My Grandfather's Yiddish Sayings
Here are some great Yiddish saying that both of my grandfathers used to
tell me, and others ones I've collected, too!
Do you know any others? E-mail me at (morgan@westegg.com) and let me know!!!
What did your grandparents used to tell you???
The best horse needs a whipe, the wisest man advice, and the chastest woman a man. (Der bester ferd darf hoben a baytsh, der klugster man an eytse, un di frumste mekeyve a man.) The wicker person fares well in this world, the saint in the life to come. (Dem roshe geyt gut ofy der velt, dem tsadik oyf yener velt.) Cheap as borsht (Bilig vi borsht) Better not to live than to become dependent on children (Beser oyf der velt nit tsu lebn, eyder onkumen tsu kinder.) Better to lose with a wise man than to win with a fool. (Beser mit a klugn tsu farlirn, eyder mit a nar tsu gevinen) Better to be a wise person in Hell than a fool in paradise (Beser mit a klugn in gehenem eyder mit a nar in ganeydn) Better barley soup at home than a roast at someone else's home (Beser bay zikh krupnik, eyder bay yenem gebrotns.) Better a crooked foot than a crooked mind (Beser a krumer fus eyder a krumer kop) Better a good enemy than a bad friend (Beser a guter soyne eyder a shlekhter fraynd.) When one always drinks vinegar, he doesn't know that anything sweeter exists. (Az men trinkt ale mol esik, veyst men nit az es iz do a zisere zakh.) If you don't eat garlic, you won't smell bad (Az men est nisht kayn knobl, shtinkt men nit) If you don't want to get old, hang yourslef when you're young (Az me vil nit vern alt, zol men zikh yingerheyt oyfhengern.) New! When you're too smart, you ruin yourself (Az m'is tsu klug, light men in drerd.) If there's a bitterness in the heart, sugar in the mouth won't make life sweeter (Az in harsn iz biter, helft nit in moyl arayn tsuker) If a girl has no other virtues, even a freckle can be considered one. (Az es zenen nito keyn andere mayles, iz a zumer-shprinkele oykh a mayle) When something's burning, there's a fire. (Az es brent, is a fayer) When you look to the heights, hold on to your hat (Az du kukst oif hoichen zachen halt tsu dos hitl) When you fight, do it in a manner that will allow you to make up (Az du krigst zikh, krig zikh az du zolst zikh kenen iberbetn) The girl who can't dance says the band can't play. (Az di ken nit tantsen, zogt zi az di klezmorim kenen nit shpilen.) One of our favorites! When a fool is silent, he too is counted among the wise. (Az a nar shvaygt, veyst men nit tsi er iz a nar oder a khokhem) One of our favorites! My Favorites | New additions Alphabetical order | Original Yiddish · My Favorites · New additions · Alphabetical order · Original Yiddish |