YINGLISH

views updated

YINGLISH. An informal and often facetious term for: (1) English that contains many YIDDISH words and expressions. It is an informal synonym of JEWISH ENGLISH (of the Ashkenazic or Eastern European variety). (2) Yiddish words and expressions that have become part of colloquial English, an informal collective term for Yiddishisms. (3) Words and expressions that blend Yiddish and English, such as borscht circuit, fancy-shmancy, a whole megillah, a hearty mazel tov. The term is viewed by scholars of Yiddish as slangy and disparaging. See -GLISH AND -LISH.

More From encyclopedia.com