Schlemihl

Etymology

19th century, from Yiddish שלימיל (shlimil). Further origin uncertain; see the Yiddish for more.

The rather odd spelling with -ih- follows the use of Adelbert von Chamisso in his well-known novella Peter Schlemihl (1813). Von Chamisso probably avoided Schlemiel because it could have suggested a trisyllabic pronunciation as in Gabriel (though he might have spelt *Schlemil).

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /ˈʃleːmiːl/

• Audio:

  (file)

Noun

Schlemihl m (strong, genitive Schlemihls, plural Schlemihle)

1. schlemiel

See also

• Schlamassel