klezmer

K5L1E1Z10M3E1R1
UK/ˈklɛzmə/US/ˈklɛzməɹ/

noun

A Jewish folk musician.

OriginYiddish קלעזמער ← Hebrew כְּלֵי זֶמֶר →
Less commonScrabble 22
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Meanings

nounklezmer (countable and uncountable, plural klezmers or klezmorim)

plural klezmers · plural klezmorim

  1. countableA Jewish folk musician.

    The entire Muzikant family of klezmorim, enough for half a symphony orchestra.

    2007, Michael Chabon, The Yiddish Policemen’s Union, 4th Estate (2010), page 213
  2. uncountableentertainmentA type of popular Jewish folk music especially associated with Ashkenazi cultures.

Origin

  1. Hebrewכְּלֵי זֶמֶר“musical instruments”
  2. Yiddishקלעזמער
  3. Englishklezmer

Borrowed from Yiddish קלעזמער (klezmer), from Hebrew כְּלֵי זֶמֶר (kléy zémer, “musical instruments”).

More words from Yiddish, Hebrew

Full word history & related roots →

Translations

French klezmer
  • klezmertype of popular Jewish folk music
Polish klezmer, klezmerka
  • klezmerJewish folk musician
  • klezmerkaJewish folk musician
  • muzyka klezmerskatype of popular Jewish folk music
Portuguese klezmer, klezmer
  • klezmerJewish folk musician
  • klezmertype of popular Jewish folk music
Cite this entry
APA

klezmer. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 2, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/klezmer

MLA

“klezmer.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/klezmer. Accessed November 2, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “klezmer,” accessed November 2, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/klezmer.

Source: klezmer on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.