Word Pronunciation & Dictionary

schmo

/ʃməʊ/

Word Rarity Very rare

Frequency: Zipf frequency 1.80 in modern English

Syllables: schmo
IPA: /ʃməʊ/

12

Scrabble Score

5

Letters

1

Syllables

5

Unique Chars

Meaning

noun

A stupid, obnoxious, pathetic, or otherwise contemptible person; a schmuck.

American usage; Derogatory; Slang

noun

Any average Joe; any Joe Schmoe.

American usage; Derogatory; Humorous; Informal

Example Sentences

"The poor schmo would immediately break down and confess that he did a lot of other bad things as well."
"I'm just an average schmo"
"Of his early childhood, he told the Deseret News of Salt Lake City: “I'm a schmo. My family never made more than $25,000 a year. We're all bakers for generations.”"

Etymology

From Yiddish, alteration of schmuck. Compare also Russian чмо (čmo, “jerk, schmuck”).

Origin

Source language: Yiddish

Word Breakdown

Root: -

Usage

Inflected Forms

schmos (plural) schmoes (plural) schmoe (alternative) shmo (alternative) shmoe (alternative)

Phrases

Joe Schmo

Frequently Paired Words

schmuck Joe Schmo schlemiel schlimazel schlub

Synonyms

alcatote asshat arsehole asshole bayard berk birdbrain blither bobchin bonehead bozo buffoon

Rhymes With

to so do no so-so know go show though as though oh ago

Questions

How do you pronounce schmo?: The recorded pronunciation is /ʃməʊ/.
What does schmo mean?: A stupid, obnoxious, pathetic, or otherwise contemptible person; a schmuck.
Where does schmo come from?: It is traced to Yiddish.

How to pronounce schmo

Open the pronunciation page — Open the Speakur entry for “schmo”.
Read the phonetic spelling — Read the IPA spelling (/ʃməʊ/) so you know which sounds to aim for.
Play the audio — Click Play to hear reference audio for “schmo”.
Repeat and practice — Say “schmo” aloud, matching stress and vowels until it feels natural.