15 Often-Heard Yiddish Words

Here are 15 Yiddish words you may have heard and perhaps not understood.

Here's hoping you encounter only mensches—no gonifs. And no tsuris, either. 

1. bissel/bissela. A little bit.

2. bubkis (bup-kiss). Nothing at all.

3. chutzpah (khoots-pah). Nerve, brazen gall.

4. gonif (gah-niff). A thief, a dishonest person.

5. kibitz. Unwelcome advice, especially during a card game.

6. mavin (may-vin). An expert, connoisseur.

7. megillah. Overly complicated and boring.

8. mensch. An upright, decent person. 

9. meshuga (meh-shu-gah). Crazy.

10. naches (nokh-ess). Proud pleasure or joy.

11. nosh. A tidbit (n), to have a bite (v).

12. schmaltz. Overwrought, sentimental.

13. shtup. To have sexual intercourse with.

14. schlep. To drag along. 

15. tsuris (tsoo-riss). Troubles, woe, suffering.