Yiddish For Beginners

Capital Languages' mission is to record the minority languages and dialects of the world, and create basic learning materials for students to use. Yiddish is a 1,000-year-old West Germanic language historically spoken by Ashkenazi Jews. Originating in the Rhine Valley, it is a fusion of medieval High German, Hebrew, Aramaic, and Slavic languages. Today, Yiddish is primarily spoken by an estimated 500,000 to 1 million people worldwide. It thrives as a first language in many Orthodox and Hasidic Jewish communities, where it is utilised in the home, schools, and yeshivas. There is also a broader global revival in secular Yiddish studies, culture, and literature led by institutions like the YIVO Institute for Jewish Research.