nebbish
Americannoun
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of nebbish
1890–95; < Yiddish nebekh poor, unfortunate, probably < Slavic; compare Czech nebohý poor; spelling with -sh perhaps < Western Yiddish forms of the word
Explanation
A meek and timid person can be called a nebbish. If you're too scared to speak up when someone cuts in front of you as you wait in line for a movie, your date might call you a nebbish. Nebbish is most often used to describe a man, especially one who is so mild and submissive that other people tend to feel sorry for him. A nebbish isn't capable of accomplishing much or defending himself, so he often finds himself scorned or pitied. Nebbish comes from a Yiddish word, nebekh, "poor thing," and it's been used in English slang since the late 19th century.
Vocabulary lists containing nebbish
English Words Derived from Yiddish
Looking to grow your vocabulary? Check out this interactive, curated word list from our team of English language specialists at Vocabulary.com – one of over 17,000 lists we've built to help learners worldwide!
Quiz yourself on these words spoken by the man at the center of the "Laurel" / "Yanny" craze!
Interested in learning more words like this one? Our team at Vocabulary.com has got you covered! You can review flashcards, quiz yourself, practice spelling, and more – and it's all completely free to use!
2015 Spelling Bee - Words from Round 2
Want to remember this word for good? Start your learning journey today with our library of interactive, themed word lists built by the experts at Vocabulary.com – we'll help you make the most of your study time!
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
A more aptly descriptive title for the movie would be, “The Price of Seichel,” or, “From Nebbish to Macher Without Subtitles.”
From The New Yorker • Jul. 14, 2016
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
