kvetch

/kvɛʧ/

Other forms: kvetching; kvetched; kvetches

To kvetch is to grumble and complain at length. Kids who kvetch for days about never having gone to Disney World are unlikely to convince their parents to take them.

When you kvetch, you whine or grumble or bellyache about something. It's an informal way to describe a very annoying activity, and you can also call the complaint itself a kvetch, as well as the person doing the complaining. In fact, this is the original Yiddish meaning, from kvetshn, "squeeze" or "press," which has a German root, quetsche, or "crusher."

Definitions of kvetch

1. verb

   express complaints, discontent, displeasure, or unhappiness
   synonyms: complain, kick, plain, quetch, sound off

   types:

   hen-peck, nag, peck

   bother persistently with trivial complaints

   backbite, bitch

   say mean things

   grizzle, whine, yammer, yawp

   complain whiningly

   croak, gnarl, grumble, murmur, mutter

   make complaining remarks or noises under one's breath

   grouch, grumble, scold

   show one's unhappiness or critical attitude

   protest

   utter words of protest

   repine

   express discontent

   beef, bellyache, bitch, crab, gripe, grouse, holler, squawk

   complain

   inveigh, rail

   complain bitterly

   bemoan, bewail, deplore, lament

   regret strongly

   report

   complain about; make a charge against

   bleat

   talk whiningly

   declaim, inveigh

   speak against in an impassioned manner
2. noun

   (Yiddish) a constant complainer
   type of:

   bellyacher, complainer, crybaby, grumbler, moaner, sniveller, squawker, whiner

   a person given to excessive complaints and crying and whining
3. noun

   (Yiddish) a nagging complaint
   type of:

   complaint

   an expression of grievance or resentment