Basic Nouns

1. וואַסער

   vaser

   Water

   Usage

   The basic word for drinking water, understood in any eatery or shop

   Grammar Note

   A neuter noun. The plural is "וואַסערן"

2. עסן

   esn

   Food

   Usage

   The general word for food, a way into asking where you can eat

   Grammar Note

   Spelled the same as the verb "עסן" (to eat)

3. געלט

   gelt

   Money

   Usage

   The base word for anything about paying or changing currency

   Grammar Note

   A neuter noun. The plural is "געלטער"

4. טואַלעט

   tualet

   Toilet

   Usage

   Essential when asking directions. The word alone usually does the job

   Grammar Note

   Masculine, so the article is "דער"

5. מעדיצין

   meditsin

   Medicine

   Usage

   Use it at a pharmacy while miming your symptom. The same word also means medicine as a science

   Grammar Note

   Feminine, so the article is "די"

6. באַגאַזש

   bagazh

   Luggage

   Usage

   For checking, carrying or collecting bags; common at airports and hotels

   Grammar Note

   A collective noun, normally used in the singular

7. שליסל

   shlisl

   Key

   Usage

   For room keys and locker keys

   Grammar Note

   Masculine. The plural is "שליסלען"

8. בילעט

   bilet

   Ticket

   Usage

   Transport or entry tickets; combine it with a number at the counter

   Grammar Note

   Masculine. The plural is "בילעטן"

9. פּאַספּאָרט

   pasport

   Passport

   Usage

   Requested at check-in and currency exchange, and the word you need if it goes missing

   Grammar Note

   Masculine. The letter "פּ" (with dagesh) is p, not f

10. טעלעפֿאָן

    telefon

    Phone

    Usage

    Refers to the device itself. A phone number is "טעלעפֿאָן־נומער"

    Grammar Note

    Masculine. A loanword written phonetically in Yiddish letters

11. סטאַנציע

    stantsye

    Station

    Usage

    A landmark word when asking for directions; it covers stations and stops

    Grammar Note

    Feminine. The plural is "סטאַנציעס"

12. שפּיטאָל

    shpitol

    Hospital

    Usage

    For when you fall ill; works as a destination in a taxi

    Grammar Note

    Masculine. The plural is "שפּיטעלער"

13. פּאָליציי

    politsey

    Police

    Usage

    For theft or accidents. Even the bare word conveys urgency

    Grammar Note

    Feminine, so the article is "די"

14. קראָם

    krom

    Shop

    Usage

    The base word when asking where to buy something

    Grammar Note

    Feminine. "געשעפֿט" is also used for "shop"

15. צימער

    tsimer

    Room

    Usage

    For accommodation: checking vacancies or giving a room number

    Grammar Note

    The gender varies (masculine or neuter). The plural is "צימערן"

16. שאָסיי

    shosey

    Road

    Usage

    For asking the way, ideally while pointing at a map; it means a main road or highway

    Grammar Note

    Masculine. A city "street" is "גאַס"

17. משפּחה

    mishpokhe

    Family

    Usage

    A guaranteed small-talk topic. Add a number and the conversation keeps going

    Grammar Note

    A Hebrew-Aramaic word kept in its Hebrew spelling. The plural is "משפּחות"

18. נאָמען

    nomen

    Name

    Usage

    For confirming a booking or introducing yourself

    Grammar Note

    Masculine. The plural is "נעמען"

19. קאָפּ

    kop

    Head

    Usage

    Point at your own head while describing pain or other symptoms

    Grammar Note

    Masculine. The plural is "קעפּ"

20. אויג

    oyg

    Eye

    Usage

    Use it while pointing at your face to describe an eye problem

    Grammar Note

    Neuter. The plural is "אויגן"

21. צאָן

    tson

    Tooth

    Usage

    For describing tooth pain. The plural is "ציין"

    Grammar Note

    The singular "צאָן" has the plural "ציין"; some speakers also use "ציין" as a singular

22. גאָרגל

    gorgl

    Throat

    Usage

    For pain inside the throat; the outside of the neck is "האַלדז", a different word

    Grammar Note

    Masculine. The plural is "גאָרגלען"

23. בויך

    boykh

    Stomach / belly

    Usage

    The belly as a whole; "דער בויך טוט מיר וויי" means "my stomach hurts"

    Grammar Note

    Masculine. The stomach as an organ is "מאָגן"

24. רוקן

    rukn

    Back

    Usage

    For back pain; point at the spot as you say it

    Grammar Note

    Masculine. The verb spelled the same, "רוקן", is a different word meaning "to move"

25. פֿוס

    fus

    Leg / foot

    Usage

    To describe a foot or leg injury; point at the exact spot if the distinction matters

    Grammar Note

    Masculine. The plural is "פֿיס"

26. האַנט

    hant

    Hand

    Usage

    To describe a hand injury or pain; the arm is a separate word, "אָרעם"

    Grammar Note

    Feminine. The plural is "הענט"

27. ברוסטקאַסטן

    brustkastn

    Chest

    Usage

    The chest/ribcage, for reporting chest pain to a doctor

    Grammar Note

    A compound of "ברוסט" (breast) and "קאַסטן" (box)

28. האָטעל

    hotel

    Hotel

    Usage

    Show this to a driver to say you want your hotel; add the name or address too

    Grammar Note

    Masculine. The plural is "האָטעלן"

29. פֿליפֿעלד

    flifeld

    Airport

    Usage

    For saying you are heading to the airport; the word literally means "flying field"

    Grammar Note

    A neuter compound of "פֿליִען" (to fly) and "פֿעלד" (field). The plural is "פֿליפֿעלדער"

30. אַמבאַסאַדע

    ambasade

    Embassy

    Usage

    Show this when you need to reach your embassy, e.g. after losing a passport

    Grammar Note

    Feminine. The plural is "אַמבאַסאַדעס"

31. באַנקאָמאַט

    bankomat

    ATM

    Usage

    For finding a cash machine

    Grammar Note

    Masculine. The plural is "באַנקאָמאַטן"

32. קאָנסולאַט

    konsulat

    Consulate

    Usage

    A diplomatic office below the level of an embassy; the embassy itself is "אַמבאַסאַדע"

    Grammar Note

    Related to "קאָנסול" (consul)

Browse all TravelPhrases languages