משוגענער
meshugener
The English word 'lunatic' is translated into Yiddish as משוגענער (meshugener).
The term refers to an insane person. In many cases, it is used colloquially to describe someone who is acting silly or foolish rather than someone with a clinical mental illness.
Meaning: insane person (noun)
Which one should you use?
The default masculine form is משוגענער (meshugener). The informal feminine form is משוגענע (meshugene).
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
The term משוגענער is often used in a colloquial sense. The feminine form משוגענע is considered an informal way to describe a female lunatic.
How does it change in a sentence?
While משוגענער is grammatically masculine, it is widely used to describe individuals of any gender. The specific feminine form of the noun is משוגענע (meshugene).
How do you pronounce it?
meshugener
Did you know?
- The root of משוגענער is the adjective משוגע, which shares a common ancestor with the Hebrew word for 'madness' or 'instability'.
- Because the word is so common in colloquial Yiddish, it has often entered English-speaking Jewish-American slang to describe eccentric characters.
- The adjective form משוגע (meshuge) is frequently used in the phrase משוגענער ועלט (meshugener velt), meaning 'a crazy world'.
Examples in context
- טאָם איז אַ משוגענער.Tom is a lunatic.This sentence uses the form משוגענער to identify someone.Tatoeba #10160435 by shekitten, translation #2272826 by CK
- ער האָט אויסגעשאָסן מײַן קאַץ, דער משוגענער!He shot my cat, that lunatic!This sentence uses the form משוגענער as an epithet for someone who shot a cat.Tatoeba #8606129 by shekitten, translation #8606123 by shekitten
- משוגענער!Lunatic!This sentence uses the form משוגענער as an exclamation.Tatoeba #10553106 by shekitten, translation #7532054 by shekitten
Example conversation
Sarah and Berl are talking about a strange neighbor.
- בערל Berelהאָט איר געזען דעם מענש אין די גאַס?Hot ir gezen dem mensh in di gas?Did you see the man in the street?
- שרה Saraיאָ, ער איז אַ ממש’ער משוגענער!Yo, er iz a mamesh'er meshugener!Yes, he is a real lunatic!
- בערל Berelער רעדט מיט זיך אליין.Er redt mit zikh aleyn.He talks to himself.
- שרה Saraלאָזט אים נאָר זײַן אַ משוגענער.Lozt im nor zayn a meshugener.Just let him be a lunatic.
Sources
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries משוגענער, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
