What is the Difference Between Yiddish and Hebrew?

Hidden in the depths of my university’s library, down maze-like hallways and behind secret doors, I was thrilled to discover a mini “Library of Congress.” I stood in front of a room where the sign said “Hebrew Books Collection.”

As I began walking up and down the aisles inside, peering closely at book titles and pulling random books off shelves so I could take a quick skim, I noticed that the sign to the room had been misleading — not all of the books were in Hebrew. Many of the books were in Yiddish.

Because I am familiar with both the Hebrew and the Yiddish languages, it didn’t take long before I realized that the Yiddish books were dispersed on shelves, mixed in between books in Hebrew.

There was no distinguishing separation between the Yiddish and Hebrew books. But for someone who has only studied one of the languages, or neither, surely the difference between the two languages would appear quite blurred.

Each year, Jewish students take advantage of the opportunity to focus on learning a new language. My experience living and interning in Warsaw, Poland, a place where Yiddish was once prominent, enriched my connection to learning the Yiddish language.

As I studied and spoke Yiddish upon my return, I felt linked to the Jewish institutions and history in Warsaw. Yet, before deciding whether or not to study Hebrew or Yiddish abroad, it is important that students understand what the differences between the two languages are.

What is the difference between Yiddish and Hebrew?

1. Language family

Hebrew is a Semitic language (a subgroup of the Afro-Asiatic languages, languages spoken across the Middle East), while Yiddish is a German dialect which integrates many languages, including German, Hebrew, Aramaic, and various Slavic and Romance languages.

While Yiddish does use some Hebrew words and is written in the Hebrew alphabet, Yiddish is actually more closely related to German and Slavic languages than it is to Hebrew.

The Hebrew alphabet has 22 letters which are all consonants; vowels in Hebrew are deduced from context and from marks above and below the Hebrew letters. In Yiddish, silent Hebrew letters become vowels, letters which are used as both consonants and vowels are read according to context, and some marks below letters are used as well, but take on a different sound than in Hebrew.

2. Birthplace

The birthplace of a language is a crucial distinction.

Although both Hebrew and Yiddish relate to the Jewish people, Hebrew brings up images of Israel, of Middle Eastern culture, while Yiddish should bring up notions of European culture, of Jewish communities in Europe.

The reason for this is because Hebrew is a Middle Eastern language that can be traced back to over 3,000 years ago, while Yiddish is a language which originated in Europe, in the Rhineland (the loosely defined area of Western Germany), over 800 years ago, eventually spreading to eastern and central Europe.

3. Original purpose

Yiddish was known as mame-loshn, mother tongue, because it was the language that was used daily as the conversational, home and business language amongst Jews in Central and Eastern Europe.

Hebrew was considered loshn-koydesh, holy tongue, and was used mostly for liturgical purposes such as prayer, by Jewish communities all over the world — but was not spoken between Jews.

4. Where the language is spoken today

Today, Hebrew is spoken by about 10 million people worldwide and is Israel’s first language. Hebrew is utilized both as a conversational language and as a language for religious purposes.

Prior to the Holocaust, there were between 11 and 13 million Yiddish speakers out of 17 million Jews worldwide; after the Holocaust, there was a massive decline in the use of the language. However, contrary to popular belief, Yiddish is not a dead language today, and it is not only a language used for academic purposes.

There are about 3 million Yiddish speakers worldwide today. For instance, Yiddish remains the majority language and first language of Hasidic (a sect of Ultra-Orthodox Judaism) communities in the United States, largely in the Crown Heights, Borough Park, and Williamsburg neighborhoods of Brooklyn and other parts of New York and New Jersey.

Several thousand children in the United Kingdom have Yiddish as their first language, and it is the native everyday language of 15,000 Jews in Montreal, Canada.

Additionally, Yiddish is an official minority language in Sweden, which means the government publishes official documents in Yiddish, and that Sweden is a major source of new Yiddish children’s books, TV cartoons, web media, and music videos. Yiddish is also recognized as a minority language in Moldova and parts of Russia.

But why learn Hebrew and Yiddish abroad?

Language learning opens doors to respect, perspective, and understanding.

Now that you know the differences between the two languages related to the history of the Jewish people, it is time to explore why you should consider studying one (or both!) of the languages during your time living in another country.

There is no better way to fully learn a language than to be immersed in it. Many programs which offer the chance to learn Hebrew and Yiddish abroad involve several intense weeks of language learning, where you learn a lot in a short time.

In addition to learning the language, and being surrounded by other peers who share the same interests as you (since they too purposely chose to go abroad and study one of the languages!), learning Hebrew and Yiddish abroad in places where the languages originated gives you the chance to learn more about the culture behind the languages as well. Below, check out some of the best Yiddish and Hebrew study abroad programs. 

4 ways to learn to speak Yiddish

1. International Summer Seminar in Yiddish Language and Culture

Learn how to speak Yiddish with the International Summer Seminar in Yiddish Language and Culture! This is a chance to learn the Yiddish language in a city where the Yiddish language once filled the streets.

In addition to 60 hours of language classes, participants will have the chance to go on tours of Jewish Warsaw, interact with native Yiddish speakers from Poland, and attend workshops on subjects like Yiddish music and theatre. This program utilizes Yiddish culture to complement your language learning.

Location: Warsaw, Poland   

2. Summer Program for Yiddish Language and Literature in Berlin

This three-week summer program hosts students from all around the world, giving students the chance to grow their Yiddish language skills while meeting others passionate about Yiddish from faraway places. Five levels of language and literature classes are available, so there is a class for anyone — from beginner to advanced!

Location: Berlin, Germany

3. Ot Azoy

If you have a passion for music and want to develop or advance your Yiddish language skills, Ot Azoy is the perfect program for you! In just one packed week, participants take Yiddish language classes and partake in extensive cultural Yiddish programming in Yiddish music, theatre, poetry, and lectures. Sessions include Yiddish song master classes, Yiddish songs of the day, and Yiddish concerts.

Location: London, England 

4. Naomi Prawer Kadar International Yiddish Summer Program at Tel Aviv University

Looking for a Yiddish program abroad that allows you to earn credit to transfer back to your home school? If so, then this summer program is the program for you! The mornings are filled with language instruction, from beginner level to advanced for doing research in Yiddish, and the afternoons are filled with lectures, conversation workshops, and tours around the country.

Location: Tel Aviv, Israel

4 ways to learn to speak Hebrew

1. Intensive Hebrew Language Ulpan 

This intensive, immersive Hebrew language course can be taken at Ben Gurion University of the Negev for a four or six week period in either the summer or winter. In addition to a curriculum of reading, writing, and conversation skills, Hebrew is taught through media, Israeli music, newspapers, movies, radio, and field trips.

Location: Beer Sheva, Israel

2. Home Ulpan 

For an immersive Hebrew experience like no other, Home Ulpan provides you with the chance to really experience living in Israel and get Hebrew practice naturally, while becoming acquainted with Israeli culture. Throughout this program, students will study and live at their Israeli Hebrew teacher’s home in a homestay, and become part of the teacher’s family.

Location: Ramat Yishai, Israel

3. Hebrew University Rothberg International School Ulpan Programs 

Hebrew University is a great setting to study Hebrew abroad if you want to live in Jerusalem, the capital of Israel. As an international school, you will take Hebrew classes with students from all over the world. In addition to modern Hebrew, Hebrew U offers the unique chance to study Biblical Hebrew as well, at both beginner and advanced levels.

Location: Jerusalem, Israel

4. Kibbutz Ulpan 

Kibbutz Ulpan is the right Hebrew language program for you if you are looking for the chance to study the language for a longer period of time. Kibbutz Ulpan is a five-month multi-level language program which combines studying Hebrew with the unique experience of becoming part of a rural Israeli community, living and working alongside locals on a Kibbutz. The program also combines tourists who are in Israel on a temporary basis, with young new immigrants to Israel, as one group.

Location: Various locations around Israel 

Ready to learn more Hebrew and Yiddish differences? Learn to speak them first!

You’ll be so glad that you learned the differences between Yiddish and Hebrew.

By failing to distinguish between Hebrew and Yiddish, an entire culture and memory of a people is silenced and left untold. Inadvertently merging the two languages into one encourages the misconception that Hebrew and Yiddish are the same language. This leads to a domination of one language, Hebrew, and a lack of awareness and appreciation for the Jewish life in places such as Poland, Romania, and Russia, and the traditions created by their culture. Both languages are important to the history of the Jewish people, and both should be appreciated.

I will admit that before I took Yiddish in college, I, too, had always thought that Yiddish was simply an equal combination of Hebrew and German, leaning towards the Hebrew side. We need to work towards eliminating the unknown about these two languages. What better way to learn these languages, to truly develop an understanding of the differences between Yiddish and Hebrew, than by experiencing them in the places they were created and heavily spoken? 

Yiddish is not a version of Hebrew, and Hebrew is not a version of Yiddish — they both should exist as individual, valued languages. Spending quality time abroad immersed in these languages is a great chance to grow an appreciation for what each language means.

KAHAL Your Jewish Home Abroad is a non-profit organization which connects Jewish students studying abroad to Jewish opportunities, resources and connections abroad. KAHAL aims to create meaningful Jewish experiences for study abroad students, allowing them to interact with local Jewish communities and deepen their Jewish identities. Wherever students travel, KAHAL arranges chances to attend Shabbat dinners, meet Jewish students, attend holiday meals, volunteer and advocate, and provides grant funding and travel assistance.