Street
goniff
What does goniff mean?
A goniff is a thief, swindler, or dishonest person. The word passed from Yiddish into American underworld and general slang.
"That goniff sold me a watch that stopped before I got home."
Origin
From Yiddish 'ganef/gonif,' itself from Hebrew 'gannav,' thief.
Frequently asked questions
What does 'goniff' mean?
A goniff is a thief, swindler or dishonest person. The word passed from Yiddish into American underworld and general slang.
Where does 'goniff' come from?
It comes from Yiddish 'ganef' or 'gonif', which in turn derives from the Hebrew 'gannav', meaning thief.
How is 'goniff' spelled?
It appears in several spellings including goniff, gonif, ganef and gonef, reflecting its Yiddish roots.
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