Yiddish facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Yiddish |
|
|---|---|
| ייִדיש, יידיש or אידיש yidish/idish/yidish | |
| Pronunciation | or |
| Native to | Central, Eastern, and Western Europe |
| Region | Israel, North America, other regions with Jewish populations |
| Ethnicity | Ashkenazi |
| Native speakers | (1.5 million cited 1986–1991 + half undated)e18 |
| Language family |
Indo-European
|
| Writing system | Hebrew alphabet (Yiddish orthography) |
| Official status | |
| Recognised minority language in | |
| Regulated by | no formal bodies; YIVO de facto |
| Linguasphere | 52-ACB-g = 52-ACB-ga (West) + 52-ACB-gb (East); totalling 11 varieties |
Yiddish is a special language spoken by many Jews around the world. It started in Europe about 1000 years ago. At first, it was a type of German that Jewish people began to use.
Over time, Yiddish grew to include many words from Hebrew and Slavic languages, especially Polish. It also has some words from French, Hungarian, and Latin. Yiddish is usually written using the Hebrew alphabet.
Today, Yiddish is still spoken in many places where Jewish people live. This includes the United States, especially in New York, and other countries they have moved to. About 3 million people worldwide speak Yiddish, with many of them being Hasidic Jews.
Protecting Yiddish Language
In countries like the Netherlands and Sweden, Yiddish is officially recognized and protected. This is thanks to something called the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. This charter helps make sure that smaller languages, like Yiddish, are kept alive and used.
Related pages
Images for kids
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The Yiddish text (in red) in an old book called the Worms Machzor.
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An American poster from World War I written in Yiddish. It encouraged people to save food to help win the war.
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This map shows where different Yiddish dialects were spoken between the 15th and 19th centuries.
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A Soviet Yiddish poster from the 1920s, encouraging people to join collective farms.
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A map showing the Jewish Autonomous Oblast in Russia, a region where Yiddish has been important.
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The banner from the first newspaper called Yidishe Folksshtime (Yiddish People's Voice), published in 1917.
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A 1917 poster in many languages, including Yiddish, inviting new immigrants to Cleveland for English classes.
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A wall covered with posters in Jewish Brooklyn, New York, showing how Yiddish is used in daily life.
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A road sign in Yiddish at a construction site in Monsey, New York, a town with many Yiddish speakers.
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An election poster written completely in Yiddish in the Village of New Square, New York, from 2008.
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See also
In Spanish: Yidis para niños
