Greetings

1. שלום־עליכם

   Sholem-aleykhem

   Hello (literally: peace be upon you)

   Usage

   The traditional greeting when people meet. The reply is "עליכם שלום"

   Grammar Note

   Both words are of Hebrew-Aramaic origin and keep their Hebrew spelling. This card joins them with a maqaf "־"

2. גוט־מאָרגן

   Gut-morgn

   Good morning

   Usage

   Said when first meeting someone in the morning, to elders and friends alike

   Grammar Note

   "מאָרגן" is the noun "morning"; as an adverb it also means "tomorrow". A fixed expression with the two words joined by a maqaf "־"

3. אַ גוטן אָוונט

   A gutn ovnt

   Good evening

   Usage

   A greeting for meeting someone in the evening

   Grammar Note

   "אָוונט" is a masculine noun, "evening". In this fixed greeting "גוטן" carries the masculine accusative ending "־ן"

4. וואָס מאַכסטו?

   Vos makhstu?

   How are you? (to a friend)

   Usage

   A greeting to a friend or someone close. Literally "what are you doing?"

   Grammar Note

   "מאַכסטו" is the contracted form of "מאַכסט דו". For a polite version use the plural "וואָס מאַכט איר?"

5. וואָס מאַכט איר?

   Vos makht ir?

   How are you? (polite)

   Usage

   A greeting to elders and strangers. "איר" is the polite way to address one person

   Grammar Note

   Polite "you" takes the plural pronoun "איר" and the plural verb form

6. ווי גייט עס?

   Vi geyt es?

   How is it going?

   Usage

   A casual question about how things are going; fine with anyone

   Grammar Note

   Order: question word + verb + subject

7. גוט, אַ דאַנק

   Gut, a dank

   Fine, thank you

   Usage

   A reply when asked how you are

   Grammar Note

   "אַ דאַנק" is the set phrase for "thank you". Composed from known words and sentence patterns; native review recommended

8. אַ שיינעם דאַנק

   A sheynem dank

   Thank you very much

   Usage

   A stronger way to say thanks

   Grammar Note

   Literally "a beautiful thanks"; "שיינעם" is an inflected form of "שיין"

9. נישטאָ פֿאַרוואָס

   Nishto farvos

   You're welcome

   Usage

   The reply to thanks. Literally "there is no reason (for thanks)"

   Grammar Note

   "נישטאָ" is the contraction of "נישט" + "דאָ"

10. ביטע

    bite

    Please

    Usage

    Added to a request, or when handing something over

    Grammar Note

    "ביטע" alone serves both as "please" and as "here you are"

11. זײַט מוחל

    Zayt moykhl

    Excuse me / Sorry (polite)

    Usage

    Used before asking a stranger or an elder something, such as directions

    Grammar Note

    The plural imperative gives the polite form; to one close person use the singular "זײַ מוחל"

12. זײַ מוחל

    Zay moykhl

    Sorry / Excuse me (to a friend)

    Usage

    Used with someone close

    Grammar Note

    "זײַ" is the singular imperative of "זײַן" (to be)

13. זײַ געזונט

    Zay gezunt

    Goodbye / Take care

    Usage

    A farewell. Literally "be healthy"; also said to someone who has sneezed

    Grammar Note

    To several people, or politely, say "זײַט געזונט"

14. ביז באַלד!

    Biz bald!

    See you soon!

    Usage

    A farewell to someone you expect to see again soon

    Grammar Note

    "ביז" means "until"; "ביז שפּעטער!" (see you later) has the same pattern

15. ברוך־הבאָ

    Borekh-habo

    Welcome

    Usage

    Said to welcome a person who has arrived. This is the form for one person

    Grammar Note

    An expression of Hebrew origin that keeps its Hebrew spelling

16. וווּ איז דער טואַלעט?

    Vu iz der tualet?

    Where is the toilet?

    Usage

    Add "זײַט מוחל," in front to be polite

    Grammar Note

    The question word comes first and the verb second. "טואַלעט" is masculine, hence "דער"

17. איך רעד נישט קיין ייִדיש

    Ikh red nisht keyn yidish

    I don't speak Yiddish

    Usage

    For telling someone who speaks Yiddish to you that you do not speak it

    Grammar Note

    Combining "נישט" with "קיין" is normal and is not a double negative. Composed from known words and sentence patterns; native review recommended

18. איך וועל ווידער קומען

    Ikh vel vider kumen

    I'll come again

    Usage

    A pleasant thing to say when leaving a shop or lodging

    Grammar Note

    The future is "וועל" + infinitive; the auxiliary stays second and the infinitive goes to the end. Composed from known words and sentence patterns; native review recommended

19. איך האָב זייער הנאה געהאַט

    Ikh hob zeyer hanoe gehat

    I had a great time

    Usage

    Says you enjoyed a trip or a meal

    Grammar Note

    The perfect is "האָבן" + past participle, with the participle at the end. Composed from known words and sentence patterns; native review recommended

20. אַ דאַנק, ביז באַלד

    A dank, biz bald

    Thanks, see you

    Usage

    A casual farewell to someone you know

    Grammar Note

    Just two set phrases placed side by side. Composed from known words and sentence patterns; native review recommended

21. אַ גוטע נאַכט

    A gute nakht

    Good night

    Usage

    Said at bedtime or when parting at night

    Grammar Note

    "נאַכט" is feminine, so the adjective is "גוטע"

22. איך גיי אַוועק

    Ikh gey avek

    I'm heading out

    Usage

    A casual remark when leaving

    Grammar Note

    "גיי אַוועק" is the separable verb "אַוועקגיין"; in a main clause "אַוועק" stays at the end. Composed from known words and sentence patterns; native review recommended

23. איך בין צוריק

    Ikh bin tsurik

    I'm back

    Usage

    Announces that you have returned

    Grammar Note

    "צוריק" means "back" and combines with "זײַן" to describe the result of motion. Composed from known words and sentence patterns; native review recommended

24. זײַט מוחל, איך מוז גיין

    Zayt moykhl, ikh muz geyn

    Excuse me, I need to get going

    Usage

    A polite way to end a conversation or meeting

    Grammar Note

    "מוזן" means "must"; the main verb goes to the end after it. Composed from known words and sentence patterns; native review recommended

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