zaftig

adjective

zaf·tig | \ ˈzäf-tig

How to pronounce zaftig (audio)

, ˈzȯf-

How to pronounce zaftig (audio)

\

variants: or less commonly zoftig \ ˈzȯf-tig

How to pronounce zaftig (audio)

\

Definition of zaftig

of a woman

: having a full rounded figure : pleasingly plump

Zaftig Has Yiddish Origins Example Sentences Learn More about zaftig

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Zaftig Has Yiddish Origins

Over the centuries, some women have been approvingly described as full-figured, shapely, womanly, curvy, curvaceous, voluptuous, and statuesque. Such women are, in a word, zaftig. Zaftig has been juicing up our language since the 1930s (the same decade that gave us Yiddish-derived futz, hoo-ha, and schmaltz, not to mention lox). It comes from the Yiddish zaftik, which means "juicy" or "succulent" and which in turn derives from zaft, meaning "juice" or "sap."

Examples of zaftig in a Sentence

The actress playing the lead role was a zaftig blonde.

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

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Cite this Entry

“Zaftig.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/zaftig. Accessed 21 Apr. 2021.

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More Definitions for zaftig

zaftig

adjective

English Language Learners Definition of zaftig

chiefly US, informal, of a woman : slightly fat in an attractive way : having a full, rounded figure

See the full definition for zaftig in the English Language Learners Dictionary

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