Language in New York State

Local Lingo Primer

One of the most distinctive elements of New York City-speak -- apart from the gruff, in-your-face style epitomized by Robert De Niro in the movie "Taxi Driver" ("You talkin' to me?") and the Long Island and Brooklyn cliché "fuggedabout it"" -- is the preponderance of Yiddish words dropped into conversation by Jews and non-Jews alike. Here's a quick glossary:

chutzpah: guts, daring, audacity

kvetch: complain, gripe

mazel tov: congratulations!

mensch: good person, stand-up guy

meshugeneh: crazy person

oy vey: exclamation of grief or horror

putz: idiot

schlep: drag or haul; to make a tedious journey

schmo: jerk

schmuck: fool

schmear: spread (for instance, cream cheese on a bagel)

schmutz: grime, dirt, the stuff that gets in New York City windows

shvitz: sweat