Learn Pennsylvania DutchFeatured and past Words of the Week
Regret verb = shpeida
Regret noun = regret (use the English word)
Regrets noun = di regrets plural
When talking about good news or bad news we hear or read about, the English phrases good news and bad news are clear and quickly understandable.
💡It’s common for native Pennsylvania Dutch speakers to toss in an English phrase here and there in the middle of a Deitsh sentence.
Good news noun = di good news (common)
Bad news noun = di bad news (common)
Using di good news when talking about good news from the Bible is also clear.
di good news veyyich da Jesus
di good news funn di Bivvel
Goodi sacha is a theocratic term that will need to be explained more. It’s okay to use it when talking about things from the Bible. Just be prepared to explain when talking to Deitshi leit (native Deitsh speakers).
Memorial (or ’S Ohdenkes) Words
Here are a few common words that are used when talking about the Memorial of Christ’s Death (also known as ’s Ohdenkes or ’s Nachtmohl).
These articles may also be helpful to find phrases involving the Memorial and Jesus’ death:
The format of the midweek meetings were updated in January 2024, and with that, some of the names of the sections and parts have been adjusted. This means that some of the translated Deitsh names have been updated as well.
Most native Pennsylvania Dutch speakers will understand both the words patient and geduldich. But when would it be best to each?
Patience noun (the quality)
Patient adj (what someone is or can become)
Patiently adv = patiently (how someone does something)
Ich binn am patiently voahra biss ich healthy binn.
💡 Patience, patient, patiently can also give idea of endurance (continuing on with something hard to deal with).
What’s the difference between the Deitsh words shpringa and shprenga?
Both of the words shpringa and shprenga are verbs (action words) that mean to run.
Shpringa verb = to run (as in movement, or to work and function)
Shprenga verb = to run (as in to operate something else)
Use shpringa when you’re talking about running (movement).
Ich shtay uf free meiyets so’s ich shpringa kann.
’S hutshli shpringd.
You can also use shpringa when you’re talking about something that is operating (working/running).
’Sis gans laut koss di generator am shpringa is.
Use shprenga when you’re talking about operating something else—usually a piece of equipment or a machine.
Da Colton is di generator am shprenga.
See shprengd’s vesha machine Moondawks.
Du bisht dei maul am shprenga!
…
Is there more than one way to say ‘yes’ in Pennsylvania Dutch? Yes, actually.
The most common way you’ll say yes in Pennsylvania Dutch is yau.
Yau means exactly what you’d expect it to mean—yes. Use yau when answering questions. It’s uncomplicated, and the opposite of nay (no).
While yo also means yes, knowing when and how to use yo is trickier and depends on the conversation.
… knowing when and how to use yo is trickier and depends on the conversation.
Let’s look at 2 of the most common ways to use yo in a Pennsylvania Dutch conversation.
In some areas, yo is used to emphasize yes—as in, definitely yes. It can be used either in response to a question, or to a statement you really agree with.
Vitt samm ice cream?
Yo, ich du!
Eah is reeli am vaxa.
Yo, yo, yo.
You can also use yo for yes when responding to a question or statement that the other person assumes the answer to is no. Probably the closest to English would be: actually yes.
Person 1: ’Sis am shnaya grawt nau. Du bisht nett am do hivva kumma, gell?
Person 2: Yo. Ich zayl glei datt sei.
In the example, person 1 doesn’t expect person 2 to be coming over since it’s snowing. However, person 2 says the equivalent of, “Actually, yes. I will be there soon.”
Another example:
Person 1: Da Henry shaft nett heit, gell?
Person 2: Yo. Eah shaft biss middawk.
Again, person 1 thought Henry wasn’t working today. But person 2 says that actually (yes), he works until lunch.
As you can imagine, this use of yo is pretty limited and you probably won’t use it very often. But it’s good to know in case you hear someone else say it to you.
Both nevlich and dufftich are adjectives (description words) that mean foggy.
Foggy adj = nevlich (when speaking about the weather)
Foggy adj = dufftich (as in fogged up; glasses, windows, etc)
Use nevlich (foggy) when you’re talking about the weather—when it’s foggy outside and hard to see.
’Sis gans nevlich dimeiya.
’Sis am reiyra draus un nevlich dimeiya.
On the other hand, use dufftich (foggy) when talking about an object that is fogged up; usually from steam or a difference in temperature—such as glass, windows, mirror, or eyeglasses.
Dufftich can also be used jokingly:
Mei brain is dufftich dimeiya.
view / have opinion verb = mayna (to have a set opinion or view about something)
Dayl leit mayna es si immah recht sinn.
view verb = ohgukka (to look at something a certain way; perhaps even by comparing)
Boviah sacha ohgukka vi anri doon.
view noun = da view (an opinion or viewpoint)
Avvah, sell is da letz view.
While all three words look the same in English, mayna is a verb that refers to the action of having a certain (usually set or established) view or opinion about something.
Ohgukka is also a verb, but means to look at something a certain way; perhaps considering and comparing things.
On the other hand, da view is a noun that refers to the viewpoint or opinion itself.