PENNSYLVANIA DUTCH GLOSSARY

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aamen—amen

ab im kopp—off in the head; crazy

ach—oh

aenti—aunt

baremlich—terrible

boppli—baby or babies

bruder—brother

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

daed—dad

danki—thank you

die Botschaft—The Message

Englisch—a non-Amish person

fraa—wife

gut—good

haus—house

kaffi—coffee

kapp—prayer covering or cap

kinner—children

maedel—girl

mamm—mom

mammi—grandmother

mei—my

meidung—shunning

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 commonly 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?

ya—yes

yummasetti—a traditional Pennsylvania Dutch casserole