Schmuck, or shmuck, is a pejorative term meaning one who is stupid or foolish, or an obnoxious, contemptible or detestable person. The word came into the English language from Yiddish (Yiddish: שמאָק‎, shmok), where it has similar pejorative meanings, but where its literal meaning is a vulgar term for a penis.

What does schmuck really mean?

Next we come to 'schmuck', which in English is a rather vulgar definition of a contemptible or foolish person – in other words, a jerk. In Yiddish the word 'שמאָק' (schmok) literally means 'penis'.

Which is worse schmuck or putz?

In Jewish, a schmuck and a putz are both about stupid people. The difference is that a schmuck is out for number one, and a putz doesn't know his kop from his tuches. The guy who cuts you off in traffic to get home 10 seconds earlier is a schmuck. ... A putz is harmless, but a schmuck can give you tsuris.