A wide array of Yiddish words and expressions embellish the English language today. These are often referred to as Yiddish borrowings or Yiddish loan words in English. Most of the Yiddish words and expressions were borrowed into English from the Jewish communities in America, ‘the great melting pot of cultures’. A number of Yiddish words also entered English through large Jewish communities in Britain, where the Yiddish language has exerted a strong influence on the Cockney dialect.
In the modern times, Jewish scriptwriters have introduced many Yiddish words into films with the original meanings often changed drastically. The following is a list of Yiddish words often used in English. Search a word to find its meaning and history.