noun

schmuck

SHMUHK

Schmuck (noun) means an obnoxious or foolish person; a jerk. Example: “Only a total schmuck would cut in line like that.”

noun

An obnoxious or foolish person; a jerk.

"Only a total schmuck would cut in line like that."

How to use schmuck

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishAn insulting word for someone acting foolishly or unpleasantly.

When to use it

Informal and mildly vulgar in origin; avoid in formal or polite contexts.

Easily confused with

putz →

schmucked past tense, schmucks plural, schmucks singular

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Can you complete this real example?

Only a total _____ would cut in line like that.

From Yiddish shmok, originally a vulgar word for "penis" that shifted to mean "fool" or "jerk".

Origin: Yiddish

shmo schmo shmuck

idiot fool schmo

fuck duck luck suck muck buck puck huck tuck stuck truck pluck

What does “schmuck” mean?

The word “schmuck” means an obnoxious or foolish person; a jerk. In plain terms, an insulting word for someone acting foolishly or unpleasantly.

How do you pronounce “schmuck”?

“Schmuck” is pronounced SHMUHK (/ˈʃmʌk/ in IPA).

How do you use “schmuck” in a sentence?

Here is “schmuck” used in a sentence: “Only a total schmuck would cut in line like that.”

What part of speech is “schmuck”?

“Schmuck” is a noun.

Where does the word “schmuck” come from?

The word “schmuck” comes from Yiddish.

Vocabulary lists that include schmuck:

idiot fool schmo