maamar / מאמר

Pronunciation: mah-ah-MAR
Definition: Discourse; teaching.
Example: “In a maamar…”
Origin: Hebrew
Also spelled: mamar

maaseh / מעשה

Pronunciation: mah-ah-SEH
Definition: Action; deed; story.
Example: “Bring it into maaseh.”
Origin: Hebrew
Also spelled: ma’aseh

machlokes / מחלוקת

Pronunciation: makh-LOH-kes
Definition: Dispute; disagreement.
Example: “There’s a machlokes.”
Origin: Hebrew/Yiddish
Also spelled: machloket

machmir / מחמיר

Pronunciation: makh-MEER
Definition: Strict; stringent.
Example: “He is machmir.”
Origin: Hebrew

machshavah / מחשבה

Pronunciation: mahkh-shah-VAH
Definition: Thought.
Example: “Machshavah shapes experience.”
Origin: Hebrew
Also spelled: machshava

madrega / מדרגה

Pronunciation: mah-DREH-gah
Definition: Level.
Example: “That’s a high madrega.”
Origin: Hebrew/Yiddish
Also spelled: madreigah

madreigos / מדרגות

Pronunciation: mah-DRAY-gohs
Definition: Levels.
Example: “There are many madreigos.”
Origin: Hebrew/Yiddish
Also spelled: madreigot

maggid shiur / מגיד שיעור

Pronunciation: MAH-gid SHEE-ur
Definition: Teacher who gives a shiur.
Example: “The maggid shiur explained.”
Origin: Hebrew
Also spelled: magid shiur

mahalach / מהלך

Pronunciation: mah-hah-LAKH
Definition: Approach; line of reasoning.
Example: “The Maharal has a different mahalach.”
Origin: Hebrew
Also spelled: mehalech

maharal / מהר״ל

Pronunciation: mah-hah-RAHL
Definition: Rabbi Judah Loew of Prague.
Example: “The Maharal explains…”
Origin: Acronym

mamash / ממש

Pronunciation: MAH-mish
Definition: Really; literally; truly.
Example: “This is mamash the point.”
Origin: Hebrew/Yiddish
Also spelled: mamish

mamash gevaldig / ממש געוואַלדיק

Pronunciation: mah-MISH guh-VAL-dig
Definition: Really amazing.
Example: “This piece is mamash gevaldig.”
Origin: Yiddish/Hebrew

mamash in our lives / ממש בחיים שלנו

Pronunciation: mah-MISH in our lives
Definition: Really practical personally.
Example: “This is mamash in our lives.”
Origin: Yeshivish phrase

mamash nogeia / ממש נוגע

Pronunciation: mah-MISH noh-GAY-ah
Definition: Very relevant.
Example: “This is mamash nogeia today.”
Origin: Yeshivish phrase

mamash not pashut / ממש נישט פשוט

Pronunciation: mah-MISH not PAH-shoot
Definition: Really not simple.
Example: “This is mamash not pashut.”
Origin: Yeshivish phrase

mamash taka / ממש טאַקע

Pronunciation: mah-MISH TAH-kah
Definition: Really indeed.
Example: “Mamash taka, amazing.”
Origin: Yeshivish

mamash the opposite / ממש להפך

Pronunciation: mah-MISH the opposite
Definition: Exactly reversed.
Example: “It’s mamash the opposite.”
Origin: Yeshivish phrase

mamashkeit / ממשות

Pronunciation: mah-MISH-kite
Definition: Reality; substance.
Example: “It has mamashkeit.”
Origin: Yiddish from Hebrew
Also spelled: mamishkeit

mareh makom / מראה מקום

Pronunciation: MAH-reh mah-KOHM
Definition: Source reference.
Example: “Send me the mareh makom.”
Origin: Hebrew
Also spelled: mareh mekomos

mashal / משל

Pronunciation: MAH-shahl
Definition: Parable; example.
Example: “The Baal Shem Tov gives a mashal.”
Origin: Hebrew
Also spelled: moshol

mashgiach / משגיח

Pronunciation: mash-GEE-akh
Definition: Spiritual supervisor; mentor.
Example: “The mashgiach spoke.”
Origin: Hebrew
Also spelled: mashgiach ruchani

mashma / משמע

Pronunciation: MASH-mah
Definition: Implies; sounds like.
Example: “It’s mashma from Rashi…”
Origin: Aramaic
Also spelled: mashmah

mashmaus / משמעות

Pronunciation: mash-MAH-us
Definition: Meaning; implication.
Example: “The mashmaus is…”
Origin: Hebrew/Yiddish
Also spelled: mashma’ut

mashpia / משפיע

Pronunciation: mash-PEE-ah
Definition: Spiritual mentor; giver of influence.
Example: “Ask your mashpia.”
Origin: Hebrew/Chabad usage
Also spelled: mashpiah

mehalech hanefesh / מהלך הנפש

Pronunciation: meh-HAH-lekh hah-NEH-fesh
Definition: Inner psychological process.
Example: “The mehalech hanefesh is…”
Origin: Hebrew

meikel / מקיל

Pronunciation: MAY-kel
Definition: Lenient.
Example: “Some are meikel.”
Origin: Hebrew

mekabel / מקבל

Pronunciation: meh-KAH-bel
Definition: Receiver; student.
Example: “A person must be a mekabel.”
Origin: Hebrew

mekor / מקור

Pronunciation: meh-KOR
Definition: Source.
Example: “What’s the mekor?”
Origin: Hebrew
Also spelled: makor

mesorah / מסורה

Pronunciation: meh-SOH-rah
Definition: Tradition; transmission.
Example: “Our mesorah is…”
Origin: Hebrew
Also spelled: mesora

middos / מידות

Pronunciation: MEE-dohs
Definition: Character traits.
Example: “Work on the middos.”
Origin: Hebrew/Yiddish
Also spelled: middot

midrash / מדרש

Pronunciation: MID-rash
Definition: Rabbinic interpretive teaching.
Example: “The Midrash says…”
Origin: Hebrew
Also spelled: medrash

minhag / מנהג

Pronunciation: MIN-hag
Definition: Custom.
Example: “The minhag is…”
Origin: Hebrew

minyan / מניין

Pronunciation: MIN-yahn
Definition: Prayer quorum.
Example: “We need a minyan.”
Origin: Hebrew

mishnah / משנה

Pronunciation: MISH-nah
Definition: Mishnaic teaching.
Example: “The Mishnah says…”
Origin: Hebrew
Also spelled: mishna

mistaber / מסתבר

Pronunciation: mis-tah-BER
Definition: It makes sense.
Example: “Mistaber like the Ramban.”
Origin: Hebrew/Aramaic

mistama / מסתמא

Pronunciation: mis-TAH-mah
Definition: Presumably.
Example: “Mistama that’s the reason.”
Origin: Aramaic/Yeshivish
Also spelled: mistome

mitzvah / מצווה

Pronunciation: MITZ-vah
Definition: Commandment; good deed.
Example: “Every mitzvah connects us.”
Origin: Hebrew
Also spelled: mitzva

mitzvah chiyuvis / מצווה חיובית

Pronunciation: MITZ-vah khee-YOO-vis
Definition: Obligatory mitzvah.
Example: “Is it chiyuvis or optional?”
Origin: Hebrew/Yeshivish

mitzvos / מצוות

Pronunciation: MITZ-vohs
Definition: Commandments.
Example: “The mitzvos refine us.”
Origin: Hebrew/Yiddish
Also spelled: mitzvot

moshiach / משיח

Pronunciation: moh-SHEE-akh
Definition: Messiah.
Example: “The coming of Moshiach…”
Origin: Hebrew
Also spelled: mashiach

mussar / מוסר

Pronunciation: MOO-sar
Definition: Ethical or spiritual discipline.
Example: “Mussar works on character.”
Origin: Hebrew
Also spelled: musar

mutar / מותר

Pronunciation: MOO-tar
Definition: Permitted.
Example: “This is mutar.”
Origin: Hebrew
Also spelled: muter