shayna punim

Alternative Spellings

sheyner ponim, sheyna punim, shayna punim, sheyne ponim

Definitions

• pretty face

Example Sentences

• Rivki is such a sheyna punim."

Languages of Origin

Yiddish

Etymology

שײנע פּנים sheyne ponem (Standard Yiddish שײן פּנים sheyn ponem, because the grammatical gender of ponem is neuter)

Who Uses This

Religious: Jews who are engaged in religious observance and have some Jewish education
Older: Jews who are middle-aged and older
Ashkenazim: Jews with Ashkenazi heritage

Regions

North America

Dictionaries

The JPS Dictionary of Jewish Words, by Joyce Eisenberg and Ellen Scolnic, (Philadelphia, 2001).

Notes

Can also be used ironically to mean "a disgrace"