schlemiel

or schle·mihl, shle·miel

[ shluh-meel ]

noun

, Slang.

1. an awkward and unlucky person for whom things never turn out right.

schlemiel

/ ʃləˈmiːl /

noun

1. slang.
   an awkward or unlucky person whose endeavours usually fail

Word History and Origins

Origin of schlemiel¹

1890–95; < Yiddish shlemil < Hebrew shəlumīʾēl Shelumiel, a Biblical and Talmudic figure

Word History and Origins

Origin of schlemiel¹

Yiddish, from German, after the hero of a novel by Chamisso (1781–1838)

Example Sentences

The song ends up a hit, and the schlemiel has done it again.

From The Daily Beast

Do you call an ineffectual, hapless person a schlemiel, a shlemel, a shlemyel, or a schlemeyel?

From The Daily Beast

Then comes the requisite sitcom schlemiel-like ER visit with a doctor and some drops and some close-ups.

From The Daily Beast

Based on the leaked reports, he said, “a schlemiel could have done this.”

From The Daily Beast

Ever since Gifkin leaves us, y'understand, we got in our cutting room one Schlemiel after another.

From Project Gutenberg

A dirty schlemiel of a greenhorn like him should talk French!

From Project Gutenberg