List of English words of Yiddish origin

A schlimazel is a Yiddish term that refers to a person who is chronically unlucky, often through no fault of their own. The word is derived from the Yiddish phrase shlimazl, which translates to "unlucky person" in English. In Hebrew, the term is sometimes transliterated as שלימזל (shlimazel). The concept of a schlimazel is deeply rooted in Yiddish culture and humor, often depicted in stories and anecdotes where the character experiences a series of misfortunes. The term gained broader recognition through its use in popular culture, including television shows and films, where it is used to describe someone who is perpetually unfortunate. The opposite of a schlimazel is a schlimazl, which is sometimes used interchangeably but can also refer to someone who is a victim of circumstances. The term has been adopted into various languages, including German (Schlimazel) and French (schlimazel), where it retains its original meaning of an unlucky individual.