געשעפֿט
gesheft/ɡəˈʃɛft/
The Yiddish word for "deal" is געשעפֿט (gesheft).
While געשעפֿט can refer to a formal agreement, it is most commonly used to describe a business transaction or a piece of business. It is also the standard Yiddish word for a shop or a store.
Meaning: agreement, arrangement (noun)
What does it mean word for word?
The word געשעפֿט literally means business, transaction or deal.
How does it change in a sentence?
To express the plural form, such as "deals" or "businesses", use געשעפֿטן.
How do you pronounce it?
The romanization is gesheft.
Did you know?
- In Yiddish culture, a געשעפֿט can describe not just a commercial transaction, but any clever arrangement or 'scheme' designed to achieve a specific goal.
- The word געשעפֿט is often used in an ironic or skeptical tone to imply that a 'deal' is perhaps too good to be true or slightly suspicious.
- The word is a direct descendant of the Old High German word giscaft, which originally described a person's 'disposition' or 'arrangement' of things.
Examples in context
- מיר האָבן אַ געשעפֿט געמאַכט.mir hobn a geshäft gemakht.We made a deal.
Example conversation
Two people are negotiating the price of a table.
- מנחם Menahemאיך געב דיר צען דאָלאַר פֿאַר דעם טיש.ikh geb dir tsen dolar far dem tish.I'll give you ten dollars for this table.
- שרה Saraפֿילערן צווייצען דאָלאַר און מיר האָבן אַ געשעפֿט.filern tsvaytsen dolar un mir hobn a gesheft.Make it twelve dollars and we have a deal.
- מנחם Menahemגוט, איך בינעם צוגעשטאַמט.gut, ikh binem tsu-gestamt.Fine, I agree.
- שרה Saraדאַנקע, מנחם!danke, Menakhem!Thank you, Menakhem!
Sources
- Pronunciation: Wiktionary entry געשעפֿט, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries געשעפֿט, CC BY-SA 4.0.
