ממזר
mamzer
The Yiddish word for bastard is ממזר (mamzer).
The term is used to describe a contemptible person.
Meaning: contemptible etc. person (noun)
How does it change in a sentence?
The plural form of the noun is ממזרים (mamzerim).
How do you pronounce it?
mamzer
When do people say it?
In a Jewish context, the term refers specifically to a person born from an adulterous or incestuous union, carrying significant religious stigma.
Did you know?
- The religious stigma of the ממזר is so potent that rabbis historically spent significant effort finding legal loopholes to avoid applying the label to any child.
- The word ממזר is derived from the Hebrew root meaning 'to mix' or 'to mingle'. It suggests a 'mixture' of bloodlines that is forbidden by religious law.
- In Jewish law, a ממזר is not simply a child born out of wedlock, but specifically one born from a forbidden union. This distinction makes the term far more legally and socially severe than the English 'bastard'.
Examples in context
- איך בין אַ ממזר?Am I a bastard?Tatoeba #12857903 by rul, translation #12857763 by rul
- ממזר־בן־הנידה!Bastard!Tatoeba #8508439 by shekitten, translation #434306 by lukaszpp
Example conversation
Yitzhak and Reizel are complaining about a dishonest landlord.
- יצחק Yitzchakדער בעל הבית איז אַ ממזר!der bal habays iz a mamer!The landlord is a bastard!
- רייזל Reizelיא, ער נעמט אונז דאָס געלט.ya, er nemt unz dos gelt.Yes, he is taking our money.
- יצחק Yitzchakאיך קען נישט געלאזן דעם ממזר ווין.ikh ken nisht gelozn dem mamer vin.I cannot let that bastard win.
- רייזל Reizelמיר וועלן גיין צו פאָליציי.mir veln geyn tsu politsey.We will go to the police.
Sources
- Pronunciation: Wiktionary entry ממזר, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries ממזר, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
