Learn Yiddish with the Vocabo Chrome Extension
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Master Yiddish vocabulary while browsing the web. Free Chrome extension for language learners. Yiddish is spoken by 1.5+ million people. Yiddish connects to Ashkenazi Jewish culture and has a rich literary tradition.
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About Yiddish
Yiddish developed from medieval German and has many Hebrew and Slavic loanwords.
Speakers
1.5+ million
Language Family
Germanic
Writing System
Hebrew alphabet
Difficulty
Hard
Spoken in
Why Learn Yiddish?
Yiddish connects to Ashkenazi Jewish culture and has a rich literary tradition.
Common Yiddish Words
Start your Yiddish journey with these essential words and phrases.
שלום
Hello/Peace
sholem
אַ דאַנק
Thank you
a dank
ביטע
Please
BEE-teh
יאָ
Yes
yoh
ניין
No
nayn
וואַסער
Water
VAH-ser
עסן
Food
EH-sen
פֿרײַנד
Friend
fraynd
ליבע
Love
LEE-beh
זײַ געזונט
Goodbye (Be well)
zy geh-ZOONT
הויז
House
hoyz
מענטש
Person (good person)
mentsh
History of Yiddish
Yiddish emerged around 1000 CE from Middle High German in the Rhineland, developing as Jews migrated eastward into Slavic lands. It became the lingua franca of Ashkenazi Jews across Eastern Europe. The Holocaust devastated Yiddish-speaking communities, but the language survives in Hasidic communities, academic circles, and cultural revival efforts. Isaac Bashevis Singer won the 1978 Nobel Prize writing in Yiddish.
Is Yiddish Hard to Learn?
Yiddish uses the Hebrew alphabet, which takes time to learn. However, the grammar is simpler than German with a more regular case system. Germanic vocabulary is recognizable to German/English speakers. Hebrew and Slavic loanwords add unique character but require learning.
Similar Languages to Yiddish
If you're interested in Yiddish, you might also want to explore these related languages:
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