yenta

Where does the word "yenta" come from? It comes from Yiddish yente, and was adopted directly into English (1920s).

Yenta’s story begins in Yiddish: yente meant “a woman's name, later a gossip.” Originally a woman's given name, later applied to a gossipy, meddlesome woman. It reached English by 1920s as yenta. A Yiddish woman's name, from Italian 'gentile', later a nickname for a gossip; 'Fiddler on the Roof' made it famous. Today, yenta means a gossipy or meddlesome woman, especially one who is a matchmaker.

1. Stage 1 · Yiddish · 1800s yente "a woman's name, later a gossip", originally a woman's given name, later applied to a gossipy, meddlesome woman.
2. Stage 2 · English · 1920s yenta "a gossipy or meddlesome woman", a Yiddish woman's name, from Italian 'gentile', later a nickname for a gossip; 'Fiddler on the Roof' made it famous.