sheygets

Alternative Spellings

shkotzim, shkotsim, shegetz, shaygetz, shaygets

Definitions

• "1. A non-Jewish boy. 2. An impudent youth or man. 3. An irreligious or nonobservant Jew. The term is often regarded as disparaging." (Steinmetz)

Example Sentences

• "Sure, he's a sheygets, but such a nice man."

Languages of Origin

Textual Hebrew, Yiddish

Etymology

שײגעץ shéygets, from Heb שקץ shékets 'abomination'; Yiddish plural שקאָצים shkótsim

Who Uses This

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

Regions

North America

Dictionaries

The New Joys of Yiddish, by Leo Rosten and Lawrence Bush (New York, 2003[1968]).
Dictionary of Jewish Usage: A Guide to the Use of Jewish Terms, by Sol Steinmetz (Lanham, MD, 2005).

Notes

Masculine version of feminine shiksa (שיקסע). Plural is shkotzim. Its pronunciation in Yiddish may be influenced by Judeo-French.