Vos — Your First Yiddish Word
Learn the most important question word in Yiddish — vos (what). Understand how it works in simple sentences and start your first conversation.
Vocabulary
The most common question word. Pronounced with a short 'o' like in English 'boss'.
Look up in dictionary →Neuter definite article and demonstrative pronoun. One of the three Yiddish genders.
Look up in dictionary →Used for feminine singular and all plural nouns.
Look up in dictionary →Masculine definite article. Only used with masculine singular nouns.
Look up in dictionary →Grammar Notes
Word Order
Yiddish uses Subject-Verb-Object word order, just like English. Questions formed with vos place it at the start: Vos iz dos? = What is this?
The Verb 'iz'
איז (iz) is the third-person singular form of זײַן (zayn) — to be. It stays the same regardless of gender: der tish iz, di tir iz, dos bukh iz.
Grammatical Gender
Yiddish has three genders: masculine (דער), feminine (די), neuter (דאָס). Unlike German, Yiddish gender is often predictable from the noun ending. Do not worry about memorizing gender now — just notice it.
Practice Sentences
Exercises
What does 'Vos iz dayn nomen?' mean?
Cultural Note
Yiddish is written in the Hebrew alphabet but is a Germanic language, not a Semitic one. It evolved from Middle High German with Hebrew-Aramaic and Slavic influences. About 75% of Yiddish vocabulary is Germanic, 20% Hebrew-Aramaic, and 5% Slavic. The word 'vos' comes directly from Middle High German 'waz' — compare to modern German 'was'.