אַ זיסן פּסח!
A zisn peysekh!
Happy Passover! (literally: a sweet Passover)
Usage
A greeting exchanged around the spring festival of Passover (Pesach). Use it with people you meet and when you are invited into a home
Grammar Note
The greeting pattern is "a + adjective with accusative -n + holiday name". The holiday is masculine, so "זיסן" takes the ending -n
אַ פֿריילעכן פּסח!
A freylekhn peysekh!
Happy Passover!
Usage
Another way to wish someone a happy Passover, using "פֿריילעך" (cheerful)
Grammar Note
"פֿריילעך" is the adjective "cheerful"; in greetings it takes the ending -n
אַ פֿריילעכן פּורים!
A freylekhn purem!
Happy Purim!
Usage
A greeting for Purim, the late-winter festival of costumes, gifts and festive meals
Grammar Note
Built on the same pattern as the Hanukkah and Passover greetings. Composed from known words and sentence patterns; native review recommended
אַ גוט געבענטשט יאָר!
A gut gebentsht yor!
Happy New Year! (literally: a good blessed year)
Usage
A greeting exchanged around Rosh Hashanah, the Jewish New Year
Grammar Note
"יאָר" is neuter, so the adjectives after "אַ" take no ending ("אַ גוט …")
מזל־טובֿ!
Mazl-tov!
Congratulations!
Usage
A word of congratulation for weddings, births, coming-of-age ceremonies and other happy occasions. Safe with anyone
Grammar Note
A Hebrew-origin phrase of two words joined by the maqaf "־". The "בֿ" in "טובֿ" carries a rafe line
ווען איז פּסח הײַיאָר?
Ven iz peysekh hayor?
When is Passover this year?
Usage
Jewish festivals fall on different civil dates each year, so it is worth asking before you travel
Grammar Note
The verb comes right after the question word "ווען". Composed from known words and sentence patterns; native review recommended
ווען איז ראש־השנה הײַיאָר?
Ven iz rosh-eshone hayor?
When is Rosh Hashanah this year?
Usage
Rosh Hashanah is the Jewish New Year. Many shops and offices close, so check the date
Grammar Note
"ראש־השנה" is Hebrew-origin and written without vowel points; it is read roughly "rosh-eshone". Composed from known words and sentence patterns; native review recommended
ווען הייבט חנוכּה אָן?
Ven heybt khaneke on?
When does Hanukkah begin?
Usage
Asks the starting date of Hanukkah, the eight-day winter festival of lights
Grammar Note
The separable prefix "אָן" goes to the end of the clause. Composed from known words and sentence patterns; native review recommended
הײַנט איז יום־טובֿ. די געשעפֿטן זענען פֿאַרמאַכט.
Haynt iz yontev. Di gesheftn zenen farmakht.
Today is a holiday. The shops are closed.
Usage
On a Jewish holiday (yontev), shops close in neighborhoods with many Jewish residents. Do your shopping the day before
Grammar Note
"יום־טובֿ" is read roughly "yontev". Composed from known words and sentence patterns; native review recommended
אויף חנוכּה עסט מען לאַטקעס.
Oyf khaneke est men latkes.
On Hanukkah people eat latkes.
Usage
A way to say which food goes with a festival. Latkes are fried in oil, a Hanukkah favorite
Grammar Note
The verb stays in second position, so putting "אויף חנוכּה" first turns the order into "עסט מען". Composed from known words and sentence patterns; native review recommended
אויף פּסח עסט מען מצות.
Oyf peysekh est men matses.
On Passover people eat matzo.
Usage
During Passover thin unleavened bread is eaten instead of leavened bread
Grammar Note
The plural "מצות" of "מצה" is used for the food in general. Composed from known words and sentence patterns; native review recommended
אויף ראש־השנה עסט מען עפּל מיט האָניק.
Oyf rosh-eshone est men epl mit honik.
On Rosh Hashanah people eat apple with honey.
Usage
At the New Year people eat something sweet, hoping for a sweet year
Grammar Note
"עפּל" is masculine and its plural is the same "עפּל". Composed from known words and sentence patterns; native review recommended
אויף סוכּות עסט מען אין דער סוכּה.
Oyf sukes est men in der suke.
On Sukkot people eat in the sukkah.
Usage
At the autumn festival of Sukkot a temporary hut with a roof of branches is built, and meals are eaten in it
Grammar Note
"סוכּה" is feminine, so the article after "אין" is "דער". The festival name "סוכּות" has the same form as the plural of "סוכּה". Composed from known words and sentence patterns; native review recommended
אויף ראש־השנה בלאָזט מען שופֿר.
Oyf rosh-eshone blozt men shoyfer.
On Rosh Hashanah people blow the shofar.
Usage
In the New Year service a shofar, a ram's horn, is blown. You may hear it near a synagogue
Grammar Note
"בלאָזן" means "to blow" and is also used for playing a wind instrument. Composed from known words and sentence patterns; native review recommended
וואָס עסט מען אויף דעם יום־טובֿ?
Vos est men oyf dem yontev?
What does one eat at this holiday?
Usage
Useful when you are invited to a festival meal and want to know what is traditionally eaten
Grammar Note
The article before the masculine noun "יום־טובֿ" is "דעם". Composed from known words and sentence patterns; native review recommended
וווּ קען מען קויפֿן אַ מנורה?
Vu ken men koyfn a menoyre?
Where can one buy a menorah?
Usage
Asks where to buy a candelabrum such as the one used at Hanukkah
Grammar Note
"וווּ" (where) and "ווי" (how) are different words; "וווּ" carries a dot. Composed from known words and sentence patterns; native review recommended
מעג איך קומען צום סדר?
Meg ikh kumen tsum seyder?
May I come to the seder?
Usage
A way to ask about joining the seder, the festive meal on the first night of Passover. Used by a guest
Grammar Note
Use "מעג" to ask permission; "טאָר" is for prohibition. Composed from known words and sentence patterns; native review recommended
וואָס טראָגט מען אויף יום־טובֿ?
Vos trogt men oyf yontev?
What does one wear on a holiday?
Usage
Asks about suitable clothing when you are invited to a festival meal or service
Grammar Note
"טראָגן" means both "to carry" and "to wear". Composed from known words and sentence patterns; native review recommended
די גאַנצע שטאָט פֿײַערט פּורים.
Di gantse shtot fayert purem.
The whole town is celebrating Purim.
Usage
A remark you can make when you notice the festive mood in a town with many Jewish residents
Grammar Note
"שטאָט" is feminine, hence "די" and "גאַנצע". The "ײַ" in "פֿײַערן" is the ay sound. Composed from known words and sentence patterns; native review recommended
מיר בויען אַ סוכּה פֿאַר סוכּות.
Mir boyen a suke far sukes.
We are building a sukkah for Sukkot.
Usage
Says what you are doing when you join a family or community in building a sukkah
Grammar Note
Composed from known words and sentence patterns; native review recommended
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