My mother used to say that only Yiddish can describe certain things.
I have to admit, she was right about this one. This colorful and dying language (spoken by less than a million people, most of them in New York) is especially descriptive when it comes to doing business these days. I find myself weaving it into my work lexicon. And, since we are approaching the Jewish New Year (teglach anyone?), I decided to devote this blog to a handful (aka a bissel) of my favorite biz-yiddishisms.
They aren't as intelligent sounding as Latin phrases (like "alenda lux ubi orta libertas") or as poetic as Irish proverbs (e.g., "May your home always be too small to hold all your friends") but they often do the trick.
The good ones...
- Bashert: like Yiddish kismet or karma; that random person you meet who turns out to lead you to a giant business deal...or meeting-up with an old friend on Facebook and then finding out he can get you free tickets to Fashion Week or floor seats for the Knicks.
- Mazel: Andy Cohen of Bravo brought this one into the mainstream. It's "congratulations" on steroids.
- Mensch: Not a chazzer , schnorrer, or gonnif (see below). He (or she) is that precious person who helps you selflessly through recessions, hurricanes, and business angst.
The bad ones...
- Chazzer: Literally, a pig. I love this quote from Scarface where Tony Montana gets a Yiddish lesson. The greedy chazzers (or pigs) often wind up chain-sawed or bullet-riddled (literally and figuratively).
- Schnorrer: Like a chazzer, but best defined as a "taker;" that colleague who endlessly picks your bain and takes advantage of your generosity without ever reciprocating.
- Gonnif: A thief. One hand is always in your wallet when you're not looking.
The ugly ones
- Meeskait: Even if you're model-gorgeous, if you have a sour puss or are consciously hurtful, you can be homely. In short, you can't always perfume a chazzer.
Have a favorite biz-yiddishism? Feel free to add it here or on Facebook!
Want more?
"A Hard Day's Night" in Yiddish