So, You wanna learn Yiddish?

I Often get emails from folks all over asking me the best way to learn Yiddish. They are inspired to learn but don’t have the time or energy to sit in boring classes at college or at the Workmen’s Circle ………(I hope I didn’t offend anyone with that). But basically since 1950 there haven’t been many new developments in Yiddish learning materials.

Some of you may have heard of Uriel Weinreich, you may have even seen his textbook or studied from it in college. Its a fine piece of work and really a great resource for the beginner student approaching Yiddish for the first time……….in the year 1950, that is. You see, the book is highly academic and filled with so many funky strange grammar terms that really need their own textbook to be understood.

Most people in 2015 just don’t have the patience for that kind of stuff. We are the DIY (do it yourself) generation. We google. Even for really important stuff like researching surgery we google.

So how can you begin to learn Yiddish for free with ease?

Jump in and learn the five most important phrases.

Vos machstu?- rhymes with: Bus rock stew. it means “what’s up?”
Aless gut!- rhymes with: Ball is put. It means “all is well”
A dank! - rhymes with: A bonk. It means “thanks!”
Nishto farvos! - rhymes with: Fished uh bar guss. It means “it was nothing/you’re welcome”.
Zay gebensht! - rhymes with: By the wrenched. It means “Be well/ be blessed!”

I recommend that you start with these ones. These can be used very often in many different circumstances. You can use em’ at the deli or while hanging out with friends.

Let us know how it goes!