Even among Jews who exchanged Yiddish for English generations ago, certain Yiddish words have remained—notably the Yiddish names for body parts used with small children. Below are the basic terms you need to know to sound like an authentic Yiddishe Mama (or Papa). Like in English, when addressing small children, Yiddish speakers often modify terms to a diminutive form. For your convenience, we’ll include them as well. You will also find the plural form for any limbs that people have two (or more) of.
Head
Singular: kop קאפ
Dimunitive: kepeleh קעפעלע
Face
Singular: ponim פנים
Dimunitive: penimel פנימ'ל
Eye
Singular: oyg אויג
Plural: oygen אויגן
Diminutive: oygeleh אויגעלע
Plural diminutive: oygelakh אויגעלאך
Mouth
Moyl מויל
Nose
Singular: noz נאז
Diminutive: nezeleh נעזעלע
Ear
Singular: oyer (alt: ever) אויער
Plural: oyeren (alt: everen) אויערן
Diminutive: oyerel (alt: everel) אויערל
Plural diminutive: oyerlakh (alt: everlakh) אויערלאך
Cheeks
Singular: bak באק
Plural: baken באקן
Diminutive: bekeleh בעקעלע
Plural diminutive: bekelakh בעקעלאך
Hand (or Arm)
Singular: hant האנט
Plural: hent הענט
Diminutive: henteleh הענטעלע
Plural diminutive: hentelakh הענטעלאך
Foot (or Leg)
Singular: Foos פוס
Plural: Fees פיס
Diminutive: Feeseleh פיסעלע
Plural diminutive: Feeselakh פיסעלאך
Belly
Singular: Boykh בויך
Diminutive: Bykheleh בייכעלע
Navel
Singular: Pupik פופיק
Diminutive: Pupikel פופיקל
Knees
Singular: Knee (yes, you pronounce the k) קני
Plural: Knee-en קניען
Diminutive: Knee-eleh קניעלע
Plural diminutive: Knee-elakh קניעלאך
Hair
Singular: Hor האר
Diminutive: Horeleh הארעלע
Plural diminutive: Horelakh הארעלאך
Forehead
Shtern שטערן
Beard
Bord בארד
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