kibbitz (also kibitz)
verb

- to exchange comments, to chat

- to make unwanted and intrusive comments

Merriam-Webster /  The Free Dictionary

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WORD ORIGIN

“Kibbitz” derives from the Yiddish kibbitsen meaning "to chat" or "to joke around” and from the Hebrew meaning "to gather together”. It first appeared in English around 1910-1915, reflecting the activities of lively Yiddish-speaking communities in major U.S. cities. By the 1930s-40s, it had gained widespread familiarity in American English.

Gradually the meaning extended to any playful, casual banter among family or friends — and with the additional meaning of sometimes meddling in others' affairs.

The noun "kibbitzer" means someone who jokes/chatters like a spectator.

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COMMON YIDDISH WORDS

Klutz = a clumsy person

Mensch = an honorable, decent, or authentic person.

Mishpuche/Mishpucha = family and close friends.

Shlep = to carry something heavy or to drag something/someone around.

Shmutz = dirt, but generally used when referring to only a little bit of dirt, such as food leftovers around your mouth, or breadcrumbs on your shirt.

Tchatchke = a trinket. Any little object that has no real function could be considered a ‘Tchatchke’.

Oy Vey = Oy vey is an expression of dismay or woe. It’s often abbreviated to just “oy” or elongated to “oy vey iz mir”.

Nosh = Nosh means to snack or nibble. Although it is used in colloquial English, the word comes from the Yiddish “nashn”.

Shmooze = to schmooze is to chat or make small talk — to shoot the breeze. At certain functions, schmoozing might be done in order to network or impress someone.

Chutzpah = when a person has Chutzpah, they have extreme self-confidence, boldness, gall or audacity. “It took real Chutzpah for her to go straight to the CEO to ask for a job.”

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SYNONYMS

banter, chat, chime in, chinwag, chit-chat, chatter, chew the fat, chunter, converse, counsel, gab, gabble, gas, gibber, go on, gossip, huddle, jabber, jaw, jive, KIBBITZ, natter, opine, palaver, parley, patter, pow-wow, prate, prattle, put in one's two cents, rap, schmooze, shoot the breeze, spout, throw in one's two cents, tittle-tattle, twaddle, twitter, weigh in, yack, yakety-yak, yakkety-yak, yammer, yap, yatter,

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SMUGGLE OWAD into a conversation, say something like:

“Whenever we’re in team meetings, Jack comes over to KIBBITZ — and even offers his unsolicited advice.”

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THANKS to Carl for suggesting today’s word.

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