Oh Chanukah - Alternate Yiddish Versions and Pronunciations

Alternate Yiddish Versions and Pronunciations

A very common Yiddish version of the song is below with alternate words, lines, verses, or pronunciations on the right. The bolded words are what is changed. The "(x2)" in the bottom left indicated that part is repeated.

A common version Alternate words Alternate pronunciations (see Yiddish regional dialects)
Oy Chanukah, Oy Chanukah a yontif a sheyner,
  • Sometimes the first "Oy" is omitted, which it also is sometimes done in English versions.
A lustiker; a freylekher; nisht do nokh azeyner. A lustiker; a freylikher; nito nokh azoyner.
  • "Azeyner" is sometimes pronounced "azoyner," esp. in standard Yiddish.
  • "Nisht do" and "nito" are dialectic variants.
Ale nakht in dreydlekh, Ale nakht mit dreydlekh,
  • Dialectical variant.
Shpiln mir, frishe heyse latkes, esn on a shir. Shpiln mir, zudik heyse latkes, esn on a shir.
  • "Zudik" means "boiling hot."
Shpiln mir, frishe heyse latkes, est on a shir.
  • "Est" is the imperative form.
Geshvinder, tsindt kinder,

Di Chanukah likhtlekh on,

 Geshvinder, tsindt kinder,

Di dininke likhtlekh on,
Kumt kinder, geshvinder,

Di Chanukah likhtlekh veln mir ontsindn,
  • Syntactic rearrangement.
Alternate verses
(x2) Zingt "Al Hanisim",

Zol yeder bazunder
Bazingen dem vunder
Un tantsen freylekh in kon.

 Mir zingen "Al Hanisim"
Un danken far di nisim, Mir danken far di nisim,
Tantsen far di nisim
Un kumt gikher tantsen in kohn. Lomir ale tantsen tsuzamen.

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