Oy vey iz mir, I'm so meshugenah I could plotz.

[tzikeh]

A discussion about New York bagels and the term "schmear" meaning "a thick layer of cream cheese" turned into a discussion of the impact a specific subculture can have on the dominant language. Since those kind of thoughts tend to stick around in my particular brand of brain, that led to this poll.

Poll #9501 Oy vey iz mir, I

Open to: Registered Users, detailed results viewable to: All, participants: 186

View Respondents

I was raised Jewish/culturally Jewish, and I have used the following Yiddish words in conversation:

View Answers

bubbeleh
19 (50.0%)

bubkes/bupkis
23 (60.5%)

chutzpah
37 (97.4%)

dreck
29 (76.3%)

farklempt/verklempt
21 (55.3%)

farkakte
10 (26.3%)

feh
25 (65.8%)

kibitz (not to be confused with "kibbutz")
27 (71.1%)

kitsch
33 (86.8%)

klutz
38 (100.0%)

kvell
20 (52.6%)

l'chaim
28 (73.7%)

maven
20 (52.6%)

mazel tov
34 (89.5%)

mensch
34 (89.5%)

meshugenah
25 (65.8%)

mishegoss
20 (52.6%)

nebbish
20 (52.6%)

nosh
30 (78.9%)

nudnik
16 (42.1%)

oy and/or variants (oy vey / oy gevalt / oy vey iz mir)
35 (92.1%)

plotz
16 (42.1%)

putz
27 (71.1%)

schlepp
35 (92.1%)

schlock
24 (63.2%)

schlong
20 (52.6%)

schlub
18 (47.4%)

schmaltz
28 (73.7%)

schmear
28 (73.7%)

schmo
19 (50.0%)

schmuck
34 (89.5%)

schmutz
25 (65.8%)

schnook
8 (21.1%)

schtick
28 (73.7%)

schvitz
10 (26.3%)

schmatte
16 (42.1%)

shmooze
33 (86.8%)

shpiel
32 (84.2%)

tchotchke (pronounced "chahch-key")
35 (92.1%)

trayfe
20 (52.6%)

tsuris
16 (42.1%)

tuchus
24 (63.2%)

yenta
25 (65.8%)

zaftig
23 (60.5%)

I was NOT raised Jewish/culturally Jewish, and I have used the following Yiddish words in conversation:

View Answers

bubbeleh
29 (19.6%)

bubkes/bupkis
83 (56.1%)

chutzpah
126 (85.1%)

dreck
101 (68.2%)

farklempt/verklempt
83 (56.1%)

farkakte
16 (10.8%)

feh
75 (50.7%)

kibitz (not to be confused with "kibbutz")
85 (57.4%)

kitsch
127 (85.8%)

klutz
136 (91.9%)

kvell
21 (14.2%)

l'chaim
51 (34.5%)

maven
57 (38.5%)

mazel tov
95 (64.2%)

mensch
69 (46.6%)

meshugenah
42 (28.4%)

mishegoss
18 (12.2%)

nebbish
51 (34.5%)

nosh
74 (50.0%)

nudnik
20 (13.5%)

oy and/or variants (oy vey / oy gevalt / oy vey iz mir)
120 (81.1%)

plotz
37 (25.0%)

putz
99 (66.9%)

schlepp
124 (83.8%)

schlock
75 (50.7%)

schlong
72 (48.6%)

schlub
56 (37.8%)

schmaltz
102 (68.9%)

schmear
66 (44.6%)

schmo
40 (27.0%)

schmuck
127 (85.8%)

schmutz
62 (41.9%)

schnook
20 (13.5%)

schtick
90 (60.8%)

schvitz
15 (10.1%)

schmatte
11 (7.4%)

shmooze
112 (75.7%)

shpiel
101 (68.2%)

tchotchke (pronounced "chahch-key")
115 (77.7%)

trayfe
21 (14.2%)

tsuris
15 (10.1%)

tuchus
54 (36.5%)

yenta
92 (62.2%)

zaftig
74 (50.0%)

Comments

[tzikeh]

Sure - but it is a Yiddish word that made its way into English, so it counts. :D

[devohoneybee]

... and derives from the hebrew, "maveen", meaning "understand." a maven is one who understands.

[tzikeh]

Yes.