קולטור

Exclamations

Exclamations are words or phrases used to succinctly express a reaction or emotion. In this lesson, Nomi uses a number of idiomatic exclamations while she interacts with the mischievous monkey. Along with other exclamations we've heard in YiddishPOP, we list and explain these phrases here. You will see that exclamations can be used to express a wide range of emotions and attitudes.

The following expressions are used in various unfortunate circumstances.

When the monkey grabs Nomi's notebook, she cries out !געװאַלד to express her feeling of surprise, confusion, and helplessness. This phrase is used to attract the attention of others, particularly when one is in need of aid in a moment of distress or danger. For example, if a fire breaks out, one can alert others with the words:

When the monkey takes her notebook, Nomi reacts to the unexpected and unwelcome situation with the words:

The exclamation װײ איז מיר gives expression to feelings such as annoyance, regret, anguish, or the fear that bad will lead to worse. Thus, the mother of a sick child might say:

Similarly but perhaps not as forcefully, one can react with a simple אױ־װײ or a mere אױ. A few examples from YiddishPOP:

• Lesson 1.2 when Nomi gets covered in ice cream:

• Lesson 3.3 when Nomi wants to cook something:

The expression אָך און װײ conveys that something is no good. The specific thing being reacted to can follow the words איז צו. We hear this in the current lesson when the monkey grabs Nomi's notebook, and Moby laughs. Nomi chides him, saying:

מילא

The exclamation מילא indicates accepting a disappointment or an unfortunate situation, and not getting worked up about it. When Yankl knocks over his glass of milk in the 3.2 vocabulary movie, Nomi uses the word מילא to convey that she is not angry, that it’s not so bad and she can fix the situation:

מילא is often paired with the word נו. Here are a few examples from YiddishPOP:

• In lesson 3.2, Yankl needs to go to sleep but does not want to put on his pajamas. Nomi reacts:

• In lesson 3.3, after it becomes clear that Nomi and Moby won’t be able to bake a kugel, Nomi indicates that it’s time to move on and come up with a new plan:

• In lesson 4.3 Nomi’s telephone conversation with her cousins is interrupted when the signal fails. She reacts with the words נו מילא, indicating that despite her frustration, she dismisses this development as a temporary setback.

The word אױ serves to emphasize the whole phrase.

גוט

When used as an exclamation, גוט conveys that something has been done well, or that the situation is favorable. For example:

The word גוט can also be used to request or to indicate agreement. For example:

• When Nomi wants to persuade Moby to play basketball on Thursday (lesson 2.4), she asks:

• When Nomi realizes that the esreg is missing (lesson 5.2), she gets upset. Moby comfortingly suggests that she think about where the esreg could be. She agrees:

שײן

When used as an exclamation, שײן expresses the feeling that something is beautiful, pleasant or appealing. It can be emphasized with the word אַזױ or װי. For example:

• When Nomi catches sight of the peacock at the end of the movie in lesson 4.2, she exclaims:

• If a grandmother tells a grandfather that the grandchildren are coming to visit, he may respond:

אױסגעצײכנט

אױסגעצײכנט is an adjective that means “excellent” or “outstanding”. It can also be used as an exclamation to react to a particular situation or achievement. In this lesson, for example, Nomi reacts with the word אױסגעצײכנט when Moby finds a banana in his backpack:

When Meyerke clears the hurdles (lesson 2.1), Nomi exclaims: !אױסגעצײכנט.

אוּװאַ

אוּװאַ is an expression of wonder or admiration. It’s used when something is very beautiful or an achievement is extraordinary. Nomi uses this exclamation in this lesson when she wants to point out the beauty of the flower she is showing the monkey:

If Nomi reacted to Meyerke’s clearing the hurdles with אוּװאַ, she would be expressing that she is very impressed by his athletic abilities.

הוראַ

הוראַ expresses the feeling of joy at hearing good news, or of experiencing success. When the monkey finally throws down Nomi’s notebook and Moby’s hat, Nomi exclaims:

We have heard הוראַ a few times in YiddishPOP:

We have already discussed several exclamations that express a positive or negative attitude to various situations. Of course, there are also Yiddish exclamations that express all kinds of other attitudes such as impatience, approval, agreement, and doubt. Below we discuss several of these which we have encountered in YiddishPOP.

דאָס הײסט as a question calls something into question; דאָס הײסט as an exclamation confirms the exemplary nature of something. For example:

• Nomi asks Moby to pour “אַ ביסל” milk into their drink (lesson 1.3). When he pours in a lot, she notes that he has not followed her instruction by asking:

• When Nomi looks at Moby’s shalakh-mones for Meyerke and sees that it is full of delightful treats, including ice cream, she exclaims:

טאַקע

In lesson 4.5 we learned the adverb טאַקע, which confirms the truth of something. In that lesson, Nomi shows Moby the theater and responds to Moby’s gesture asserting that he really likes it:

With a questioning intonation, טאַקע can be used to ask for confirmation or to call something into question. For example:

נו

The word נו in an exclamation or a question expresses impatience that can vary in degree, sometimes more, sometimes less. The impatience can be a feeling of annoyance (why am I still waiting?) or a feeling of enthusiasm (being excited about something or wanting to do something). Of course, there are many shades of meaning between the two.

We learned the word נו in lesson 1.4. Here are a few situations where נו appears in YiddishPOP, first exclamations and then questions.

The word נו on its own as a question – ?נו – is also very common as an expression of impatience, as if asking: “So what are you waiting for?”

נו גוט

The phrase נו גוט expresses agreement together with impatience, or agreement that is tempered by hesitation. Nomi feels such reservations when Moby passes her a spoon and suggests that they eat the ice cream in the shalakh-mones (lesson 4.4), and Nomi, still uncertain, acquiesces with the words:

נו־נו

The double נו־נו is an expression of comfort. Moby is upset when Nomi tells him the sad story of The Dybbuk; Nomi comforts him with the words:

שױן

The adverb שױן can be used as an exclamation that conveys that one is ready or has finished. If Nomi is doing her homework and Moby is waiting with the ball to play basketball with her, she can put down her pen with the word !שױן, a sign that she has finished and is ready to play.

נו שױן

The combination נו שױן conveys that it’s time to stop (speaking, thinking, crying etc.), it’s already enough. At the end of the movie in lesson 3.3, for example, when Nomi and Moby can’t think of a food to prepare at home, Nomi could say: