It literally translates to "sadness" or "sorrow," but it can also be used to describe a state of misfortune or hardship.
Other Yiddish words that can be used to describe woes include:
* צער (tser) - sorrow, grief
* געלעכץ (gelekhts) - misery, wretchedness
* אומגליק (umglik) - misfortune, bad luck
* נויט (noyt) - need, distress