Where Does the Word Chachki Come From

Although tchotchke is borrowed from the Yiddish term tshatshke, it comes from the obsolete Polish word czaczko, which had the same meaning. Similar terms were found in several European languages. But today tchotchke is primarily an American word. It is first recorded in English in the 1960s.

What does it mean to call someone a Chachki?

(Yiddish) an inexpensive showy trinket. synonyms: chachka, tsatske, tshatshke. type of: collectable, collectible. things considered to be worth collecting (not necessarily valuable or antique) (Yiddish) an attractive, unconventional woman.

Is tchotchke a Yiddish?

While many such words are of unknown origin, we know that tchotchke comes from the Yiddish tshatshke of the same meaning, and ultimately from a now-obsolete Polish word, czaczko. Tchotchke is a pretty popular word these days, but it wasn’t commonly used in English until the 1970s.