באַדכןbadkhn meaning in Yiddish
wedding jester; the hired rhymester who emceed, joked and improvised verses at a wedding (historical — no longer used in everyday speech) · noun (masculine)
Also spelled in English: badchen, badchan
The wedding's own stand-up comic, master of ceremonies, and professional pest, all rolled into one. The badkhn was the one who could rhyme you onto the dance floor whether you wanted to go or not.
דער בדחן האָט צעלאַכט די גאַנצע חתונה מיט זײַנע גראַמען. (Der badkhn hot tselakht di gantse khasene mit zayne gramen.)
“The badkhn had the whole wedding laughing with his rhymes.”
Who at a family wedding you attended acted like a badkhn without being paid for it?
Yiddish words for people and charactersYiddish words from Jewish life and traditionYiddish words for music, parties and entertainment
Published 30 September 2026