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Where does the word "mensch" come from? It comes from German Mensch, passing through Yiddish before entering English (1900s).
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Where does the word "mensch" come from? It comes from German Mensch, passing through Yiddish before entering English (1900s).
Mensch’s story begins in German: Mensch meant “a human being.” Meaning "a human being" or "person". By medieval, the word had taken hold in Yiddish as mentsh. Narrowed to mean a person of integrity and honor. It reached English by 1900s as mensch. Yiddish 'person', used for a person of fine character. Today, mensch means a person of integrity and honor, someone admirable and decent.
- Stage 1 · German · medieval Mensch "a human being", meaning "a human being" or "person".
- Stage 2 · Yiddish · medieval mentsh "a person of integrity", narrowed to mean a person of integrity and honor.
- Stage 3 · English · 1900s mensch "a person of integrity and honor", Yiddish 'person', used for a person of fine character.