What does "Tchotchke" mean?
nounA small decorative trinket or knickknack of little value.
Origin of "Tchotchke"
From Yiddish טשאַטשקע (tshatshke) meaning trinket or toy.
How to Say "Tchotchke"
Tchotchke sounds like TCHAWTCH-kuh, with the stress on the first syllable TCHAWTCH. Break it down like this: TCHAW (as in 'chop' with a T sound first) + TCH (as in 'cheese') + kuh (as in 'cup').
The most common mistake is pronouncing the first syllable as 'choch' instead of 'tchawtch', which alters the intended sound due to misunderstanding the initial consonant combination.
My grandmother has a collection of quirky tchotchkes that she proudly displays on her shelves.
Frequently asked questions
How do you pronounce Tchotchke?
Tchotchke is pronounced ˈtʃɒtʃkə. Click the audio button above to hear the correct pronunciation in American, British, and Australian English.
Is Tchotchke hard to pronounce?
Tchotchke is considered hard to pronounce. The IPA phonetic transcription is ˈtʃɒtʃkə.
What language is Tchotchke from?
Tchotchke originates from Yiddish. From Yiddish טשאַטשקע (tshatshke) meaning trinket or toy.