Schlamassel

German

Etymology

Borrowed from Yiddish שלימזל (shlimazl, “bad luck, misfortune”).

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): [ʃlaˈmasəl]

• Audio:

  (file)

Noun

Schlamassel m or n (strong, genitive Schlamassels, plural Schlamassel)

1. (colloquial) trouble, difficult situation, misfortune

Usage notes

The gender is usually masculine in Germany, but usually neuter in Austria and sometimes also Bavaria.

Declension

Declension of Schlamassel [masculine // neuter, strong]

	singular			plural
	indef.	def.	noun	def.	noun
nominative	ein	der, das	Schlamassel	die	Schlamassel
genitive	eines	des	Schlamassels	der	Schlamassel
dative	einem	dem	Schlamassel	den	Schlamasseln
accusative	einen, ein	den, das	Schlamassel	die	Schlamassel

Related terms

• vermasseln
• Massel

See also

• Schlemihl

Further reading

• “Schlamassel” in Duden online