English Explanatory Dictionary

mensch

English dictionary entry

Meanings

noun
  1. A person (chiefly male) of strength, integrity, and honor or compassion; a gentleman.

Pronunciation

/mɛnt͡ʃ/ LL-Q1860 (eng)-Vealhurl-mensch.wav

Word forms

mensch mensches menschen mensh mentsch mentsh mentch mench

Etymology

From Yiddish מענטש (mentsh, “an honorable person”), from Middle High German mensch, mensche, mennische, from Old High German mennisko (“man, human being”), from Proto-Germanic *manniskaz (“human”). The spelling mensch was influenced by German Mensch; compare the alternative spellings. Doublet of mennish; compare also mense. For the semantics, compare Latin humanē (“kindly, courteously”), English humane.

Derived words

menschlike menschy
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