Eretz Hakodesh. Literally “the Holy Land,” i.e., the land of Israel.

far zikher. For sure.

farshtey, farshteist. Understand.

farshtunkene. Stinking.

frum. Devout or pious, committed to the observance of Jewish religious law, often exceeding the bare requirements of halacha, the collective body of Jewish religious laws.

gadol hador. The greatest and most revered Torah scholar of the generation.

Gehinnom. Purgatory.

Geshmacked. Delicious, yummy.

gevaldig. Tremendous, huge.

gmach. Free loan fund that distributes a wide variety of goods and services as a good deed. gmachim. (plural).

gornisht. Nothing, zilch, zero.

gribbenes. Crisp chicken or goose skin with onions fried in schmaltz.

grosse tzaddik. Derogatory, “a great saint.”

grubber yung. Coarse, uncouth, crude youth.

HaShem. Literally “the name,” a periphrastic way of referring to God in contexts other than prayer or scriptural reading because the name itself is considered too holy for such use. HaShem Yaazor. God should help. HaShem Yisborach. God be blessed, interchangeable with Baruch Hashem and Yisborach HaShem. HaShem Yishmor. God watch over us.

hechsher. Rabbinical stamp of approval, mostly referring to kosher status of food.

hishtadlus. Personal effort toward a goal.

ich farshtey. I understand.

k’vod harav. Honorific. “Most respected teacher.”

kepelah. Literally “little head,” a term of affection.

kinderlach. Diminutive, affectionate term for children.

Litvish. Of or pertaining to Jews from Lithuania.

loshon hara. Gossip.

mamash. Really, truly, actually.

mechilah. Formal forgiveness for sin.

mechitza. Divider separating men’s from women’s sections in synagogue.

menuvel. A person who is always causing grief, can get nothing right, and is always in the way.

middos. Character traits.

mirtzashem. God willing.

mishagas. Craziness. meshuganah, meshuga. A crazy person.

misnagdim. Rabbinical opponents to the rise of the Hasidic movement, centered in Lithuania.

moissar. Squealer who turns over fellow Jew to secular authorities.

musaf. Afternoon prayers.

mussar. Ethical behavior in the spirit of the Torah.

nebbech. Sad, unfortunate.

negiah. Literally “touch,” the concept in Jewish law that forbids or restricts physical contact with a member of the opposite sex (except close family).

neshama. Soul.

nesoyon. Spiritual test, usually something difficult or tragic. nesyonos. (plural).

nishtikeit. A nobody.

nishtgutnik. No-good person.

OTD. Abbreviation for “Off the Derech,” meaning those leaving the true path of Orthodoxy.

pirchei. Literally “blossoms,” name given to choirs of young haredi boys singing religiously themed songs.

plotzing. To burst with strong emotion, frustration, or annoyance.

potur. Exempt.

prutza. An immoral woman, a whore. Also pritzus. Immorality.

rachmones. Piteous.

rosha. Hebrew word for villain. Also rishus. Evil.

shaine. Beautiful.

shalom bayis. Domestic harmony.

shandah. Shame or disgrace.

sheva brachos. Seven blessings, parties held seven nights postwedding to honor the bride and groom.

shluchim. Emissaries (plural). Usually sent to promote a religious or ideological cause, or to collect funding. Also shaliach (singular).

shma. A fundamental prayer affirming one’s faith, recited morning and evening.

shpilkes. Pins and needles. on shpilkes. On pins and needles.