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Leo Rosten

Joys of Yiddish Mass Market Paperback – January 2, 1991

by Leo Rosten (Author)

107 ratings

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Mass Market Paperback, January 2, 1991

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Language

English
Publisher

Pocket
Publication date

January 2, 1991
Dimensions

4.25 x 1 x 7 inches
ISBN-10

067172813X
ISBN-13

978-0671728137
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Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com Review

Leo Rosten left a great legacy of Jewish culture with his classic informal lexicon of Yiddish. Rosten defines (by synonym, anecdote, and joke) the words that have made it into common parlance (like chutzpah, schlep, and schmooze) as well as a choice collection of less integrated but equally rich vocabulary such as schmatte (a rag, i.e. what a schmatte you're wearing), chozzerai (literally "pig food," now denoting crap or junk food), and hundreds more. First published in 1968, Rosten's aptly named compendium still sings with humorous erudition.

Product details

Publisher ‏ : ‎ Pocket (January 2, 1991)
Language ‏ : ‎ English
ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 067172813X
ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-0671728137
Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 9.9 ounces
Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 4.25 x 1 x 7 inches

Best Sellers Rank: #1,451,595 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
- #3,325 in Foreign Language Instruction (Books)
- #8,895 in Judaism (Books)
- #25,190 in Words, Language & Grammar (Books)

Customer Reviews:
107 ratings

Customer reviews

5 star		73%
4 star		13%
3 star		8%
2 star		2%
1 star		4%

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P. Kimmel Libby

The Yiddish language plus explaining the culture makes this book come alive

Reviewed in the United States on June 20, 2021

Verified Purchase

I have an original old paperback from the first edition that is now in 3 pieces for all the use it has had over the years. I had to get a hardback edition. Rosten's book is unique and great for someone who grew up with grandparents and parents always speaking in Yiddish so you, the kid, did not understand what they were saying. I learned the language and have marvelous memories of my grandmother's wild stories, both hilarious and frightening of her life in Odessa before she came to the US after the 1905 pogrom. Rosten has captured the essence of the Yiddish culture of Odessa that is close to my heart. The humor and pathos of such a difficult existence over so many centuries has created a language and a courage unique to people who learned to resist being victims, but who understood the nature of and the need for family in order to survive with joy. Rosten brings to life a vibrant history of the Jewish people in Eastern Europe like no one else--except the geniuses themselves, like Shalom Aleichem, for one. This book is always close at hand.

Helpful

Bill

Outstanding and Fun to Read

Reviewed in the United States on June 10, 2018

Verified Purchase

An outstanding dictionary of Yiddish that should appeal to a wide audience, since the definitions are often accompanied by wonderful stories that use the key term.

3 people found this helpful

Helpful

Amazon Customer

Excellent and humorous reviews of Yiddish terms

Reviewed in the United States on March 24, 2020

Verified Purchase

The Joys of Yiddish is a deligyto read with easy to follow phonetic pronunciation and with Hebrew an Yiddish variants noted. The hilarious little gems of stories demonstrating a word's proper use are priceless. The book arrived in good time and in the advertised condition.

One person found this helpful

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Patricia D. Fitzgerald

THE JOYS OF YIDDISH are everyone's joys!

Reviewed in the United States on May 12, 2016

Verified Purchase

This is not a novel -- it is a dictionary of Yiddish expressions, which are absolutely priceless. This is the third copy of this book I have bought. I bought one for a former employer who was Yiddish and used a lot of these same phrases. I wore out the copy I bought for myself, and this is a replacement for that one.

3 people found this helpful

Helpful

moose

Great book

Reviewed in the United States on December 24, 2020

Verified Purchase

A classic. And a hoot. Leo gives examples and stories about the word

Reviewed in the United States on August 23, 2020

Verified Purchase

love the book

Reviewed in the United States on February 28, 2019

Verified Purchase

I like the book. I have another copy that I bought myself 30+ years ago. I ordered this for a friend. However, I was a little disappointed in the condition of the book. I din't think the description was totally truthful.

Helpful

Leipupu

Fabulous book. I've had a copy for 40 years ...

Reviewed in the United States on December 18, 2017

Verified Purchase

Fabulous book. I've had a copy for 40 years!

Leipūpū

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Top reviews from other countries

Peter S

A Joy to Read

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on June 28, 2020

Verified Purchase

For non-Jewish language students this book is a must. If there is any criticism it is a shame that Leo Rosten paid no real attention to grammar nor the oriogins of the language. It reminds me of Silesian dialect (compare with the plays of Gerhard Hauptmann. A pity it seems to be out of print.

MR P BUCZKO

Interesting and informative

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on November 15, 2020

Verified Purchase

I am interested in all things Jewish, a fascinating subject. This book gives the meanings for many Yiddish words and sayings but also gives an insight on Jewish customs and traditions and religious rites.

Shopdiva

Rather dull, given the humour usually found in Yiddish related books.

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on November 8, 2018

Verified Purchase

Disappointing.

One person found this helpful

T. R. Mortimer

Amusing

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on July 28, 2016

Verified Purchase

Some friends disagree with some definitions, but I believe Yiddish, as with Arabic, and so-called English varies round the world. Doubtless all languages do, to some extent. All the same, an entertaining book.

Graham Westoll

Oy Vie

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on January 20, 2017

Verified Purchase

This book is brilliant. Full of Jewish wisdom and humour. You will learn more about life reading this rather than the Bible or the Quran.

2 people found this helpful

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Joys of Yiddish Mass Market Paperback – January 2, 1991

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