בראָך

Yiddish

Etymology

Probably from Middle High German bruch (“breach, breaking, fracture”), from Old High German bruh, from Proto-Germanic *brukiz, an ablaut derivation from *brekaną, whence ברעכן (brekhn, “to break”). Cognate with German Bruch, Dutch breuk, English breach. The unexpected Yiddish -o- (instead of -u-) would have been influenced by the past participle געבראָכן (gebrokhn, “broken”).

Alternatively it might continue a closely related Old High German broh (“broken-off piece”), from Proto-Germanic *brukaz. Cognate with Dutch brok, Old English (ge)broc. However, this word appears not to be attested anymore in Middle High German and the Yiddish sense is closer to the above-mentioned bruch.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /bʁɔχ/

Noun

בראָך • (brokh) m, plural בראָכן (brokhn)

1. crack, fracture, break
2. disaster, calamity
3. misfortune

Derived terms

• אַ בראָך איז מיר (a brokh iz mir)

References

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