kvetch

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English[edit]

Alternative forms[edit]

Etymology[edit]

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

Pronunciation[edit]

Verb[edit]

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[edit]

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See also[edit]

Noun[edit]

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[edit]