mensch

Meaning

Noun

• A person (chiefly male) of strength, integrity and honor or compassion.
• A gentleman.

Origin

• From Yiddish מענטש, from Middle High German mensch, mensche, mennische, from Old High German mennisko, from Proto-Germanic *manniskaz. The spelling mensch was influenced by German Mensch; compare the alternative spellings. mennish, and mensk; compare also mense. For the semantics, compare Latin humanē, English humane.