Schnorrer (שנאָרער; also spelled shnorrer) is a Yiddish pejorative term for a beggar who, unlike ordinary beggars, presents himself as respectable and feels entitled for the alms received.

The term schnorrer is generally regarded as derogatory (and has expanded to refer to anyone who is not quite making it, socially, financially or appearance-wise) and has generated a full genre of Jewish legends, stories and jokes.

Schnorrer is a Yiddish word meaning beggar, or moocher. It’s also a popular subject/target of Jewish humor. Below are some examples. Chernov, the schnorrer of Petrograd, had a very wealthy patron who, for some obscure reason, had taken a liking to the nervy little beggar.

May 30, 2018 · How exactly does the schnorrer wheedle? What’s the difference between a schnorrer and a mere beggar, and what does the Yiddish word capture that English does not?

Dec 5, 2016 · The meaning of SCHNORRER is beggar; especially : one who wheedles others into supplying his or her wants.

The schnorrer period began with the Chmielnicki massacres in Poland (1648-57), when thousands of Jews fled to Germany. In the eighteenth century schnorrers flourished principally in Germany, Holland, and Italy, and came from Poland (mainly from Lithuania), and also from Palestine, one from the latter country being known as a "Yerushalmi."

2 days ago · (Yiddish) a scrounger who takes advantage of the generosity of others

Jul 8, 2024 · Definition: : a beggar; especially, one who wheedles others into supplying his or her wants About the Word: The comedian Jerry Seinfeld, unburdened by lexicographic rules, defined schnorrer as “someone who picks the cashews out of the mixed nuts.”

The term "schnorrer" originated in the Jewish communities of Eastern Europe. In the 18th and 19th centuries, poverty was widespread among Jewish communities, and many people relied on begging or street performances for survival.

As an altar boy growing up in Kansas City, Mo., he heard his first Yiddish word — schnorrer, or freeloader — uttered by Groucho Marx in “Animal Crackers.”