| Revision as of 18:37, 25 May 2006 editBluebot (talk | contribs)349,597 edits Fixing header errors per the Manual of Style using AWB← Previous edit | Revision as of 15:40, 14 July 2006 edit undoTaltman (talk | contribs)5 edits Added clarifications that 'yenta' doesn't have anything to do with match-making, necessarily.Next edit → | ||
| Line 1: | Line 1: | ||
| '''Yenta''' (YEN-tah) is a ] word referring to a ] or ]. Most definitions refer to it as a gossipy woman; a blabbermouth, who can't keep a secret, who spreads rumors and scandal. | '''Yenta''' (YEN-tah) is a ] word referring to a ] or ]. Most definitions refer to it as a gossipy woman; a blabbermouth, who can't keep a secret, who spreads rumors and scandal. It doesn't have anything necessarily to do with match-making; in fact, the Yiddish word for matchmaker is '']'', not ''yenta''. | ||
| It was also the name of the ] in the ] ] '']''. |
It was also the name of the ] in the ] ] '']''. This is something of an erroneous association, since matchmakers in traditional Eastern European Jewish ] were men, and the match was settled between the fathers. The original stories of ], from which '']'' is based, have all the matchmakers as men. | ||
| The name Yenta is also used (erroneously) by matchmaking websites and matchmaking software, and it is the name of the ] ] controller driver, which brings together Cardbus cards with the rest of the computer. | |||
| ⚫ | Among ], the use of the word "Yenta" in the derogatory sense is considered by some as ] (] for "evil tongue", the Jewish ] of gossip which generally refers to true statements). | ||
| ⚫ | Among ], the use of the word "Yenta" in the derogatory sense is considered by some as ] (] for "evil tongue", the Jewish ] of gossip which generally refers to true statements). Though, if one is truly a Yenta (a gossip), then they themselves are also practicing ], according to the ]. | ||
| <!--- This sentence was continued with: | <!--- This sentence was continued with: | ||
| ", since it is considered to defame all women who have that name, though many may be quite respectable." | ", since it is considered to defame all women who have that name, though many may be quite respectable." | ||
Revision as of 15:40, 14 July 2006
Yenta (YEN-tah) is a Yiddish word referring to a busybody or gossip. Most definitions refer to it as a gossipy woman; a blabbermouth, who can't keep a secret, who spreads rumors and scandal. It doesn't have anything necessarily to do with match-making; in fact, the Yiddish word for matchmaker is shadkhan, not yenta.
It was also the name of the matchmaker in the Broadway musical Fiddler on the Roof. This is something of an erroneous association, since matchmakers in traditional Eastern European Jewish shtetls were men, and the match was settled between the fathers. The original stories of Sholom Aleichem, from which Fiddler on the Roof is based, have all the matchmakers as men.
The name Yenta is also used (erroneously) by matchmaking websites and matchmaking software, and it is the name of the Linux CardBus controller driver, which brings together Cardbus cards with the rest of the computer.
Among Orthodox Jews, the use of the word "Yenta" in the derogatory sense is considered by some as lashon hara (Hebrew for "evil tongue", the Jewish sin of gossip which generally refers to true statements). Though, if one is truly a Yenta (a gossip), then they themselves are also practicing lashon hara, according to the Chofetz Chaim.
External links
 | This vocabulary-related article is a stub. You can help Misplaced Pages by expanding it. |