variants
or less commonly shtetel
plural shtetlach
ˈshtet-ˌläḵ 
ˈshtāt-
also shtetels
: a small Jewish town or village formerly found in Eastern Europe
Examples of shtetl in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Michtom was born Moshe Charmatz, in a shtetl in what is now Belarus.
—
Alexandra Schwartz, New Yorker, 9 Feb. 2026
Gnesye, an aging grandmother, has spent her life at the gates of the shtetl cemetery.
—Literary Hub, 22 Jan. 2026
Inside the light-reflecting anodized aluminum facade, viewers will find historic images, video testimonials from descendants of the Seduva shtetl, cinematic reenactments and historical objects.
—Leslie Katz, Forbes.com, 21 Jan. 2026
The titular character, played by Chalamet, is a scrappy kid trying to claw his way out of the shtetl of the Lower East Side through his Ping-Pong prowess and charismatic hucksterism.
—Jack Denton, Vulture, 30 Dec. 2025
See All Example Sentences for shtetl
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Alexandra Schwartz, New Yorker, 9 Feb. 2026
Gnesye, an aging grandmother, has spent her life at the gates of the shtetl cemetery.
—Literary Hub, 22 Jan. 2026
Inside the light-reflecting anodized aluminum facade, viewers will find historic images, video testimonials from descendants of the Seduva shtetl, cinematic reenactments and historical objects.
—Leslie Katz, Forbes.com, 21 Jan. 2026
The titular character, played by Chalamet, is a scrappy kid trying to claw his way out of the shtetl of the Lower East Side through his Ping-Pong prowess and charismatic hucksterism.
—Jack Denton, Vulture, 30 Dec. 2025
See All Example Sentences for shtetl
Cite this Entry
“Shtetl.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/shtetl. Accessed 14 Feb. 2026.
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