Ok, I it from this site we will use it as a base, now we can add and modify as needed here on the site. Post your corrections / additions / suggestions in the comments below and they will be added. After that, your post below will be deleted for housekeeping purposes. (Dont be offended) Enjoy
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Dictionary of Hebrew, Yiddish, and Jewish Terms
Terms are Hebrew unless otherwise indicated

Pronunciation Guide:
ch is the German ch sound
other consonants as in English
a as in father
e as in bet
i as in machine
o as in old
u as in tune
ei as in weigh
oo as in book

In all cases except those listed above, two adjacent vowels are in two syllables. Unless otherwise indicated above, pronunciation is North American English. Words in Hebrew are generally accented on the last syllable; exceptions will be noted. Because Hebrew and Yiddish are not written with the Latin alphabet, some of the words have alternative spellings. For instance, "a" and "ah" at the ends of words are interchangeable. Likewise, some words can be transliterated into English with certain letters doubled or not. The main listing is for the most common spelling or that which is closest to the pronunciation according to the guide. Alternative spellings are listed in the main entry; in cases where the alternative spelling is alphabetized far from the main entry, it has its own entry with a link to the main entry.

Aliya: Moving to Israel. Also, the honor of being called up to the Torah for one section of the Torah reading, or the section itself. Literally, "going up." Plural Aliyot.

Arava: Two branches from the willow tree. They are attached to the Lulav and shaken as part of the Arba'at HaMinim.

Arba'at HaMinim: The four species which are taken on Sukkot and shaken during Shacharit. They are Lulav, Etrog, Hadas, and Arava. Also called Lulav and Etrog.

Aseret Y'mei Tshuva: [aSERet...] The ten days between (and including) Rosh Hashana and Yom Kippur, during which Tfillot are changed in several ways to ask forgiveness from Hashem. Literally, "ten days of repentence."

Bar Mitzvah: A boy who has reached the age of thirteen. Plural Bnei Mitzvah. Also used to refer to the ceremony marking this milestone. Plural Bar Mitzvot.

Bat Mitzvah: A girl who has reached the age of twelve. Plural Bnot Mitzvah. Also used to refer to the ceremony marking this milestone. Plural Bat Mitzvot.

Beit Ha'Mikdash: The Holy Temple in Jerusalem, destroyed for the second time in the year 70.

Beit Knesset: [beit KNESSet] Synagogue. Plural: Batei Knesset.

Bracha: Blessing. Plural: Brachot.

Bsari: Meat. Food which has ingredients that are meat, or was prepared in utensils used for meat.

Chag: Holiday. Major Chagim are those with restrictions on the types of work which can be done. Plural: Chagim.

Chag Sameach: [chag saMEach] Greeting on or right before Chagim. Literally, "happy Chag".

Chalavi: Dairy. Food which has ingredients that are dairy, or was prepared in utensils used for dairy.

Chametz: Food which is leavened, or has come into contact with any leavened food or kitchen utensils used for
leaven. It is forbidden to eat, own, or benefit from any Chametz food during Pesach.

Chanukkah: [CHANuka] A minor Chag commemorating the victory of the Jews over the Greek invaders. It is eight days long. Each night, shortly after sunset, a Chanukkiah is lit. Usually falls in December. Alternative spellings: Hanukkah, Chanuka, others.

Chanukkiah: Eight-branched candlestick with one extra branch for the "service" candle which is lit each night of
Chanukkah. Also called Menorah.

Chol Ha'Moed: The intermediate days of Sukkot or Pesach. At one time, certain types of work were forbidden on Chol Ha'Moed, but today in most places, they are normal weekdays (except Shabbat).
Chug: Club, group. Plural: Chugim.

Chumash: Book containing the Torah and Haftarah readings for every week. Plural: Chumashim.
Counting the Omer: See Sfirat Ha'Omer.

Etrog: [ETrog] A citrus fruit, similar to a bumpy lemon, with an unusually shaped protrusion opposite the stem. Used for shaking as part of the Arba'at HaMinim.

Fleishig: (Yiddish) [FLEISHig] See Bsari.
Hadas: Three branches from the myrtle tree. They are attached to the Lulav and shaken as part of the Arba'at HaMinim.

Haftarah: Section from Nevi'im read on Shabbat and Chagim.

Haggadah: Book containing the Seder for use on the first night of Pesach. Literally, "telling."

Hakafah: Part of the celebration of Simchat Torah: walking and dancing around the Beit Knesset, carrying the Torah. There are seven Hakafot at Ma'ariv, and seven more at Shacharit.

Halacha: Jewish law.

Hallel: [HAlel] A collection of psalms recited or sung on most Chagim. Literally, "praise."

Haman: Evil advisor to the king of Persia during the events commemorated by Purim.

Hamantaschen: [HOOmntashn] See Oznei Haman.

Hanukkah: Alternative spelling for Chanukkah.

Hashem: God. Halacha forbids the pronunciation of the actual name of God. In prayer or when reading Tanach it is pronounced Adonai; otherwise it is pronounced Hashem. The name is often translated as "Lord". Literally "the name."

Havdala: Ceremony consisting of four Brachot marking the end of Shabbat. Literally "separation".

Hazkarah: Memorial, memorial service. Plural: Hazkarot.

Hoshana: Walking around the Beit Knesset with the Torah scrolls as a celebration of Sukkot. There is one Hoshana every day for the first six days of Sukkot, and seven on Hoshana Rabba. Plural: Hoshanot.

Hoshana Rabba: [hoSHAna RAba] The last day of Chol Ha'Moed Sukkot. There are seven Hoshanot instead of one as on the rest of the Chag. Literally, "many hoshanot."
Israel Independence Day: (English) See Yom Ha'Atzmaut.

Jerusalem Day: (English) See Yom Yerushalayim.

Jewish Calendar: (English) Calendar by which the dates of the Chagim are computed. It is a lunar calendar, which means that the months are slightly shorter than those in the Gregorian calendar. To compensate for this, an extra month is added every two or three years to keep the Chagim in their appropriate seasons.

Kabbalat Shabbat: Psalms added right before the beginning of Ma'ariv on Shabbat. Literally, "welcoming Shabbat".

Kaddish: The prayer said by mourners; more properly called "Mourners' Kaddish." Kaddish does not refer to the deceased, but rather is a declaration of faith in Hashem. It is recited by mourners during the first eleven months after the death of a close relative, including the early Shiva and Shloshim periods, and on the Yahrzeit. There are other versions of the Kaddish said during tfillot.

Kasher: Food which is suitable to be eaten according to Halacha. It must not be from a forbidden animal (and any animals must be killed according to Halacha), nor involve meat products mixed with milk. Vegetable products must be checked for bugs (which are not Kasher), and, any produce from the land of Israel (which, in ancient times, were subject to sacrifices) must have token sacrifices taken before they are fit to eat. On Pesach, there are restrictions on any food that became Chametz, came into contact with any Chametz, or even may have come into contact with Chametz.

Kashrut: The observance of keeping Kasher, the rules governing what is Kasher.

Ketuvim: The Writings (the third--and last--part of the Tanach).

Kiddush: The blessing over wine. Also used to refer to snack or light meal served in the Beit Knesset following Shacharit and Musaf on Shabbat or Chagim (which begins with the blessing over wine).

Kosher: (Yiddish and English) [KOshr] See Kasher.
Lag Ba'Omer: [lag baOmer] Minor Chag celebrated today mostly by bonfires at night where children roast potatoes and onions. It commemorates the day when a plague that was killing students of Rabbi Akiva (a great scholar) ceased.

Lulav: A branch of the palm tree with its leaves tightly packed, which makes a kind of rattling noise when shaken as part of the Arba'at HaMinim.

Lulav and Etrog: Used in English to refer to Arba'at HaMinim.

Ma'ariv: [MAariv] Evening prayers (said daily).

Magen David: Jewish star; six-pointed star consisting of two triangles superimposed. Literally, "shield of David."

Masorti: Conservative (Movement in Israel). Literally: "traditional."

Mazal Tov: Congratulations! Literally, "good luck."

Menorah: (Yiddish and English) [m'NOra] See Chanukkiah. From Hebrew "lamp."

Milchig: (Yiddish) [MILchig] See Chalavi.

Mincha: Afternoon prayers (said daily).

Minyan: A prayer quorum, consisting of ten. Also used to mean organized Tfillot (where it is expected that there will be at least ten). Plural: Minyanim.

Mitzvah: A commandment, a law according to Halacha. Sometimes translated "good deed." Plural: Mitzvot.

Mourners' Kaddish: (Mixed English/Hebrew) See Kaddish.

Musaf: [MUsaf] Additional prayers (said right after morning prayers on Shabbat and Chagim). Commemorates the additional sacrifice offered in ancient times on these occasions. Alternative spellings: Mussaf, Musaph.

Ne'ila: Extra prayers said only on Yom Kippur right before Mincha. Literally, "locking" because Hashem is about to
lock the doors of forgiveness.

Nevi'im: The Prophets (the second part of the Tanach).

Omer: [Omer] The period from Pesach to Shavuot. (See Sfirat Ha'Omer.) Originally, the Omer was a measure of barley that was brought to show gratitude to Hashem. Literally, "measure."

Oznei Haman: Filled, triangular-shaped cookies eaten on Purim. Literally, "Haman's ears. Yiddish/English Hamantaschen, literally "Haman's pockets".

Pareve: [Hebrew: PARve; Yiddish and English: PAReve] Neither meat nor dairy. Food which has no ingredients that are meat nor dairy, and was prepared in utensils used for neither. Alternative spellings: Parve.

Passover: (English) See Pesach.

Pesach: [PEsach] Seven-day Chag commemorating the Exodus from Egypt. All Chametz must be cleaned out of the house before the beginning of Pesach, and different sets of dishes, pots, pans, and other kitchen equipment are used than during the rest of the year. All food needs to be certified Kasher Le'Pesach, meaning that it has never come into contact with Chametz. The first and last days are major Chagim. The celebration of Pesach begins with the Seder. It usually falls during April.

Purim: [PUrim] A minor Chag celebrating the victory of the Jews over Haman, an evil advisor to the king of Persia, Haman planned to kill all the Jews in the kingdom, but was himself hung on the gallows he had built. Celebration includes giving gifts of food to friends, giving money to the poor, and public reading of the Book of Esther in Batei Knesset. During the reading, loud noises are made every time the name of Haman is read, to drown out all mention of him. Three-cornered filled cookies are traditional, called Oznei Haman in Hebrew or Hamantaschen in Yiddish or English.

Refuah Shleima: Wishes for a complete recovery.

Rosh Hashana: Major Chag marking the beginning of the Jewish year and the beginning of the Aseret Y'mei Tshuva. Usually falls in September.

Seder: [Hebrew: SEder; English and Yiddish SEIdr] Ceremony in the home on the first night (first and second nights outside of Israel) of Pesach, consisting primarily of the telling of the story of the Exodus from Egypt (with symbols of that story), songs, Hallel, and an elaborate meal. Plural: Sdarim. (Yiddish and English plural: [SDORim].)

Sfirat Ha'Omer: [...Omer] Counting the Omer. Every night, from the second night of Pesach until the night before Shavuot, there is a very brief counting ceremony, to fulfill the Mitzvah, "You will count seven weeks."
Shabbat: Sabbath, observed from Friday night at sundown through Saturday night at sundown. Shabbat is traditionally a time for spending with family, meals are more elaborate than usual, sips of wine (which is said to "increase joy") are served, and meals are followed by singing. There are certain restrictions on "work" that is allowed; for example, cooking is forbidden, therefore all food is prepared in advance. Plural: Shabbatot.

Shabbaton: Sabbatical.

Shabbatonistim: [shabatonISTim] Individuals or families who are on Shabbaton.

Shabbat Shalom: The common greeting for Shabbat. In many places used even a day or two before Shabbat. Literally "peaceful Sabbath."

Shabbat Shuva: The Shabbat that falls between Rosh Hashana and Yom Kippur. So named because the Haftarah for the day begins with the word, "Shuva". Also called Shabbat Tshuva.
Shacharit: [SHAcharit] Morning prayers (said daily).

Shana Tova: Greeting on, or shortly before or after, Rosh Hashana. Literally, "good year."

Shavuot: Major Chag celebrating the anniversary of the giving of the Ten Commandments at Mount Sinai. It is one day long in Israel, two outside the country. Yizkor is said (on the second day in countries other than Israel).
Shiva: Seven day intense mourning period following the funeral of a close family member. Mourners do not leave the house, do not cut their hair or shave, do not sit on comfortable chairs (but rather low stools), do not wear leather shoes. Friends and more distant relatives visit and often bring food for the mourners, and most often, the mourners talk about the deceased. A local Jewish community will, if possible, hold Tfillot in the home so that the family can say Kaddish. Literally "seven."

Shloshim: Second mourning period (following the Shiva and continuing until thirty days after the funeral) of a close family member. Mourners return to work and to much of normal life, but do not attend parties or other celebrations, listen to or play instrumental music, or get married. The family continues to say Kaddish during this time. Literally "thirty."

Shmini Atzeret: [SHMIni aTZEret] The day after Sukkot. It is a major Chag, and Yizkor is said.

Shmirat Shabbat: Observance of Shabbat.

Shomer Shabbat: One who observes Shabbat (masculine form). Plural: Shomrei Shabbat.

Shomeret Shabbat: [shoMERet...] One who observes Shabbat (feminine form). Plural: Shomrot Shabbat.

Shul: (Yiddish) [shool] See Beit Knesset.

Siddur: Prayer book. Plural: Siddurim.

Simchat Torah: Chag following Sukkot when the annual cycle of reading of the Torah is completed and immediately begun again. In Israel, it is the same day as Shmini Atzeret; outside of Israel, it is the following day. It is a day of joyous celebration and dancing.

Sitting Shiva: (Mixed English/Hebrew) In mourning during the Shiva period.

Sukka: A small, temporary dwelling erected for the Chag of Sukkot. It has walls, but no real roof; instead, branches of trees are placed across the top to give shade but allow the stars to shine through. It is frequently decorated with children's craft projects and fresh fruit. Alternative spellings: Succah, Sukkah. Plural: Sukkot.

Sukkot: Chag in which we are live in a Sukka. Living includes (at least) eating and sleeping (weather permitting) there. Special observances include shaking the Arba'at HaMinim. It is seven days long, and the first day (first two days outside of Israel) is a major Chag; the remaining days are Chol Ha'Moed. It is immediately followed by Shmini Atzeret and Simchat Torah. Usually falls in late September or October. Alternative spellings: Succot.

Tanach: The Bible; term is an abbreviation for Torah, Nevi'im, Ketuvim.

Ten Days of Repentance: See Aseret Y'mei Tshuva.

Tfillot: Prayers, services. Alternative spellings: tefillot.

Tisha Be'Av: Major fast day commemorating the destruction of the Beit Ha'Mikdash. Usually falls in August.

Torah: The first five books of the Tanach, The Five Books of Moses (the first part of the Tanach). Also refers to the scroll in which the books are handwritten, which is read from every week. It can also used in a figurative sense to mean Jewish learning in general.

Tu Bishvat: [TU bishvat] New Year of the Trees; a minor Chag. Usually falls in February.

Tshuva: Repentance.

Yahrzeit: (Yiddish) [YARtzayt] Anniversary (on the Jewish Calendar) of the death of a close family member. It is observed by saying Kaddish and lighting a candle that will burn for the entire day of the Yahrzeit (called a Yahrzeit candle). Many Jews make a charitable donation in memory of the deceased every year. Literally, "year time."

Yizkor: The prayer in memory of the dead. It is said four times a year, on Yom Kippur, Shmini Atzeret, the last day of Pesach, and Shavuot (the second day outside of Israel). Literally, "He (referring to Hashem) will remember."

Yom Ha'Atzmaut: Israel Independence Day. It is a minor Chag marked by addition of joyous psalms to the Tfillot and the saying of Hallel. Usually falls in late April or May.

Yom Ha'Shoah: Holocaust Remembrance Day. Usually falls in April or early May.

Yom Kippur: Major Chag marking the end of the Aseret Y'mei Tshuva. It is a day of fasting and prayers for forgiveness. Yizkor is said. Usually falls in September or early October.

Yom Yerushalayim: [yom yerushaLAYim] Jerusalem Day. Commemorates the reunification of Jerusalem. Hallel is said. Usually falls in late May or June.

why you don't like to add geshtunken? is nice!! is smell not always nice very, but is nice to know it Yesno?

Thank you ootra!!

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i takke mamesh think what you're saying is emesdik. it's not stam that you pashut got on the button, but l'choira you must be michavein to our daas when we post on this haileger forum.

??

I got everything else

kind of like l'chatchila -- from the beginning.

Is that yiddish?

not sure. there could be some aramaic in it, but i can't really think right now.

It means "apparently."

really? someone told me lichoira means the same thing as l'chatchila...i always used it in the right context, but i wonder where the version i have came from...thanks.

i'd translate it as 'theoretically'

beefy.

some of this is yeshivish speak. great book. btw! :D

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same difference!