Where does “schlemiel” come from?
schlemiel (English) comes from Yiddish שלימיל, from Hebrew שלא מועיל — who is not helpful.
schlemiel (English): A loser or a fool; A person who is clumsy or who...
Definitions
- A loser or a fool; A person who is clumsy or who...
Ancestry of “schlemiel”, step by step
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|
| 1 | Yiddish | שלימיל | ineffectual, inept person, bungler |
| 2 | Hebrew | שלא מועיל | who is not helpful |