ס'איז וואָס ס'איז
s'iz vos s'iz
In Yiddish, the phrase "it is what it is" is expressed as ס'איז וואָס ס'איז (s'iz vos s'iz).
This phrase is used to express the idea that a thing has its own nature.
Meaning: this thing has its own nature (phrase)
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase ס'איז וואָס ס'איז is a contraction of עס איז וואָס עס איז (es iz vos es iz). In this contraction, ס (s') stands for עס (es), which means "it".
How do you pronounce it?
s'iz vos s'iz
Did you know?
- The word וואָס is a linguistic cousin to the English word 'what', as both descend from the Proto-Germanic root *hwat.
- While ס'איז וואָס ס'איז expresses acceptance, Yiddish speakers often pair such fatalistic phrases with a shrug or a specific hand gesture to signal resignation.
- Using the full form עס איז וואָס עס איז instead of the contraction can make the speaker sound unusually formal, overly emphatic, or even pedantic.
Example conversation
Yitzhak and Chana are discussing a broken chair.
- יצחק Yitzchakחנה, לוק דאָס שטיסל איז געבּראָכן.Chana, luk dos shtisl iz gebrokhn.Chana, look, the little chair is broken.
- חנה Chanaס'איז וואָס ס'איז, יצחק, עס איז אלט.s'iz vos s'iz, Yitzhak, es iz alt.It is what it is, Yitzhak, it is old.
- יצחק Yitzchakקענען מיר עס פֿיקסן?kenen mir es fiksn?Can we fix it?
- חנה Chanaניין, עס איז צײַט פֿאַר אַ נײַעם.neyn, es iz tsayt far a nayem.No, it is time for a new one.
Sources
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries וואָס, CC BY-SA 4.0.
