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kvetch

From Wiktionary, the free dictionary

English

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Alternative forms

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Etymology

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From Yiddish קוועטשן (kvetshn, literally to squeeze, pinch), from Middle High German quetschen (crush, press).

Pronunciation

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Verb

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kvetch (third-person singular simple present kvetches, present participle kvetching, simple past and past participle kvetched)

  1. To whine or complain, often needlessly and incessantly.
    • 1969, Philip Roth, Portnoy’s Complaint:
      Is this truth I’m delivering up, or is it just plain kvetching? Or is kvetching for people like me a form of truth?
    • 2001, Glen David Gold, Carter Beats the Devil:
      Make a commitment, Charlie. Go with life or go with death, but quit the kvetching. Don’t keep us all in suspense.

Derived terms

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Translations

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See also

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Noun

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kvetch (plural kvetches)

  1. A person who endlessly whines or complains; a person who finds fault with anything.
    Synonyms: kvetcher, whiner
  2. An instance of kvetching; a complaint or whine.

Translations

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