Yiddish grammar

The Yiddish Alphabet

There are two scripts used for Yiddish: hand written and printed, both of which use a modified version of the Hebrew script.

When written using the Hebrew script, Yiddish reads from right to left.

This basic Yiddish grammar also transliterates the Yiddish script letters using the Roman alphabet, and as at heart Yiddish is a Germanic language, this is relatively easy to do. The transliteration is written from left to right and uses capitals to start sentences and proper nouns.

It uses the transliteration standard as set out by the YIVO institute.

Adjectives

Adjectives and articles in Yiddish decline. They agree with nouns in gender, number and case.

Adjectives. Singular

The nominative neuter is gut when preceeded by the indefinite article ('a' or 'an'). Masculine nominative adjectives end in 'er'. This is added to the base form or stem.

Examples of adjectival agreement (in the nominative)

See adjectival agreement for further examples with audio.

Examples of adjectival agreement (in the accusative)

When the adjective is used predicatively, it is invariable.

Adjectives. Plural

The nominative, accusative and dative endings are the same when modifying any plural noun and end in 'e'.

Examples of adjectival agreement in the plural

Sentence Structure

The basic sentence structure is Subject, Verb, Object.

However, the word order is not fixed and can be varied within limits to change the emphasis and meaning of the sentence. See, for example, these example sentences.

The Definite Article

The definite article depends on the gender on the noun and whether the noun is the singular or plural.

The singular nominative and accusative definite article is as follows for 'tate' father, 'mame' mother and 'bukh' book :-

In the plural, the definite article is always 'di' regardless of gender or case.

Examples of definite articles in the plural

The Indefinite Article

The indefinite article is 'a' or 'an'. 'an' is used before a vowel.

Modal Verbs

Modal verbs (to be able, must, want to, have to) do not need 'tsu' when followed by the infinitive.

Negatives

If the object of the sentence has a definite article (singular or plural), the sentence is made negative by adding 'nit' after the verb. Similarly where these is no object after the verb.

Nouns

Yiddish nouns can be one of three genders - masculine, feminine and neuter.

Nouns generally do not decline - apart from names and some commonly used exceptions.

Yiddish Nouns. Plural

The plurals of Yiddish nouns must be learnt as the plural ending varies. Endings which are frequently used to form the plural are 'n', 'en', 's' and 'er'. Further examples of plural nouns with audio are here.

Most nouns with the ending 'e' have a plural ending in 's'. For example,

These examples illustrate some of the possible endings and variations of plural Yiddish nouns.

Possessive Adjectives

These are the possessive form of personal pronouns. Possessive adjectives do not decline - although in the plural and 'e' is added.

Example sentences of possessives with audio are here.

Question Words

Yiddish question words has further example sentences with audio.

Verbs

Yiddish verbs in the infinitive end in - 'n'. E.g. Geyn. (to go) or 'voynen' (to live or reside).

The present tense is formed by removing the 'n' (leaving the stem) and adding the endings in bold.

Verbs. Past tense

For most verbs, the past tense is conjugated by using hobn. (to have) and the past participle. The past participle is normally formed by prefixing 'ge' to the verb.

For example, to conjugate the Yiddish verb 'hern' to hear, create participle which is 'ge' + 'hern' making 'gehern'. And then conjugating with 'hobn':-

The verb to have

To have is of particular importantance as it is one of the verbs used to form the past tense in Yiddish.

The verb to be

To be is of particular importantance as it is one of the verbs used to form the Yiddish past tense.

The verb to go