-Balaboosta: A great Jewish mama, who does it all—cooks, cleans, kids, etc.

-Bubbe: A Jewish Grandma who embraces Jewish culture and stereotypes

-Bubbelah: an endearing term for someone you love

-Dreck: crap, worse then schlock

-Fress: eat

-Heymish: homey, down to earth, no frills, just right

-Kibbitz: chat in a fun and light hearted way

-Kvell: to swoon with happiness and pride, “I’m kvelling over my son’s accomplishments”

-Maven: an expert “Jane is a challah maven”

-Mazel: luck

-Mazel Tov: Congratulations

-Mensch: a genuinely nice person “What a mensch, that son of yours”

-Meshugge: crazy in a loving way “he is meshugge”

-Naches: Joy

-Nosh: eat, in a grazing sort of way

-Nu?: “so what’s new?” “what are you waiting for?”

-Oy, Oy Vey, Oy Gevalt: “Oh No!” All versions mean the same. Oy and Oy Vey are shortened versions of Oy Gevalt

-Plotz: shocked, surprised “I am plotzing over the new car you bought me” Refers to either happy or sad occasion/event

-Schlep: carry heavy stuff, unhappily

-Schlock; crap, garbage “the stuff at that tag sale is all schlock”

-Simcha: Happy occasion

-Tuchas: tushy, tush

-Yiddishe Mama: a Jewish mother

-Zaftig: fat or chubby in a loving/lovely sort of way

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