luftmensch

noun

luft·mensch | \ ˈlu̇ft-ˌmen(t)sh

How to pronounce luftmensch (audio)

\

plural luftmenschen\ ˈlu̇ft-ˌmen(t)-shən

How to pronounce luftmenschen (audio)

\

Definition of luftmensch

: an impractical contemplative person having no definite business or income

Did You Know?

Are you someone who always seems to have your head in the clouds? Do you have trouble getting down to the lowly business of earning a living? If so, you may deserve to be labeled a "luftmensch." That airy appellation is an adaptation of the Yiddish "luftmentsh," which breaks down into "luft" (a Germanic root meaning "air" that is also related to the English words "loft" and "lofty") plus mentsh, meaning "human being." "Luftmensch" was first introduced to English prose in 1907, when Israel Zangwill wrote, "The word 'Luftmensch' flew into Barstein's mind. Nehemiah was not an earth-man. . .. He was an air-man, floating on facile wings."

Keep scrolling for more

Learn More about luftmensch

Listen to Our Podcast about luftmensch

Theme music by Joshua Stamper ©2006 New Jerusalem Music/ASCAP

Dictionary Entries near luftmensch

Statistics for luftmensch

Look-up Popularity

Time Traveler for luftmensch

The first known use of luftmensch was in 1907

See more words from the same year

Comments on luftmensch

What made you want to look up luftmensch? Please tell us where you read or heard it (including the quote, if possible).

WORD OF THE DAY

nonpareil

having no equal

Test Your Vocabulary

Words from Greek and Latin Quiz

Which of the following months comes from a Latin word for “ten”?

Can you spell these 10 commonly misspelled words?

TAKE THE QUIZ

SCRABBLE® Sprint

Test Your Knowledge - and learn some interesting things along the way.

TAKE THE QUIZ