Yentas

Part of speech: noun

Definitions

1. An informal term used to describe busybody women known for gossiping and meddling in others' affairs
2. A person, typically a woman, who pries into personal matters and shares information in a nosy manner
3. A character archetype often associated with excessive curiosity and involvement in the lives of others within a community

Etymology: "Yentas" is simply the plural of "yenta", so it refers to more than one nosy, meddling woman. The singular comes from Yiddish, where "yente" (יענטע) was used for a gossipy, interfering woman, and English borrowed it with that sense intact. Because the word is a loanword, its plural follows the English pattern of adding "-s", which is why "yentas" appears in English texts rather than a Yiddish plural form.

Synonyms: gossips, busybody