Yiddish

noun

Yid·​dish ˈyi-dish How to pronounce Yiddish (audio)
: a High German language written in Hebrew characters that is spoken by Jews and descendants of Jews of central and eastern European origin
Yiddish adjective

Word History

Etymology

Yiddish yidish, short for yidish daytsh, literally, Jewish German, from Middle High German jüdisch diutsch, from jüdisch Jewish (from Jude Jew) + diutsch German

First Known Use

1871, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of Yiddish was in 1871

Dictionary Entries Near Yiddish

Cite this Entry

“Yiddish.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/Yiddish. Accessed 30 May. 2023.

Kids Definition

Yiddish

noun
Yid·​dish ˈyid-ish How to pronounce Yiddish (audio)
: a language that began among the Jews of eastern Europe and is based on German and written in the Hebrew alphabet
Yiddish adjective
Etymology

from Yiddish yidish, a shortened form of yidish daytsh, literally "Jewish German (language)," derived from early German jüdisch "Jewish" and diutsch "the German language"

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