וואונדערלעך
vunderlekh
The Yiddish word for wonderful is וואונדערלעך (vunderlekh).
וואונדערלעך is used to describe something that is excellent or extremely impressive.
Meaning: excellent, extremely impressive (adj)
Is it said differently in some regions?
In the Galitsianer dialect, the term prakhtik is used to convey the meaning of wonderful or splendid.
How do you pronounce it?
vunderlekh
Did you know?
- The word וואונדערלעך shares a common Germanic ancestor with the English word 'wonderful'. Both languages evolved from a root describing something that causes 'wonder' or awe.
- The choice between using וואונדערלעך and the Galitzianer פראַכטיק can actually reveal a person's ancestral roots and which part of the Jewish diaspora their family came from.
- If you describe a person as וואונדערלעך in an old-fashioned Yiddish literary context, it often suggests they possess a saintly or almost supernatural quality.
Example conversation
Miriam and Berl are discussing a meal they just ate.
- מרים Miriamדאָס עסן איז געווען וואונדערלעך!dos esn iz geven vunderlekh!The food was wonderful!
- בערל Berelאיך בינ צוריקגעשטעלט אַז דיר האט געפאלן.ikh bin tsurikgeshtelt az dir hot gefaln.I am glad that you liked it.
- מרים Miriamאַלס’ס איז געווען פּערפעקט.alses iz geven perfekt.Everything was perfect.
- בערל Berelדאַנק דיר, מרים!dank dir, Miriam!Thank you, Miriam!
