Yiddishism

American  

[yid-i-shiz-uhm] / ˈyɪd ɪˌʃɪz əm /

noun

1. a word, phrase, or linguistic feature characteristic of or peculiar to Yiddish.

2. the advocacy of Yiddish language and literature.

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Other Word Forms

• Yiddishist noun

Etymology

Origin of Yiddishism

First recorded in 1925–30; Yiddish + -ism

Example Sentences

Of course, Mr. Roth had prepared a love song for the wedding, “I’m Kvellin’ for Ellen,” using the Yiddishism for an expression of pride or excitement.

From New York Times • Mar. 18, 2016

If I may borrow a Yiddishism Shlomo favors throughout “Soul Doctor”: gevalt.

From New York Times • Aug. 16, 2013

The “regular fellow” insinuation advances the familiar class-warfare narrative, with the Yiddishism serving as the descriptivist counterpart to Fowler’s roast beef and White’s pipe and slippers.

From Slate • May 31, 2012

That New York politicians resort to an occasional Yiddishism, whether or not they’re Jewish, is an old story.

From New York Times • Oct. 20, 2011

The actor Michael Douglas was the first to call him a “mensch”—from a Yiddishism for a person of integrity.

From Newsweek