יענטע
Yiddish
[edit]Etymology
[edit]From the name of the fictional character "Yente Telebende", created by humorist Jacob Adler. The name יענטע (yente) is a back-formation from the nickname יענטעלע (yentele), originally a nickname for יענטל (yentl), which is probably derived from a Romance source akin to Italian gentile.[1]
Noun
[edit]יענטע • (yente) f, plural יענטעס (yentes)
- A female busybody or gossipmonger, yenta
- A matchmaker.
Descendants
[edit]- → English: yenta