`lib/moderation/acceptable-terms.json`

158 lines
{
  "version": "1.0",
  "lastUpdated": "2025-11-19",
  "description": "Acceptable Yiddish terms and phrases that Bubbe can safely use",
  "terms": [
    {
      "term": "meshugana",
      "variants": ["meshuga", "meshugge", "meshuggeneh"],
      "meaning": "Crazy, silly, or nonsensical",
      "usage": "Safe term for describing silly behavior"
    },
    {
      "term": "schmuck",
      "variants": ["shmuck"],
      "meaning": "Foolish person",
      "usage": "Mild insult, acceptable in casual context"
    },
    {
      "term": "putz",
      "variants": ["puts"],
      "meaning": "Fool, simpleton",
      "usage": "Mild insult, commonly used"
    },
    {
      "term": "schmendrick",
      "variants": ["shmendrik"],
      "meaning": "Ineffectual, foolish person",
      "usage": "Mild, humorous insult"
    },
    {
      "term": "nudnik",
      "variants": ["nudnick"],
      "meaning": "Annoying person, pest",
      "usage": "Mild term for someone bothersome"
    },
    {
      "term": "kvetch",
      "variants": ["kvetching", "kvetcher"],
      "meaning": "To complain",
      "usage": "Common, acceptable term"
    },
    {
      "term": "bubbeleh",
      "variants": ["bubeleh", "bubbele"],
      "meaning": "Term of endearment, sweetie",
      "usage": "Affectionate term"
    },
    {
      "term": "mamaleh",
      "variants": ["mamele"],
      "meaning": "Little mother, dear",
      "usage": "Affectionate term"
    },
    {
      "term": "oy vey",
      "variants": ["oy vay", "oi vey"],
      "meaning": "Expression of dismay or exasperation",
      "usage": "Common expression"
    },
    {
      "term": "oy gevalt",
      "variants": ["oy gevald"],
      "meaning": "Oh my God, expression of alarm",
      "usage": "Strong expression of surprise"
    },
    {
      "term": "feh",
      "variants": ["feh!"],
      "meaning": "Expression of disgust",
      "usage": "Common dismissive expression"
    },
    {
      "term": "plotzing",
      "variants": ["plotz", "platz"],
      "meaning": "Bursting with emotion",
      "usage": "Describing overwhelming feelings"
    },
    {
      "term": "chutzpah",
      "variants": ["hutzpah", "chutzpa"],
      "meaning": "Audacity, nerve",
      "usage": "Can be positive or negative"
    },
    {
      "term": "mishegoss",
      "variants": ["mishigas", "mishegaas"],
      "meaning": "Craziness, nonsense",
      "usage": "Describing absurd situations"
    },
    {
      "term": "schmutz",
      "variants": ["shmutz"],
      "meaning": "Dirt, filth",
      "usage": "Common term for messiness"
    },
    {
      "term": "tchotchke",
      "variants": ["tshotshke", "chachka"],
      "meaning": "Knick-knack, trinket",
      "usage": "Small decorative object"
    },
    {
      "term": "schvitz",
      "variants": ["shvitz", "schvitzing"],
      "meaning": "To sweat",
      "usage": "Common term"
    },
    {
      "term": "nosh",
      "variants": ["noshing", "nosher"],
      "meaning": "To snack, light meal",
      "usage": "Common food-related term"
    },
    {
      "term": "schlep",
      "variants": ["schlepping", "shlepping"],
      "meaning": "To drag, carry with effort",
      "usage": "Common term for tedious travel/carrying"
    },
    {
      "term": "schmooze",
      "variants": ["shmooze", "schmoozing"],
      "meaning": "To chat, network socially",
      "usage": "Common social term"
    },
    {
      "term": "mensch",
      "variants": ["mentsh"],
      "meaning": "A good, honorable person",
      "usage": "Positive term, compliment"
    },
    {
      "term": "bupkis",
      "variants": ["bubkis", "bupkes"],
      "meaning": "Nothing, very little",
      "usage": "Common expression"
    },
    {
      "term": "farklempt",
      "variants": ["verklempt", "farklempt"],
      "meaning": "Overcome with emotion",
      "usage": "Describing being choked up"
    },
    {
      "term": "schmaltz",
      "variants": ["shmaltz"],
      "meaning": "Excessive sentimentality",
      "usage": "Can also mean chicken fat"
    },
    {
      "term": "chew down",
      "variants": ["chewing down"],
      "meaning": "To scold or verbally wear someone down; to bargain hard",
      "usage": "Yiddish-inflected American slang, safe when used for scolding or bargaining context",
      "notes": "Not traditional Yiddish but acceptable Jewish-American vernacular"
    }
  ]
}