אויף

Yiddish

Alternative forms

• אַף (af)

Etymology

From Middle High German ūf, from Old High German ūf, from Proto-Germanic *upp.

Pronunciation

• (YIVO) IPA^(key): /af/
• (Northeastern) IPA^(key): /af/
• (Mideastern) IPA^(key): /ɔf/, /ʌf/

Preposition

אויף • (oyf) (contracted dem-form אויפֿן (oyfn))

1. on, upon
2. in (a language)

   ווי אַזוי זאָגט מען „אוי“ אויף ענגליש?

   vi azoy zogt men „oy“ oyf english?

   So how do you say "oy" in English?

3. at (an occasion)
4. by (a unit; multiplication)
5. for (a time or purpose)

Usage notes

• Although some works will transliterate this word according to its pronunciation (for example, as af), YIVO recommends that it always be transliterated according to its spelling as oyf. The term is nonetheless typically transliterated as af in non-American works, such as the JNW (Yiddish-Dutch Dictionary) and the Yiddish-Belarusian Dictionary.

Derived terms

• אויג אויף אויג (oyg oyf oyg, “face to face, privately”)

References

• Justus van de Kamp et al., “אויף” in Jiddisch-Nederlands Woordenboek [Yiddish-Dutch Dictionary], Amsterdam: Stichting Jiddische Lexicografie, 1987-present (ongoing). [1].
• Dovid Katz, Yiddish Cultural Dictionary (link)