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yiddish

A Jewishlanguage based on German once spoken throughout Central and Eastern Europeby AshkenazicJews. The name comes from a combination of the German words, "Jud" (Jew) and "Deutsch" (German). Sometimes referred to as a dialect of German, and sometimes denigrated as the "Ebonics of the Austro-Hungarian Empire", Yiddish does have its own unique qualities which differentiate it from standard German. Unfortunately, most Yiddish speakers were killed in the Holocaust, and emigration of the Jews of Central Europe and Eastern Europe resulted in the near-disappearance of the language. Today it can only be heard in isolated pockets in certain big cities worldwide. It is probably the most endangered European language right now. However, Yiddish words have heavily influenced American English,especially that of New York, and to a lesser extent have made it into Cockney. The use of Yiddish words like schmuck, putz, shyster, etc. by comedians, in particular, has spread Yiddishisms throughout the Anglosphere. Even though the Yiddish language is in a severe and probably irreversible state of decline, certain Yiddish words will always be with us, kein ahora.
Oy vey, nobody speaks Yiddish anymore. Nu?
by Rattus cattus October 26, 2006
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yindong

One who is inept at separating cheese.
by St Puglo November 10, 2008
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Related Words
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yiddish cup

n; The yiddish cup is a saying often used by insane people with a foot up a certain orifice that shall go un-named as of this writing. Sometimes used in conjunction with "LOL"
"you will be held accountable for the deeds and threats that were aimed at our site and our people. Obviously you have lost possession of your Yiddish cup."
by clayton R. January 13, 2006
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yidiot

(from the Yiddish word a איד, i.e, a Jew):

a Jew who behaves like a total dork or idiot
Jew 1): hey you yidiot, stop eating pork in public, you are a disgrace to Judaism

Jew 2) Just shove off, church and state are separate in the western world.
by Sexydimma January 27, 2014
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yiddiyit

shortened slang for "you are an idiot"
by barneyboy September 1, 2008
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YIDO

A contraction of Yiddish and usually used by rival football fans to describe Tottenham Hotspur fans, as they have a long tradition of being supported by the Jewish community, usually in a way that gives it anti-semitic connotations.
"He's only a poor little Yido
He stands at the back of the Shelf
He goes to the bar, to buy a lager
And only gets one for himself!"

(football song)
by Billy-Bob McSanchez April 7, 2005
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yidditure

The genre of literature written in Yiddish or by Yiddish American writers for example books by Abraham Cahan and Isaac Bashevis Singer.
Are you taking that yidditure class this quarter?
by ziva April 16, 2007
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