English Explanatory Dictionary

chutzpah

English dictionary entry

Meanings

noun
  1. Nearly arrogant courage; utter audacity, effrontery or impudence; supreme self-confidence; exaggerated self-opinion.

Pronunciation

/ˈxʊts.pə/ [ˈχʊts.pə] [ˈhʊts.pə] en-us-chutzpah.ogg

Word forms

chutzpah chutzpahs hutzpah khutzpah khutspah chutspa chutspah chutzpa khutspe

Etymology

Originated c. 1890–95 from Yiddish חוצפּה (khutspe), which was either borrowed via Medieval Hebrew or directly came from Aramaic חוּצְפָּא (ḥuṣpā, “audacity, boldness”), derived from חֲצַף (ḥăṣap̄, “to be impudent, arrogant”).

Synonyms

balls cheek gall nerve boldness audacity insolence

Related words

cheek cheekiness cheeky immortal rind

Derived words

chutzpadik
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