PENNSYLVANIA DUTCH GLOSSARY

ab im koff—off in the head, crazy

ach—oh!

aenti—aunt

boppli—baby

bruder—brother

daadi haus—grandparents’ house, usually a smaller dwelling on the same property

daed—dad

danki—thank you

Die Botschaft—Amish newspaper; translated it means “The Message”

dochder—daughter

Englisch, Englischer—a non-Amish person

fraa—wife

Gott—God

gut—good

haus—house

kaffi—coffee

kapp—prayer covering or cap

kinner—children

maedel—girl

mamm—mom

mei—my

mudder—mother

nee—no

Ordnung—the written and unwritten rules of the Amish; the understood behavior by which the Amish are expected to live, passed down from generation to generation. Most Amish know the rules by heart.

Pennsylvania Deitsch—the language most commonly used by the Amish. Although widely known as Pennsylvania Dutch, the language is actually a form of German (Deutsch).

rumschpringe—running-around period when a teenager turns sixteen years old

sohn—son

Wie bischt—How are you? or Hi there

wunderbaar—wonderful

ya—yes