mensch

American  

[mench] / mɛntʃ /

noun

Informal.

menschen, plural mensches plural

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; see 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

“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

"He is a mensch and a warm human being," said Montgomery, who praised Lear's "gut sense of right and wrong, and his gut sense of what the Constitution means, and what is important about America."

From Salon • Jul. 27, 2022

Outside of work, she said, the guy’s a mensch.

From New York Times • Feb. 18, 2022

This guy was really amazing; in addition to his tough mind, he was a real mensch.

From "A Confederacy of Dunces" by John Kennedy Toole