shmatte: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
Low / NicheInformal, colloquial; primarily found in Yiddish-influenced English, especially in areas with significant Jewish populations (e.g., New York, London). Often used for humorous or dismissive effect.
Quick answer
What does “shmatte” mean?
A rag.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A rag; a piece of old, worn-out, or cheap fabric/clothing.
Used humorously or dismissively to refer to clothing, often implying it is old-fashioned, tattered, or of low quality. In business contexts (especially the fashion/garment industry), it can refer to clothing or fabric samples in general, often with an ironic or affectionate tone.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
More common in American English, particularly in the New York metropolitan area and within the fashion/garment industry. In British English, it is less widespread and primarily used within specific communities.
Connotations
In both varieties, it carries the same core Yiddish-derived connotations of informality and dismissiveness. In the US, it may be more readily understood in cosmopolitan areas.
Frequency
Rare in general British English; low but somewhat recognisable in American English, especially in relevant cultural or industrial contexts.
Grammar
How to Use “shmatte” in a Sentence
wear + a + shmattedressed in + shmattesbusiness/schlep + in + shmattesVocabulary
Collocations
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Used in the garment industry, often with irony: "He's been in the shmatte business for 40 years."
Academic
Virtually never used; would only appear in linguistic or cultural studies of Yiddish loanwords.
Everyday
Informal, often humorous: "Don't mind this old shmatte I'm wearing for gardening."
Technical
Not used in technical contexts outside of specific cultural commentary.
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “shmatte”
- Misspelling as 'schmatte', 'shmate', or 'shmatta'.
- Using it in overly formal contexts.
- Applying it to non-fabric items.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No, it is a Yiddish loanword used in informal, colloquial English, primarily in specific cultural and regional contexts.
No, it is highly informal and context-specific. Use 'rag', 'garment', or 'cloth' instead.
It comes from Yiddish 'שמאַטע' (shmate), meaning 'rag', which itself is likely from Polish 'szmata'.
It can be dismissive or insulting if used about someone else's clothes without their consent. It is often used self-deprecatingly or affectionately within in-groups.
A rag.
Shmatte: in British English it is pronounced /ˈʃmætə/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˈʃmɑːtə/ or /ˈʃmætə/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “"in the shmatte business" = in the clothing trade”
- “"dressed in shmattes" = wearing rags or very old clothes”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of a SHredded MAT of fabriC – a SHMATte is a rag.
Conceptual Metaphor
CLOTHING IS A LOW-VALUE OBJECT / FASHION IS TRIVIALITY.
Practice
Quiz
In which context is 'shmatte' MOST appropriately used?