View Message

This is a reply within a larger thread: view the whole thread

[Facts] Re: Tybel and Toibel
There was a Jewish actress here in South Africa whose name sounded like Toby but looked like Taubi; it was explained as the nickname form of Taube (= dove). As for the -l ending, I've been told that Yiddish was heavily influenced by German both morphologically and structurally, so your -l ending for a diminutive nickname would work perfectly. In German, the -au- would sound like OW! but when the diminutive suffix is added, the -au- changes its sound to OI as in boy. So, on balance, I think you've got it!
vote up1vote down

No replies