ach jah – oh yeah
Ausbund – the Amish hymnal used in worship services
baremlich – terrible
bobbel / boppli – baby
bobblin – babies
daed – dad
fraa – wife
Grundsatzen – affirmations of beliefs in the Amish church
gut – good
gute mariye – good morning
haus – house
Herr Gott – God
liebchen – term of endearment, my love
maemm – mom
mammi – mommy
mann – husband
redd up – “ready up,” get ready
rutsching around – fooling around
schmunzla – kissing and cuddling
wunderbar / wunderlich – wonderful"Blowing at the smoke
doesn't help if the chimney is plugged."
"If you want a place in the sun, you will
have to expect some blisters."
Human Nature & Faults:
"
Every mother crow thinks her own little crow is the blackest."
"
Mentioning the faults of others does not rid us of our own."
"
Even a clever hen will lay outside the nest." (Meaning even the best make mistakes)
Simplicity & Wisdom:
"A clear conscience is a soft pillow."
"Remember, when you talk, you only repeat what you already know; if you
listen, you might learn something."
"In every path there is a puddle."
Patience & Perspective:
"Difficulty is a miracle in its first stage."
"The trouble with doing nothing
is it's too hard to tell when you're finishedFunny Amish sayings often
use simple, rural imagery with deep wisdom, focusing on humility, hard work, and community, like "Forbidden
fruit creates many jams," "If you aim at nothing, you're bound to hit it,"
or "The trouble with doing nothing
is it's too hard to tell when you're finished". These humorous proverbs
offer life lessons through relatable
scenarios, often in Pennsylvania Dutch, highlighting simple truths about human nature and faith.
TracyCleveland77
