What’s the female equivalent of ‘putz’?
Putzette.
Yenta
Yenta is more of of a meddlesome woman, and it’s male variation is kibbitzer. Since puts = penis, the female would be schmundie.
(Which, unlike “putz” or “schmuck,” would guarantee a mouthwashing with carbolic soap)
Is schmundie used the same way, like the c- word would be? Or mostly literally?
Maybe the best is “klafte”? - a “bitch” but only used to refer to an unpleasant woman, same use as the c-word if I’m am understanding correctly.
I’ve only heard putz for the male sex organ, or a man with a similar level of intelligence. The male version of bitch was always a momser. A gonif had some scruples, a schnorer some self-respect, but a momser was the lowest.
Not being Jewish, I think ‘putz’ means an idiot; and ‘schmuck’ means a proactive idiot.
I guess Fotze? I wouldn’t say that unless you know what you are are doing.
In English(?), or at least Scots, it would be something like “fud”
Surely I’m not the only old-timer who remembers when we had a “Putz!” smiley here on the SDMB. (Although I’ve been unable to find an image of it.)
I definitely remember it. I used to use it. But the smiley was cornfielded due to… issues with its namesake. Also, the board rules have changed so its utility would be limited. Still, it would be nice to have it back, if only for use in The BBQ Pit.
Why would “putz” be gender limited? After all, in English we use gender-origin words for either sex. Example: calling a man a boob is not an issue. (And if you’re were in an all-male English punk rock band in the 80s there’s a certain word that you’d frequently call your bandmates.)
The OED notes that “boob,” an embarrassing mistake or stupid person, predates the use of “boob” as an “informal” term for the female breast and the two meanings have very different etymologies.
Well, men DO have boobs. Women do not have penises. By definition.
And that’s the thing. ‘Putz’ seems to be something you would call a man. It seems strange to me to use it for a woman. (OTOH I see ‘putz’ as ‘fool’, as opposed to ‘dick’, which is how I interpret ‘schmuck’.)
I think I have always seen it the other way 'round. “Schmuck” has seemed to carry a more schlemozzly meaning than “putz” when I hear it used.
I know what the female equivalent is, but I’d be a putz to post it.
I don’t know the word’s status in Yiddish, but please don’t use that word in German, neither for female genitals nor for a female person, heaven help. It has all the connotations of “cunt” in American English and is incredibly vulgar.
I recall someone saying about this that they do… as many as they want.