Gai kaken oifen yam, and other Yiddish curses

February 28, 2008 10:57 AM

Yiddish curse words.

Supplementing my Yiddish education with the coarsest language possible. Give me your favorites! Gib mir!

posted by Astro Zombie to Writing & Language (22 answers total)

The Insult Monger has a few. (NSFW ad images)
posted by quin at 11:01 AM on February 28, 2008

Only a schmendrik would ask such a question. FEH! Whadda yutz!

=)
posted by indiebass at 11:10 AM on February 28, 2008

Ha, I was about to mention my favorite, but I see it's in your post title!
posted by amro at 11:16 AM on February 28, 2008

every one i could think of was on that insult monger page....
posted by gnutron at 11:16 AM on February 28, 2008

There was an FPP on this.
posted by amro at 11:21 AM on February 28, 2008

Drek auf dem teller

Literally, "crap on a plate."
posted by amro at 11:35 AM on February 28, 2008

Response by poster: I'm looking for swear words, not curses.
posted by Astro Zombie at 11:35 AM on February 28, 2008

Du kannst nicht auf meinem rucken pishen unt mir sagen class es regen ist.

You can't pee on my back and tell me it's rain.

I could keep this up all day.
posted by amro at 11:37 AM on February 28, 2008

Response by poster: Just to clarify.
posted by Astro Zombie at 11:37 AM on February 28, 2008

Ah, okay... Your post title threw me off.
posted by amro at 11:38 AM on February 28, 2008

An alta koker like me would have no idea what your asking about.
posted by sourwookie at 11:38 AM on February 28, 2008

This site has a bunch! Ess drek und shtarbn, Schmuck!

potrzebie!
posted by not_on_display at 11:49 AM on February 28, 2008

"Kish mir tuchis, mumser" and "schvantz" were two of my grandfather's favorites, especially in regard to Robert Novak on Crossfire.
posted by joseph_elmhurst at 11:54 AM on February 28, 2008 [1 favorite]

Yiddish isn't big on "swear words" as such, but it's very rich in curses. I recommend Michael Wex's book Born to Kvetch, which has lots of 'em.

Khasene hobn zol er mit di malekhamoves tokhter!
He should get married to the daughter of the Angel of Death!
posted by languagehat at 12:05 PM on February 28, 2008

Also, recommending "The Joys of Yiddish" by Leo Rosten, or the "New Joys of Yiddish" (update, 2001).
posted by not_on_display at 12:49 PM on February 28, 2008

Here's one but beware, it is racist. Do not click if you are offended easily.
posted by poppo at 12:56 PM on February 28, 2008

While I'm not sure if it's actually from Yiddush, "Schmoehawk" from Larry's dad in Curb Your Enthusiasm is my new favorite insult.
posted by SBMike at 1:08 PM on February 28, 2008

"Schwartze" doesn't mean "ni**er"..it means "black".

Its the same word as in "schwartzenwalde"..."black forest".

Here's a few:

Putz: Penis
schmuck: penis
schtup: perfrm sexual intercourse
Dreck: Feces
Chozzer: Pig
Chozzerai: swill, junk food.
Nunchschlepper: sychophant
Shikse: Female gentile (derogatory)
Shaygitz: Male gentile (derogatory)
knish: vagina
kurpa: whore
tsuris: Pain in the ass
Nudnik: Pain in the ass (especially refferig to a know-it-all)
luftmensch: Space case, absent minded intellectual
posted by TigerCrane at 1:10 PM on February 28, 2008

Meshuggenh alter cocker - Crazy old fart
posted by essexjan at 2:16 PM on February 28, 2008

Meshuggenh Meshugennah
posted by essexjan at 2:18 PM on February 28, 2008

As a child I heard some of the old men in my temple use the phrase "as ignorant as a Goy"

I know it's hateful but it still makes chuckle.
posted by sourwookie at 4:19 PM on February 28, 2008

drek mit leibe
Translates as "shit with liver"

(I'm sure my spelling's a bit off)
posted by prettypretty at 4:31 PM on February 28, 2008