Inspiring twists and turns of language
Which borrowed word from Yiddish means to converse or chat informally?
Published on December 7, 2024
Credit: Mick Haupt
In modern English, around half of all words are borrowed from other languages, including French, Italian, Spanish, and even Yiddish. A few terms from this Germanic language, written in the Hebrew alphabet, have made their way into the American vocabulary by descendants of Yiddish-speaking immigrants who couldn’t find any English words to better describe what they were trying to express. Did you know that maven, glitch, and lox have Yiddish origins? Join us to discover 10 amazing words derived from Yiddish!
Schmooze
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Quite a few words that start with schm– have been adopted into English from Yiddish, and schmooze is one of the most popular. According to the Merriam-Webster Dictionary, schmooze means to converse or chat informally. The term comes from the Yiddish word schmues ("talk") which in turn derives from the Hebrew shěmu’ōth ("news" or "rumor").
Although originally this Americanism dating back to 1895-1900 only meant to chat idly or to gossip, over time it acquired a new, somewhat more negative meaning. Today, when we say that someone is schmoozing, we mean that they are engaging in conversation in a persuasive manner to gain something in return.
Bagel
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Well, this one is a no-brainer. Of course, the word bagel comes from Yiddish! Originally spelled beigel in the earliest written English records, the term derives from the Yiddish term beygl or beygel. In turn, this word originates from the Old German bēag ("ring or bracelet").
The exact origin of this exquisite ring-shaped bread roll is unknown, but it is believed to have its roots in central Europe. In a document from 1610, which contains the rules of the Jewish community of Cracow, they are mentioned in Yiddish. Although today bagels are a staple of New York cuisine, the truth is that we have Jewish immigrants to thank for introducing them to our country in the late 19th century.
Lox
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There's no bagel without some cured or smoked fish to go with it. As expected, the word lox also derives from Yiddish, specifically from the term laks, which in turn comes from the old German lahs, meaning "salmon."
The earliest known use of the noun lox in English dates back to the 1930s. Interestingly, other languages use a similar variant of lox that is also pronounced the same way. This is because the meaning and pronunciation of the word have remained unaltered for over 8,000 years. In fact, lox is one of the terms that has helped linguists discover where the Proto-Indo-Europeans —a prehistoric ethnolinguistic group of Eurasia from which most languages originate— lived.
Maven
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Do you consider yourself a maven? You probably are! A maven is an experienced or knowledgeable person, in other words, an expert. It's true, you don't become a maven overnight, but we are all experts at something, even if it's just a hobby.
What you may not know is that the English word maven, first recorded in writing in 1907 according to the Oxford English Dictionary, derives from the Yiddish meyvn. This word, in turn, comes from the Late Hebrew mēbhīn, which literally means "one who understands." While for many years the word was used only in Jewish circles, by the early 1960s, maven finally joined other Yiddishisms in mainstream American culture. Today we have "media mavens," "literary mavens," and even "computer mavens."
Glitz
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This article may not have the glitz and glamour of Hollywood but it's been pretty interesting so far, don't you think? And so, now it's the turn of the word glitz, which as you can imagine, derives from Yiddish, even though it was only incorporated into our everyday language in the 1970s.
Glitz and glitzy are Yiddish for "glitter" or "glittery," and originate from the German term glitzern meaning "sparkle." Today, however, the meaning of this word has broadened. It is now used to refer to something ostentatious, flashy, or extravagant in appearance.
Tush
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You have probably used this word thousands of times to refer to someone's buttocks in a cute, polite, and humorous way, most likely about a baby or a child. The truth is that the term tush began to be used more frequently in the English language as recently as the 1970s and if we analyze the etymology, it makes perfect sense.
The word tush, meaning the part of the body that you sit on, is almost certainly a modification of the Yiddish tokhes, which originates from the Hebrew taḥath meaning "under, beneath." So, next time you fall on your tush you'll know exactly what it means!
Schmaltzy
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Here we have another schm- word derived from Yiddish. Maybe this one is not so common and you don't use it regularly in your daily vocabulary, but according to Merriam-Webster Dictionary, it means "extremely or excessively sentimental," usually related to art or music.
In its literal sense, schmaltz comes from Yiddish shmalts, which means "liquid animal fat." Did you know that once upon a time schmaltz was spread on toast and eaten as if it were butter? You only had to visit a Jewish restaurant to find a bottle filled with chicken fat on your table! Why did we add the -y in America to refer to a piece of entertainment that is exaggerated or even tacky? That, my friends, is just one more linguistic mystery!
Glitch
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This word is probably derived from Yiddish, although, as is usually the case, we cannot be a hundred percent certain. It apparently comes from glitsh, a Yiddish word for "slippery place," and from glitshn, meaning "to slide," or "glide."
According to Merriam-Webster, the term glitch today means "a malfunction" or "a minor problem that causes a temporary setback." However, in its original sense, it was "a sudden surge of current" and was mostly used in radio and television in the 1940s and 1950s to refer to technical problems.
Klutz
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If you want to avoid an accident, never give something valuable to a klutz to carry. A klutz is, simply put, a clumsy person, someone who often drops things and is probably not very good at sports. The word is an Americanization of the Yiddish term klots, which means "wooden beam."
It came into use in the United States in the mid-1920s. At first, it was a derogatory slang term, but now it has a slightly more humorous and affectionate connotation.
Macher
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Do you know any machers? Once you understand the meaning of this word borrowed from Yiddish, one or two people will come to mind. In English, a macher is a powerful and influential person and the earliest known use of this noun is from 1911. In Yiddish, the term makher means exactly the same thing.
But this word, in turn, has its origin in Middle High German macher, which means "maker, creator," and derives from machen "to make, do." Aren't the twists and turns of language wonderful?
