Friday, May 21, 2010

Yiddishology: How Good Is Your Yiddish? "Shlimazel": Fourth of a Series



It's time for another Yiddish exercise.  Let's return to the Tampa Jewish Community Center where the yiddishologists continue their man-in-the-street interviews with community members on the meaning of selected Yiddish words.

Today's word is shlimazel.

The best example we've heard of a shlimazel (probably an amalgam of shlecht mazel or bad luck) and its differentiation from a shlemiel is that the shlemiel is the one who spills the soup, and the shlimazel (or shlemazel) is the one who has the soup spilled on him.

More Yiddishology is coming in the next few weeks, so stay tuned to Jewish Humor Central.

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