The Bagel Deli's Matzo Ball Soup

Deli Dictionary

A Handy Guide


Discover the charm of Jewish and Yiddish terms.Discover the charm of Jewish and Yiddish terms.

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.

Brisket Knish - Homemade brisket filled pastry dough. Featured on Diners, Drive-ins and Dives!! Guy loved the brisket. See also the matzo ball soup and kishka.

Bubbie - Grandmother.

Bupkis - Nada, nothing or as your friends say, "He's not worth bupkis!"

Challah - Braided egg bread.

Chicken Soup with matzo balls - Jewish penicillin. Featured on Diners, Drive-ins and Dives. This is the real medicine to cure what ails you. Like Bubbe said, "It might not help, but it couldn't hurt!"

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.

Ghakt Leber - Pate or Chopped Liver at a fancy party.

Gribenes - Bits of fried chicken skin. A delicacy to those who know, and you know who you are.

Guy Fieri - Food Network host of Diners, Drive-ins and Dives and friend of The Bagel Deli. Thanks Guy!!

Horseradish - Jewish salsa.

Jared - The "Taller" Boss

Kasha - Buckwheat

Kishke - Kinda like stuffing. Guy Fieri from Diners, Drive-ins and Dives thought it was like a matzo ball gone wild!! He gets a kick out of kishke.

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.

RhoRho - Everyone's favorite Grandma (The Real Boss)

Rugelach - 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