schmoi

Bavarian

Alternative forms

• schmål (Southern Bavarian)

Etymology

From Middle High German smal, from Old High German smal, from Proto-West Germanic *smal, from Proto-Germanic *smalaz. Cognates include German: schmal, Yiddish: שמאָל (shmol), Dutch smal, English small, Gothic *𐍃𐌼𐌰𐌻𐍃 (*smals).

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /ʃmɔe/

Adjective

schmoi (comparative schmåler, superlative schmoistn)

1. narrow, slender (not wide, comparatively long)

   Synonym: eng (some contexts)

   • 1993, Georg Danzer (lyrics and music), “Zwa wie mia zwa”, in Nahaufnahme, performed by Georg Danzer, Wolfgang Ambros:

     Zwa wia mia zwa geb'n sis immer nur voi / Und ka Weg is uns zu g'fährlich und z'schmoi, / Zwa wia mia zwa san ganz afoch guat.

     Two like we two always hit it full-on / And no path is too dangerous and narrow for us, / Two like we two are simply great.