Yiddish, the most expressive of languages

posted by phil on Fri, 12/10/2010 - 16:31

According to (questionable) folklore, Eskimos have 200 words to describe snow. Yiddish seems to have as many words to describe stupidity, in all its nuances.

Schlemiel : a clumsy person

Schlemazl: a forever unlucky person

Schmendrick: a stupid person

A schlemiel, a schlemazl and a schmendrick go for a drive. The schmendrick crashes the schlemazl's car and the schlemiel apologises.)

A schmendrick bumps into the schlemiel waiter, who spills the soup on the schlemazl.