bubkes

noun

bub·​kes ˈbəp-kəs 

ˈbu̇p-

variants or less commonly bupkes or bupkus

plural in form but singular in construction

: the least amount : beans

won't win bubkes this year

Ivan Maisel

also : nothing

received bubkes for their efforts

Synonyms

• beans
• continental
• damn
• darn
• durn
• diddly [slang]
• diddly-squat [slang]
• doodley-squat
• doodly-squat
• fig
• ghost
• hoot
• iota
• jot
• lick
• modicum
• rap
• squat [slang]
• syllable
• tittle
• whit
• whoop

Word History

Etymology

Yiddish (probably short for kozebubkes, literally, goat droppings), plural of bubke, bobke, diminutive of bub, bob bean, of Slavic origin; akin to Polish bób bean

First Known Use

1937, in the meaning defined above