Did you know?
The word chutzpah has been boldly circulating through English since the mid-1800s. It comes from the Yiddish word khutspe, which comes in turn from the Hebrew word ḥuṣpāh. The ch in chutzpah indicates a rasping sound from the back of the throat that exists in many languages, including Yiddish. That sound is not part of English phonology, so it follows that the c is sometimes dropped in both the pronunciation and spelling of the word. Some speakers of Yiddish feel that chutzpah has been diluted in English use, no longer properly conveying the monumental nature of the gall that is implied. A classic example can be found in Leo Rosten’s 1968 book The Joys of Yiddish, which defines chutzpah as “that quality enshrined in a man who, having killed his mother and father, throws himself on the mercy of the court because he is an orphan.”
Examples of chutzpah in a Sentence
Trudy Rubin, Twin Cities, 8 June 2025
Although some groups are good at ignoring the rules of the game, most of us don’t have that luxury, or that chutzpah.
—Jay Sullivan, Forbes.com, 31 May 2025
The most important qualification of all is chutzpah.
—Gary Baum, HollywoodReporter, 28 May 2025
With characteristic chutzpah, Hepburn angled for larger roles than she would otherwise be considered for by arguing that her friends and family would fill the auditorium.
—Christopher Arnott, Hartford Courant, 11 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for chutzpah
Cite this Entry
“Chutzpah.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/chutzpah. Accessed 21 Aug. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
chutzpah
nounYiddish; of Hebrew origin
Share