kvetch

1 of 2

verb

ˈkvech  ˈkfech 

kvetched; kvetching; kvetches

intransitive verb

: to complain habitually : gripe

kvetcher noun

kvetch

2 of 2

noun

1

: a habitual complainer

2

: complaint sense 1

kvetchy

ˈkve-chē 

ˈkfe-

adjective

Synonyms of kvetch

Verb

• complain
• whine
• scream

Noun

• complainer
• baby

Examples of kvetch in a Sentence

Verb

They're always kvetching about something.

a chronically resentful person who seems to look for things to kvetch about

Noun

according to the kvetch on the bus tour, there was little about Europe that was satisfactory

vainly hoped that his coworker would spare him another kvetch about being overworked

Recent Examples on the Web

Verb

Field’s neurotic, kvetching energy and Pullman’s drawlingly laidback presence spark off each other to amiable and spontaneous effect — enough so to show up the contrivances in the film’s secondary characters and subplots. —Guy Lodge, Variety, 7 May 2026

After years of kvetching about the unfairness of playing in altitude at Coors Field, the new regime led by Paul DePodesta has begun to talk about turning the conditions into a home-field advantage. —Joe Nguyen, Denver Post, 24 Mar. 2026

Noun

But Buffett has long listed his kvetches with executive compensation design and practices at other companies. —Amanda Gerut, Fortune, 4 Mar. 2026

Blazy likes to remove himself from the studio for a few minutes between sessions, to allow the space to be reset and to give his design colleagues a chance to prepare, confer, or kvetch without him present. —Nathan Heller, Vogue, 14 Oct. 2025

Word History

Etymology

Verb

Yiddish kvetshn, literally, to squeeze, pinch, from Middle High German quetschen

First Known Use

Verb

circa 1950, in the meaning defined above

Noun

1957, in the meaning defined at sense 2

Rhymes for kvetch

• etch
• fetch
• fletch
• ketch
• sketch
• stretch
• vetch
• wretch