shiksa
UK[ˈʃɪksə]US[ˈʃɪksə]
n
A non-Jewish girl or woman, often used in a mildly derogatory or teasing manner.
Etymology
The word 'shiksa' entered English from Yiddish (שיקסע), where it was used as a derogatory term for a non-Jewish woman. Yiddish sourced it from the Hebrew 'sheqets,' a term found in the Hebrew Bible denoting a ritually unclean or detested animal, essentially an "abomination." Through semantic broadening and cultural contact, the meaning evolved from a general concept of impurity to a specific, gendered social label within Ashkenazi Jewish communities. Its adoption into English reflects the influence of Yiddish slang, where it retains its ethnic and often disparaging connotation, though it can sometimes be used in a more neutral or even affectionate, teasing context.
Analysis
This word is a loanword from Yiddish, which itself borrowed it from the Hebrew word 'sheqets' (שֶׁקֶץ), meaning "abomination" or "detested thing." In its journey into English via Yiddish, its functional role shifted to become a colloquial, often pejorative, noun for a non-Jewish female.
Examples
His grandmother always hoped he would marry a nice Jewish girl, not some shiksa.
The term "shiksa" is sometimes used in a joking way among friends, though it can be offensive.
In many classic novels and films, the tension revolves around a Jewish man falling for a shiksa.