klutz
Other forms: klutzes
If you're awkward and clumsy, you can call yourself a klutz. If a klutz is carrying a tray of full glasses across a dining room, you can be sure they'll end up on the floor.
This informal word is perfect for talking about a goofy oaf who trips over his own feet and seems to drop anything he's holding. You might say, "Don't let my brother move your TV — he's such a klutz!" Klutz is the Americanized version of the Yiddish klots, which means "block or lump," and also "clumsy person or blockhead." A related word in German is klotz, "boor, clod, or wooden block."
-
(Yiddish) a clumsy dolttype of:dolt, dullard, pillock, poor fish, pudden-head, pudding head, stupe, stupid, stupid persona person who is not very bright
- MLA
- APA
- Chicago
Vocabulary lists containing klutz
Whether you've said the wrong thing or tripped in front of a room full of people, we've all experienced awkward moments. These words will come in handy on National Awkward Moments Day because having a strong vocabulary should never be embarrassing. Read more on our blog: Embrace the Clumsy Vocabulary of National Awkward Moments Day
English has borrowed many words from Yiddish, which is itself an amalgam of German, Russian, Hebrew and many other languages. Here are 15 more English words that derive from Yiddish — some of which are very common, and some of which might be less familiar to you. Looking for more Yiddish-derived words? Check out our original list of English Words Derived from Yiddish.
Whether you just made a cringe-worthy comment or spilled soup in your lap, this list has words for every clumsy calamity. For more synonym lists, explore our Say What You Mean resources.