The New York City School Board has officially declared Jewish English a second language. Backers of the move say the district is the first in the nation to recognize Hebonics as the language of many American Jews. Look for other cities to follow suit, notably Miami Beach, Los Angeles and Scarsdale.
In Hebonics, questions are always answered with questions:
Question: "How do you feel?"
Hebonics response: "How should I feel?"
The subject also is often placed at the end of a sentence after a pronoun has been used at the beginning. For example, "She dances beautifully, that girl."
The sarcastic repetition of words by adding "sh" to the front is used for emphasis: mountains becomes "shmountains"; turtle becomes shmurtle." The two words are then often used together as in mountains shmountains and turtle shmurtle.
These following common phrases were translated from Standard English:
English: "He walks slowly."
Hebonics: "Like a fly in Vaseline he walks."
English: "Sorry, I don't know the time.
Hebonics: "What do I look like, a clock?"
English: "I hope things turn out okay."
Hebonics: "You should BE so lucky!"
English: "I see you're wearing one of the ties I gave you."
Hebonics: "What's the matter, the other tie you didn't like?
English: "She's a very pretty girl."
Hebonics: "She could stand to gain a few pounds."
English: "May I take your plate, sir?"
Hebonics: "You've hardly touched your food. What's the matter, you didn't like it?"
English: "It's been so long since you've called."
Hebonics: "You didn't wonder if I'm dead yet?"
English: "Let's go riding."
Hebonics: "Riding, shmiding! Do I look like a cowboy?"
English: "It's a nice day."
Hebonics: "At least it's not raining."
English: "Happy birthday."
Hebonics: "You should only become a year smarter."
English: "I feel good."
Hebonics: "Things could be a lot worse."
English: "Happy New Year!"
Hebonics: "Another year, God willing!"