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Glite Dictionary
goyish

goyish

1 9.7
Typical of people or things that are not Jewish, often used jokingly
  • adjective
  • /ˈɡɔɪɪʃ/
  • NSFW
translation icon : goyish
  • He often enjoys goyish traditions during the holiday season, like Thanksgiving dinner.

Examples

  • The novel, Goldstein could be called in one sense a feminist Chaim Potok, is much concerned with questions of Jews in a goyish environment.

    Academic text (1997)

  • Our goyish comrades have begun a round of spring cleaning to reinvigorate the Party.

    Closer to the Moon (2014)

  • He was like Max Fischer at Rushmore Academy, only popular and goyish.

    Blog text (14)

  • One word—a little word—a goyish word.

    Academic text (2007)

  • Many TV shows feature goyish characters who often embody typical American traits.

  • The comic's goyish humor relies heavily on stereotypes about non-Jewish people.

Synonyms

gentile
vsgoyish
11 7.6

Relating to people who are not Jewish

is informal or humorous in tone rather than neutral

Surface Forms

goyish positive

Morphology

goyish = goy (transparent) = goy + ish

The adjective is a straightforward formation from 'goy' + '-ish' meaning 'like or characteristic of a goy', so the meaning is directly derivable.

Etymology

Goyish comes from the Hebrew and Yiddish word goy, which first meant 'nation' and later came to mean a 'non-Jew'. So, goyish describes someone or something that is 'like a non-Jew', often said in a light or joking way.