Catchword: vuzvuz

Filed under: Hebrew, Religion, Derogatory

Part of speech: n.

Quotation: Speaking of pejoratives, have you heard the term “vuzvuz” applied to Ashkenazim? Apparently derived from the frequent use of “vus? vus?” in Yiddish. I am not sure that there is any real insult attached to this, though. I often say to people who ask about my origins: Ani? Ani vuzvuz. For that matter, some of my Sephardic friends and colleagues often refer to themselves as frenkim. Perhaps the insult has worn off and all that is left is the wry humour?

Article or document title:
“frenk” (URL)

Author:
AJ Gilboa

Article, document, publication, web site:
Mendele: Yiddish literature and language

Date of publication:
July 22, 1998

This cite belongs to a full entry for vuzvuz.