Glossary

aenti—aunt

allrecht—all right

boppli—baby

bopplin—babies

braut—bride

breidicham—bridegroom

bruder—brother

bu—boy

buwe—boys

Daedi—Daddy

danki—thank you

dat—father

dawdi haus—a small home added to or near the main house into which the farmer moves after passing the farm and main house to one of his children

Deitsch—Pennsylvania German

dippy eggs—over-easy eggs

dochder—daughter

en alt maedel—an old maid

Englisch, Englischer—what the Amish call a non-Amish person

familye—family

fraa—wife

grossdaadi—grandfather

guder mariye—good morning

gut—good

hungerich—hungry

kapp—prayer covering or cap worn by girls and women

kind—child

kinskind—grandchild

kinner—children

kumm—come

lieb—love, a term of endearment

maedel—young single woman

mamm—mom

mann—husband

mudder—mother

nacht—night

nee—no

onkel—uncle

Ordnung—The rules of the Amish, both written and unwritten. Certain behavior has been expected within the Amish community for many, many years. These rules vary from community to community, but the most common are to have no electricity in the home, to not own or drive a car.

roasht—roast, a stuffing or dressing side dish made of cubes of bread, chopped celery, and onion

rumschpringe—time period when teenagers are allowed to experience the Englisch world while deciding if they should join the church

schul—school

schur—sure

schwardochder—daughter-in-law

schwemudder—mother-in-law

schweschder—sister

sohn—son

wilkumm—welcome

wittfraa—widow

wunderbaar—wonderful

ya—yes

zwillingboppli—twin

zwillingbopplin—twins

  

Note: While there are many similarities between Amish communities around the country, each community makes its own rules. The Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, Amish community allows cell phones, while some other Amish communities limit or ban them.