Bagel
Etymology: Originating from the Yiddish word "beygl," which itself comes from the Old High German word "boug," meaning "ring."
Evolution: Introduced to America by Eastern European Jewish immigrants, the bagel is a round, doughy bread with a hole in the center, often sliced and served with cream cheese or other spreads, and has become a popular breakfast staple.
Example Sentence: She ordered a toasted bagel with smoked salmon and cream cheese.
Glitch
Etymology: Derived from the Yiddish word "glitsh," meaning "slippery place" or "slip."
Evolution: In the mid-20th century, the term glitch began to be used in the context of electronics and computing to describe small errors or minor malfunctions, often related to technology or software.
Example Sentence: The website experienced a temporary glitch, but it was resolved quickly.
Nosh
Etymology: Comes from the Yiddish word "nashn," meaning "to nibble" or "to snack."
Evolution: The term nosh has been adopted into English as a casual term for snacking or eating between meals.
Example Sentence: She stopped by the café to nosh on a muffin during her break.
Klutz
Etymology: Derived from the Yiddish word "klots," meaning "wooden beam" or "awkward person."
Evolution: Klutz entered the English language in the 1960s as a slang term for an awkward, uncoordinated person, prone to accidents or clumsy mistakes.
Example Sentence: Despite her best efforts, she felt like a klutz when learning to dance.
Schmooze
Etymology: Originates from the Yiddish word "shmuesn," meaning "to chat" or "to converse."
Evolution: Schmooze has evolved into a colloquial English term for engaging in informal, friendly conversation, often with a goal of networking or making connections.
Example Sentence: He spent the evening schmoozing with potential clients at the conference.
Chutzpah
Etymology: Derived from the Yiddish word "khutspe," from the Hebrew “chutzpah,” meaning "audacity" or "nerve."
Evolution: Chutzpah has been adopted into English to describe a person who is brazen, daring, or audacious, often in a way that is admired.
Example Sentence: Her chutzpah allowed her to ask for a promotion during her first week on the job.
Kvetch
Etymology: Comes from the Yiddish word "kvetchn," meaning "to complain" or "to gripe."
Evolution: In English, kvetch has come to describe the act of complaining or a person who frequently complains or expresses dissatisfaction, often in a nagging or whining manner.
Example Sentence: She didn't mean to kvetch, but the service at the restaurant was quite slow.
Nudge
Etymology: Derived from the Yiddish word "nudzh," meaning "to pester" or "to nag."
Evolution: Nudge has evolved to describe a gentle push or reminder, both literally and figuratively.
Example Sentence: He nudged his friend to remind him it was time to leave.
Tchotchke
Etymology: Originates from the Yiddish word "tshatshke," meaning "trinket" or "cheap toy."
Evolution: The term tchotchke has come to describe a small decorative object or souvenir, often of little value.
Example Sentence: Her shelves were filled with tchotchkes she collected from her travels.
Shtick
Etymology: Comes from the Yiddish word "shtik," meaning "piece" or "bit."
Evolution: Shtick has evolved to describe a distinctive trait, gimmick, or routine, often in the context of comedy or entertainment.
Example Sentence: The comedian's shtick included hilarious impressions of famous people.
