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schlemiel
or schle·mihl, shle·miel
[ shluh-meel ]
/ ʃləˈmil /
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This shows grade level based on the word's complexity.
noun Slang.
an awkward and unlucky person for whom things never turn out right.
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Origin of schlemiel
1890–95; <Yiddish shlemil<Hebrew shəlumīʾēl Shelumiel, a Biblical and Talmudic figure
Words nearby schlemiel
schlag, Schlegel, Schleicher, Schleiden, Schleiermacher, schlemiel, schlep, schleppy, Schlesien, Schlesinger, Schleswig
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
How to use schlemiel in a sentence
British Dictionary definitions for schlemiel
schlemiel
schlemihl or shlemiel
/ (ʃləˈmiːl) /
noun
US slang an awkward or unlucky person whose endeavours usually fail
Word Origin for schlemiel
Yiddish, from German, after the hero of a novel by Chamisso (1781–1838)
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition
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