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kvell

American

[kvel] / kvɛl /

verb (used without object)

Slang.

to be extraordinarily pleased; especially, to be bursting with pride, as over one's family.

kvell British

/ kvɛl /

verb

informal (intr) to be happy or show satisfaction

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Etymology

Origin of kvell

An Americanism first recorded in 1965–70; from Yiddish kveln “be delighted”; compare Middle High German, German quellen “well up, gush”

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.

Karin Fuchs, a clinical psychologist in the United Kingdom has also been hearing her immigrant parents kvell at the history they see being revisited.

From Washington Post • Feb. 28, 2022

These characters don’t kvetch or kvell, at least not in those terms.

From New York Times • Feb. 22, 2017

It’s heartening, therefore, to hear Youner kvell about her new friend, Shirley Zweibel, 87.

From Seattle Times • Jan. 8, 2017

It wasn’t the most exciting performance, but it did make Karen cry and the coaches kvell.

From Los Angeles Times • May 10, 2016

It turned out to be the perfect place to marvel and kvell and lament and celebrate my life since I left Chicago, not quite 30 momentous years ago.

From Salon • Apr. 15, 2013

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023