mensch

American  

[mench] / mɛntʃ /

noun

Informal.

plural

menschen, mensches

1. a decent, upright, mature, and responsible person.

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Etymology

Origin of mensch

First recorded in 1910–15; from Yiddish mentsh “man, human being,” from Middle High German mensch ( German Mensch ), from Old High German mennisco, mannisco; man, -ish ¹

Explanation

A mensch is a good person, someone you really like and admire. Your neighbor who offers you a ride to work every time he notices that you've missed your bus again is a mensch. If you have a trusted friend or a reliable co-worker you can always count on, an informal word that describes them both is mensch. You might vote for the political candidate who seems the most like a mensch, or name your very favorite teacher and add, "She's a real mensch." The word comes from Yiddish, in which it means "a person of integrity and honor," from the German Mensch, or "person."

Example Sentences

He is a true mensch and is an asset to be cherished by The Times as well as all of us who love high school sports.

From Los Angeles Times • Aug. 30, 2025

When our distant ancestors in Jewish central Europe coined the word "mensch," they had people like Joe Lieberman in mind.

From Salon • Mar. 29, 2024

“You’ve gotta say something,” Paul’s grandfather tells him in an earlier scene, urging him to stand up to bullies and be a mensch to those who need it.

From Los Angeles Times • Oct. 26, 2022

To listen and make changes appropriately, he’s quite a mensch that way.

From New York Times • Sep. 9, 2022

“I don’t know, you sure you want to go? A good mensch like yourself ought to stick to something a bit more, dare I say, kosher.”

From "The City Beautiful" by Aden Polydoros