-“oosh” Suffix

The suffix –oosh is a suffix of endearment, which has Eastern European origins. It can be added to the end of anyone’s name:

• Ronit-oosh
• Niv-oosh
• Omri-oosh
• Inbar-oosh

If the name ends in an “-ah” sound then one would drop it before adding the suffix:

• Nitza = Nitzoosh
• Galya = Galyoosh
• Rona = Ronoosh

It can also be added to the end of family members’ names:

• Aba (father) = Aboosh (Daddy)
• Eema (mother) = Eemoosh (Mommy)
• Doda (aunt) = Dodoosh (Auntie)

In recent years, teenagers have begun adding the –oosh suffix to more common words of greeting, a custom which stems from a skit from a popular comedy show several years back in which some ditzy teenage girls broadcast their own online reality show and use words like:

• Hiyoosh
• Bye-oosh
• OK-oosh