Deli Dictionary

Learn how to speak in deli terminology. Yiddish definitions and whit-isms by Joe and Rhoda will add some spice to your everyday conversation! Whether you're Jewish or not, you may be wondering what we mean when you hear us say...

Bagel Joe The Boss.
Bagelette A baby bagel.
Blintz A crepe.
Bubbie Grandmother.
Bupkis Nada, nothing or as your friends say, "He's not worth bupkis!"
Challah Braided egg bread.
Chicken Soup Jewish penicillin.
Chutzpah A lotta noive (nerve for those who don't live in The City).
Fresser a good eater.
Gefilte Fish It's fish. And it used to swim. That's about all we know.
Gribenes Bits of fried chicken skin. A delicacy to those who know, and you know who you are.
Horseradish Jewish salsa.
Kasha Buckwheat
Kishke Kinda like stuffing.
Knish Filled pastry dough.
Kreplach Jewish won-ton.
Kugel Noodles with things.
Kvetch Whine(and we all know The Bagel is a no kvetching zone)
Latke A potato pancake, served with sour cream & applesauce.
Lox Sunday's breakfast of smoked salmon.
Mandel Bread Jewish biscotti.
Maven An expert
Mensch A good person.
Meshugah Crazy
Nosh A little bite to eat. No calories cause it's just a nosh.
Nu? New(So what's up?)
Oy Oy
Pate Chopped Liver at a fancy party
Pletzel Flat onion bread.
Prake Stuffed cabbage.
Rugulach Mini strudel.
Sailor on Shore Duty Corned beef sandwich(In WWII, Seabees were sailors that did repairs...get it Seabee=CB)
Schmaltz Cooking fat.
Schmear Spread on a bagel.
Schmooze Talk, talk, talk.
Schnorrer A beggar, someone who takes advantage
Shlep To carry or drag, even yourself-"Let's shlep to the mall."
Tochis Rear end(butt)
Tsuris Trouble
Zaidy Grandfather