פֿאַרפֿלייצט גערקע
farfleytst gerke
The English word "pickle" is translated into Yiddish as פֿאַרפֿלייצט גערקע (farfleytst gerke).
This term refers specifically to a preserved cucumber.
Meaning: preserved cucumber (noun)
How do you pronounce it?
farfleytst gerke
Did you know?
- While פֿאַרפֿלייצט גערקע describes the physical object, Yiddish speakers often use the concept of being 'pickled' or 'sour' metaphorically to describe someone who is overly grumpy or sour-tempered.
- In some Ashkenazi culinary traditions, the term for 'pickled' can also refer to vegetables preserved in a salty brine rather than a vinegar-based solution, which is more common in English-speaking countries.
- The word גערקע (gerke) for cucumber is a loanword from German, which itself was influenced by various Slavic languages across Eastern Europe.
Example conversation
Chana and Avraham are eating lunch together.
- חנה Chanaאברהם, ווילסטו אַ פֿאַרפֿלייצט גערקע?Avraham, vilstu a farfleyts gerke?Avraham, do you want a pickle?
- אברהם Avrahamיאָ, דאַנקע, איך ליבע זיי.Yo, danke, ikh libe zey.Yes, thanks, I love them.
- חנה Chanaזענען זיי גענוג זאלציק?Zenen zey genug zoltsik?Are they salty enough?
- אברהם Avrahamיא, די פֿאַרפֿלייצט גערקע איז פֿאַנטאַסטיש.Ya, di farfleyts gerke iz fantastish.Yes, the pickle is fantastic.
