Meshuga (Adjective)

Definition 1: Affectionate) Crazy, nutty, absent-minded

Usage 1: The noun is meshugaas "craziness" and a crazy girl is a "meshuggeneh" while a crazy boy is a "meshuggener." Be careful not to call your boyfriend "a crazy meshuggeneh" because you make two mistakes when you do: (1) a meshuggeneh is a girl and (2) the word already says he's crazy. Of course, if you come from one of the many regions where the final [r] is not pronounced, the same word applies both ways. Today's word is also spelled "meshugga" or "meshugge."

Suggested usage: Today's is a word for "crazy" that is mild and not insulting: "I may be meshuga but I'm not an idiot," sounds perfectly OK. Here is some more meshugaas: "You can't parachute from the roof with an umbrella! Where did you get a meshuga idea like that?!"

Etymology: Yiddish "meshuge" from Hebrew m隁uggah "maddened, crazed" participle of 歶ggah "to be mad, crazy." If you enjoyed today's word, you'll go meshuga over The JPS Dictionary of Jewish Words now available in our new gift shop.