Yiddish Word of the Week: Veynen – וויינען

Veynen - וויינען \VEYN-en\ Verb \ Past Participle: Geveynt:

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photo by Shulamit Seidler-Feller

Definition:
To cry, weep.
Pronunciation:
Click here to hear a native Yiddish speaker use this word in conversation.
Synonyms:
krekhtsn (קרעכצען), yenken (יענקען), yomern (יאמערן) (although the first two words have more to do with groaning and moaning than with actual crying)
German equivalents:
heulen, triefen, weinen.
Yiddish Phrases:
veynen mit tsibele-trern (וויינען מיט ציבעלע-טרערן) - to cry crocodile (lit., onion) tears
tseveynen zikh vi a Yidene (צעוויינען זיך ווי א יידענע) - to burst out crying like a Jewish woman (i.e., according to the stereotype, suddenly and without cause)
Yiddish Expressions:
Khotsh tserays zikh fun geveyn un keyn trern veln nisht geyn (כאטש צערייס זיך פון געוויין און קיין טרערן וועלן נישט גיין) - Just tear yourself away from lament and no tears will flow (i.e. just get yourself out of your rut and you'll be OK again).

Az men farlirt a tokhter, veynt men nisht oyfn nadn (אז מען פארלירט א טאכטער, וויינט מען נישט אויפן נדן) - When you lose a daughter, you don't grieve for the dowry (contrary to popular belief). In fact, of a person who is exceedingly stingy (and totally insensitive), it is said Farloyrn di tokhter un veynt oyfn nadn! (פארלוירן די טאכטער און וויינט אויפן נדן) - He lost his daughter and grieves for the dowry!

Sentence:

Veynen ibern Beys-Hamikdesh um Tishe-Bov iz a shvere avoyde, vayl der Khurbn iz azoy vayt inem over (וויינען איבערן בית-המקדש אום תשעה-באב איז א שווערע עבודה, ווייל דער חורבן איז אזוי ווייט אינעם עבר) - Crying over the Holy Temple on Tish'ah be-'Av is a difficult task, because the Destruction is so far in the past.

Have a gute vakh!

Posted in Word of the Week