schlemazel etymology

Etymology:

  • Yiddish שמאַזל shmaltsl, from Medieval German schmalz "fat, grease."

Meaning:

Noun:

  • A person who is habitually unlucky or clumsy.
  • A situation that is full of misfortune or mishaps.

Adjective:

  • Unlucky; clumsy; unfortunate.

Origin:

The term "schlemazel" originated in Yiddish, where it referred to someone who was chronically unlucky or hapless. It is believed to have derived from the Medieval German word "schmalz," meaning "fat" or "grease." This likely referred to the idea that someone who was clumsy or unfortunate was as slippery and unwieldy as fat.

Over time, "schlemazel" was adopted into English and became widely used to describe people who were perpetually encountering mishaps or misfortunes. It also came to be applied to situations that seemed to be cursed with bad luck.

The term "schlemazel" often carries a humorous or ironic connotation, as it can be seen as a way of mocking or satirizing one's own or others' misfortune. However, it can also be used in a more serious sense to describe someone who is genuinely struggling with bad luck.

schlemazel relate terms

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  • schlemazel

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