House, M.D. trivia question: Besides English, to what language does Dr. Gregory House (Hugh Laurie) gravitate most? Answer: Yiddish.
Over the seasons, House has used Spanish, Latin, Greek, Mandarin Chinese, Hindi, even Portuguese. It seems he’s quite the polyglot! However, he uses more Yiddish (and Hebrew) expressions than those of any other languages. He’s clearly not Jewish. Although fellow Taub (Peter Jacobson), best friend Wilson (Robert Sean Leonard) and new love Cuddy (Lisa
Edelstein) are, they rarely (if ever) have uttered even a word of the colorful, yet nearly forgotten, language. Perhaps he likes the fact that Yiddish is a very expressive language: very descriptive and occasionally lyrical. And lots of Yiddishisms have made their way into modern American speech: chutzpah, schlemiel (and its partner, shlamazel), schmuck, yenta, to name but a few.
I once asked a couple of the show’s writer/executive producers (Russel Friend and Garrett Lerner) how House seems to know so much Yiddish. They laughed (at me or with me—I’m not sure which) and reminded me about how many of the House writers are Jewish! “Is it any wonder?” they asked.
And now that House is involved with the Jewish Lisa Cuddy (Lisa Edelstein), his use of Yiddishisms may even increase (since he often uses Yiddish to tease—even mock). So, as a service to my loyal readers (and anyone else within the range of my writing), I present this little Yiddish-English House, M.D. glossary. Enjoy!
Mazel Tov (House pronounces it “mazel toff”). Technically this expression means “good luck” in Yiddish. But it is far more often employed as “congratulations,” and is a Yiddishism that long ago found its way into American speech. And the fact that House says “mazel tov” from time to time isn’t, itself, noteworthy. Even Foreman has said it. (Trivia question: when?) What’s noteworthy is that House uses it frequently (more trivia: which episodes?) and with relish—and much more frequently than either of two Jewish characters on the show.
Kein ahora (pronounced: ken-ahora). In Histories (1x10), House is doing his invasive best to find out why Wilson is so interested in a homeless patient—and why Foreman is being so hard on her. Telling Wilson he’s learned that Foreman’s parents have been married 40 years, Wilson utters a sarcastic “mazel tov.” House comes back with “kein ahora.” It is the first time we hear House use Yiddish, and despite the ease (and correct way) he sayss it, I was surprised (and delighted). “Kein ahora,” unlike “mazel tov” would be a rather obscure expression to the uninitiated. It’s a variant on “kein einahora” (literally “without the evil eye). House uses the expression correctly; in Jewish culture, no word of congratulation or praise should go unmitigated by an additional word or two to ward off the evil eye. For example, if House said to Cuddy’s mother that granddaughter Rachel was gorgeous, Cuddy’s mom would likely respond “kein ahora.”
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Article comments
— go to most recent comments1 - Milena
I think Foreman said Mazel Tov in season's five Joy.
2 - savtaof5
Barbara - You did a great job with this piece and I really enjoyed reading it! Yashar Koach!
3 - ruthinor
Very nice article (and I say this as an agnostic Jew who remembers a lot of my very long ago family discussions, when they didn't want us to understand!). But if he starts season 7 with the yiddish version of "you should grow like an onion",,,,,I will begin to wonder!
I saw an interview with Stephan Fry several months ago in which he stated that he has several strikes against him (or words to that effect) i.e. he's Jewish, gay and bipolar. I wonder if HL could have picked up any yiddish or Hebrew from him.
For NCIS fans (I believe it is, although extremely popular, very underrated by critics), I am constantly amazed at the linguistic ability of Cote de Pablo. To my ear, her Hebrew sounds very authentic, especially for a South American trained by nuns. She also has handled a number of other languages, just like House.
4 - barbara barnett
Ruthinor--I'm certainly no Yiddish maven myself! I do remember my parents and grandparents using the language as their sort of super-secret language us kids couldn't understand. Maybe that's how it got lost!
5 - Cristiana
Thank you for this. I re-watched every episode you quoted (well parts of it) just to hear the words.
Thanks to House I started saying "mazel tov" more frequently and it seems that it will not be the only yiddish I'll be saying.
While re-watching the Don't Ever Change episode he also refers Mikvah: "You can tell all the ladies at the Mikvah about this." while confirming his diagnosis.
Once again thank you for doing these articles about House.
6 - sherlockjr
Loved this! Would have been a great chapter in your book!
7 - Barbara barnett
Thanks guys. Sherlock, I agree. It would have been a good chapter. I have a short chapter on house and language, but not Yiddish specifically. Hey, I had to leave some material for the blog ;)
8 - savtaof5
Cristiana - Good catch of Mikvah reference in Don't Ever Change.
To correct my own earlier posting, it should have read yashar kocheich which means good job in Hebrew.
9 - RJW
Didn't Foreman tell Taub "Mazel Tov" when Taub announced that his wife was allowing him to see another woman in "Open and Shut'?
BTW,I'm a first time poster,and a big fan of your column,Barbara!
10 - barbara barmett
Hey, RJW--I believe you are right! And he said it almost as a question :)
So glad you posted. Welcome to the fray.
11 - Susan
I've always noticed when House used Yiddish or Jewish expressions and comments but now I'm really looking for them.
Here are a few more:
In the "Right Stuff" he says "shmoozing".
In "Knight Fall" he comes into the room with a big sword and says , "Filling in for Rabbi Shmuel at the Goldstein bris".
In "Ugly" he says to Taub, "You get a gold Star of David".
In the episode with LL Cool J he mentions "J-Date" to Cuddy.
I hope the writers of the show will one day mention how House knows more Yiddish than the average Jew, plus obscure references to the number 613 (in the sperm donor episode) and how he knows the translation of "Eshet Chayil".
Besides the fact that many of the writers are Jewish, and the post
by Ruthinor about Stephen Fry being Jewish, I have a feeling that Hugh Laurie's wife could be Jewish - her name is Jo Green, and in their wedding picture she looked Jewish to me. (Unscientific I know, but ........)Maybe he learned from her.........
12 - Susan
Just remembered , in "Don't Ever Change" he calls the woman "Mental Yentl".
13 - barbara barmett
Susan, thanks for your contributions. I knew I'd forgotten some of those--I knew he'd used "bris" and forgotten where. Schmooze is such a common term, it almost doesn't count:)
14 - ruthinor
I remember hearing, quite a while ago, that if an alien ever came to earth, the first language he/she/it would understand would be yiddish because so many of the words sound like what they mean! For some reason when I think of Stephan Fry or other Brit speaking yiddish, it just doesn't seem "kosher". I can't imagine Hugh Laurie speaking yiddish, but with American House, it seems fine.
Also, if you go back through the episodes, I'm not surprised that House knows so much about the Jewish religion. Even though he's an atheist, he studies all religions...perhaps so he can argue with any religious person regardless of their faith!
15 - Jo (housian daze)
Great article Barbara - just as a little side dish to this, I have a copy of the Three Stories script. David Shore gives this description of the 3 medical students that speak in the lecture:
"In some ways these three represent younger versions of Cameron, Chase and Foreman...alternatively, given the season, they match up to the four sons asking questions on Passover (leaving out the 'one who doesn't know how to ask'),"
16 - barbara barnett
Jo, I knew that but didn't mention it. (It's more a Shore thing than a House thing). Thanks for sharing that!
17 - Meg
I am very impressed Barbara!
as an episcopalian, my knowledge of Judaism is a bit limited compared to Catholisism or Protestantism...but I'm working on it.
and your article really helped figure out the meaning of some significant moments on House on a whole new level. I will pay even more attention to the Yiddish next time it comes up on the show now or when I rewatch those episodes.
for some reason, Ive always been attracted to anything Jewish. I guess it goes back to the history lessons I got as a teen in European school and the need to understand what happened with WW2 and why since Im only 28. I find this culture and the old language and the traditions very strong and rich. every time I come to the US, Im amazed and pleased to find these element more present in the community.
Ive always done some research when I felt the need to go further after watching an episode of House so I figured some meaning by myself but having your take on this is as always enlightening and very educational.
thank you!
@Megabby
18 - Eli
What original article!
You must add it to your book!
19 - barbara barmett
Eli--Too late for this book! It's already at the printers. Maybe next time :) Thanks!
20 - ruthinor
I recall at the end of an episode, House says "Shabat shalom" Wilson, and Wilson says it back to him. Sorry, can't remember which episode!
21 - barbara barnett
That was Don't Ever Change.
22 - Jackie
House says "Oh vey" when he sees June Quinn and Peter Graves (the elderly couple) near the end of season one's "Love Hurts" episode.
23 - DebbieJ.
What an enjoyable, interesting and educational article, Barbara!
Knowing no line or dialogue is a throw away line on House, it was very interesting to learn about the reference when leaning toward a recording studio as the place where the patient was, House asks “Why is this building different than all other buildings?” equates to the question asked during the Passover Seder: “Why is this night different than all other nights?”
Thank you, Barbara! This was fun.
24 - Kathy
The use of Yiddish on House only half-registers with me, probably because I use so much of it myself (I'll look at our Basset Hound and tell her that she's 'such a shana punim'). I'm an Irish Catholic, originally from northern NJ, where Yiddishisms are common (they're also common on sports talk radio in the NYC metro area). So when House uses them, it just seems like a normal and natural part of a conversation.
25 - ruthinor
I thought this might fit nicely here. It's one of the best interviews with LE I've read. Someone actually asked intelligent questions!