Jewish Word Glossary
Glossary Key
abbr. = abbreviated esp .= especially Heb. = Hebrew lit. = literally n = noun |
pl. = plural pron. = pronounced usu. = usually v = verb Yid. = Yiddish |
A |
B | C
| D |
E | F
| G |
H | I
| J | K |
L
M |
N | O
| P |
R | S
| T |
U | V
| W | X | Y
| Z
L
- Ladino
- the Jewish-Spanish language
- Lag BaOmer
- the thirty-third day of the Omer, minor spring holiday
- lahadam
- acronym for "lo hayu devorim meolam," or "never were (these) things from this world": to categorical deny; "Never happened!"
- lamden
- lit.=learned one: scholar
- Lamed Vovnik
- lit.=one of the 36: righteous person who often labors in anonymity. According to tradition, the world continues to exist due to the merits of these unknown 36 individuals.
- landsman
- fellow native (usu. of place in Old Country)
- landsmanshaft(en)
- organization(s) of fellow natives
- langeh loksh
- lit.= long noodle: (Yid) tall, thin, gangly person
- lashon harah
- lit.=bad language: slander, gossip
- Lashon HaKodesh
- lit.=holy tongue: Hebrew
- latke
- potato pancake, esp. for Chanukah
- lavayah
- lit.=escort, procession: funeral
- layn
- read from the Torah, etc., with trop
- "L'chaim!"
- "To Life!" (a traditional toast, like "Cheers!")
- leibedikeh
- (Yid.) lively, full of life
- leiben ahf dein kop
- lit.=life on your head: "Good job! Nice work!"
- lechem
- (Heb.) bread
- lechen di finger
- finger-lickingly tasty
- lev
- (Heb.) heart
- levi (pl. leviim)
- member of the tribe of Levi, but not a descendant of Moses or Aaron; thus, a member of the priest-assistant class
- licht
- lit.=light: Shabbat or yom tov candles
- Likud
- Israeli conservative political party
- lobbus
- tiny terror, esp. a child or small animal
- loch in kopf
- lit.=a hole in (the) head: "the last thing I need"
- lochshen
- wide noodles, esp. for kugel
- "L'shanah tova"
- lit.=for a good year: Rosh HaShanah greeting
- l'shem shoma'im
- lit.=for the sake of Heaven: altruistic
- Lubavitch
- large and influential chaisidic group focusing on outreach
- luftmensch
- lit=air man: one without visible means of (monetary) support
- lulav
- palm frond. used on Succot