שיין ייִנגל
sheyn yingl/ʃɛɪ̯n ˈjɪŋɡɫ̩/word by word
The Yiddish phrase for "handsome boy" is שיין ייִנגל (sheyn yingl).
This phrase is used to describe a young male who is physically attractive.
How do you pronounce it?
The romanization is sheyn yingl.
Did you know?
- The word שיין is a cognate of the English word 'sheen', as both derive from the same Proto-Germanic root meaning 'bright' or 'beautiful'.
- The word ייִנגל is frequently used in Yiddish literature to evoke the nostalgic image of the 'shtubenkind', or the children of the traditional Eastern European home.
- Even if a person is not a child, adding the diminutive '-l' to words in Yiddish can be a way to show affection or politeness in many contexts.
Examples in context
- דאָס איז אַ שיין ייִנגל.dos iz a sheyn yingl.That is a handsome boy.
- ער איז אַ שיין ייִנגל.er iz a sheyn yingl.He is a handsome boy.
Example conversation
Two neighbors are watching children play in a park.
- יצחק Yitzchakזעסטו דעם שיין ייִנגל דאָרטן?zestu dem sheyn yingl dortn?Do you see that handsome boy over there?
- מרים Miriamיא, ער איז טאַקע שיין.ya, er iz take sheyn.Yes, he is indeed handsome.
- יצחק Yitzchakער לויפט מיט זיין פֿריינד.er loyft mit zein fraynd.He is running with his friend.
- מרים Miriamזיי זענען ביידע שיינע ייִנגלעך.zey zenen beyde sheyne yinglekh.They are both handsome boys.
Sources
- IPA marked “word by word” joins the Wiktionary pronunciations of each word (שיין, ייִנגל) and can differ in connected speech.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries ייִנגל, שיין, CC BY-SA 4.0.
