Jewish Word Glossary

abbr. = abbreviated
esp .= especially
Heb. = Hebrew
lit. = literally
n = noun

pl. = plural
pron. = pronounced
usu. = usually
v = verb
Yid. = Yiddish

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O

ochtsen und dreytsen: lit= 18 and 13: (Yid.) of a less palatable but necessary topic, esp. money
"Oht azoy!": lit.=as thus: "That's right! Just like that!"
olam: world; universe; everything; forever
Olam HaBah: lit.=The World to Come; Heaven
oleh (pl. olim): lit.=ascender: immigrant to Israel
Omer: period of 49 days between the second night of Pesach and the first night of Shavuot; first 33 are period of national mourning
oneg: lit.= delight; party, usu. on Shabbat
onein: mourner, immediately upon the death of a loved one; said to be in a state of "aninut"
ootz: (Yid.) tease; pester
otobus: lit.=autobus: bus
(The) O.U.: The Orthodox Union (full name: Union of Orthodox Jewish Congregations of America); its kashrut insignia, an 'O' around a 'U'.
"Oy, gevalt!": "Oh, drat!"; "Quick, help!"
"Oy, gottenyu!": "Oh, G-d!"
"Oy, vey!": lit.=(it) hurts: "Oh, no!"
"Oy, vey is mir!": "Oh, woe is me."
oys gematert: (Yid.) worn out, worn thin; exhausted
"Oys shiduch!": lit.=the engagement is over: "The deal is off!"
oysvorf: (Yid.) outcast
oytser: lit.=treasure: (Yid.) darling one