שלימיל

Yiddish

Etymology

Unknown. One proposed etymology is that it comes from Hebrew שלא מועיל (who is not helpful), though such an etymology would be expected to yield *shloyml or *shlemoyl. Another is that it comes from the Biblical figure Shelumiel ben Tzurishadai, though it is unknown how he would have come to be associated with bungling.[1]

Noun

שלימיל • (shlimil) m

  1. ineffectual, inept person, bungler

Descendants

  • Dutch: schlemiel
  • English: schlemiel
  • German: Schlemihl
  • Hebrew: שלומיאל (shlumiél)

References

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