schlemiel

or schle·mihl, shle·miel

[ shluh-meel ]

noun

, Slang.

1. an awkward and unlucky person for whom things never turn out right.

schlemiel

/ ʃləˈmiːl /

noun

1. slang.
   an awkward or unlucky person whose endeavours usually fail

Word History and Origins

Origin of schlemiel¹

1890–95; < Yiddish shlemil < Hebrew shəlumīʾēl Shelumiel, a Biblical and Talmudic figure

Word History and Origins

Origin of schlemiel¹

Yiddish, from German, after the hero of a novel by Chamisso (1781–1838)

Example Sentences

Although the series treats Blauner as a fretful schlemiel in early episodes — almost the moment we meet him, we hear about his hemorrhoids — he’s allowed to be a man of action later on.

From Los Angeles Times

Ms. Williams and Marshall’s chant of “schlemiel, schlimazel” as they skipped together became a cultural phenomenon and oft-invoked piece of nostalgia.

From Washington Post

He shoved me back, and like an utter schlemiel, I tripped over a branch and planted my butt in a shallow puddle.

From Literature

And so the schlemiel became a stand-in for a generation.

From Los Angeles Times

Herschel is neither a sentimental schlemiel nor a twinkly old-world grandpa, but rather an impatient, sometimes intolerant striver with a violent streak.

From New York Times