jewish culture or 'Yiddishkeit' in a broad, often informal sense.

- The restaurant had a very Yiddish atmosphere with traditional music and food.
- The film captures a specific Yiddish sensibility that resonates deeply with the older generation of the neighborhood.

## Examples

- My grandmother still speaks Yiddish with her friends.
- Many English words like 'chutzpah' and 'schmooze' actually come from Yiddish and are used in everyday conversation.
- While the number of native speakers declined significantly in the twentieth century, Yiddish continues to thrive in Hasidic communities and through a global revival of its literature and music.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.