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
N
- na'areshkeit
- lit.=adolescent stuff: worthless things or activities
- nachas
- pride, esp. parental pride for children
- nais
- (Heb.) miracle
- nasi
- lit.=prince: head of Biblical tribe or Sanhedrin
- navi
- prophet
- nazir
- ascetic abstainer from wine, haircuts, and contact with death
- nebach
- (Yid.) "(Such) a pity!"
- nebbish
- pitiful person
- nechomah
- (Heb.) pity
- nechtiker tog
- lit.=yesterday's-day: "Forget it! It's history."
- nefesh
- (Heb.) soul (as it interacts with the physical realm)
- Negev
- the southern, desert part of Israel
- Ne'ilah
- lit.=closing (of the gates): final prayer on Yom Kippur
- ner tamid
- lit.=forever candle: eternal flame, esp. in shul
- neshoma
- (Heb.) soul (as it interacts with the DIvine)
- netilat yadayim
- the washing of the hands, esp. before eating bread
- Nevi'im
- biblical writings and stories of Prophets
- nevua
- prophecy; prophetic ability
- nifter
- lit.=exempt: deceased
- niggun
- tune to which liturgy is sung; wordless melody sung by chasidim
- Nine Days
- days of mourning leading up to Tisha B'Av
- Nisan
- 7th Jewish month (Mar-Apr), 15th starts Pesach, 27th is Yom HaShoah
- nisht geshtoygen und nisht gefloygen
- lit.= (it) doesn't climb and (it) doesn't fly: "Your idea is unsupported"; "Nonsense!"
- nishgutgnik
- lit.= not good: (Yid.) a good-for-nothing person
- nisht-koshe
- lit.= not hard: "So-so", "Not bad"
- nisht gerferalach
- lit.= not dangerous: "Don't worry about it; it's nothing"
- nit gedeiget
- lit.= not to worry: "No worries! Everything's great."
- noch
- after, still; even
- noch-amol
- lit.= another time: "Again!"; "Encore!"
- noch-shlepper
- lit.=again-dragger: follower; hanger-on, coat-tail rider
- no-goodnik
- a good-for-nothing person
- nomen
- (Yid.) name [n]
- nosh
- snack [n,v]
- nosherai
- snack foods; silly, time-wasting stuff
- nu
- (Yid.) "So?"
- nudge
- pest [n], to pester [v]
- nudnik
- lit.=nausea-maker: (Yid.) unthinking, inconsiderate person
- nusach
- version of liturgy-- wording, melody, or both
 |
© 2025 ALL RIGHTS RESERVED JEWISH UNITED FUND/JEWISH FEDERATION OF METROPOLITAN CHICAGO BEN GURION WAY • 30 S. WELLS ST. • CHICAGO, IL 60606 • 312-346-6700 |