Schmalziness is a rare word in English language that means being excessively sentimental or mawkish. The spelling of schmaltziness is derived from the Yiddish word "shmaltz," meaning rendered chicken fat often used in cooking, and the suffix "-iness" meaning the quality of. The IPA phonetic transcription of schmalziness is /ˈʃmɑːltsinəs/ or "sh-mahl-tsi-nis." Pronounce the "sch" as "sh," followed by a "mahl" sound, and ending with "iness" pronounced as "i-nis."
Schmalziness is derived from the adjective "schmaltzy," which describes something that is excessively sentimental, mawkish, or overly emotional in an exaggerated and often insincere manner. It refers to a state or quality characterized by an excessive display of sentimentality or a saccharine, maudlin sentiment. When something is described as schmalzy, it typically implies that it is tacky, overly melodramatic, or sentimental in a way that feels contrived or artificial.
This term is often used to critique or mock works of art, literature, music, or films that rely heavily on exaggerated emotions, clichéd romanticism, or manipulative storytelling techniques to elicit an emotional response from the audience. Schmalziness is associated with an excessive use of saccharine, sentimental themes, or overtly emotional language that may be perceived as cheesy or overdone.
Furthermore, schmalziness sometimes implies a lack of authenticity or genuine emotion. It suggests that the sentimental elements being presented are forced or insincere, possibly aiming to manipulate the audience's emotions without providing substance or depth. However, it is important to note that what one person may consider schmalzy, another may find genuinely moving, as the perception of sentimentality can be subjective.
In summary, schmalziness refers to the state or quality of being excessively sentimental, mawkish, or overly emotional in an exaggerated or insincere manner, often perceived as cheesy, artificial, or lacking genuine emotion.
The word "schmalziness" is derived from the Yiddish term "schmalts", which means rendered chicken or goose fat. In Yiddish, "schmalts" or "schmalz" is often used to describe something rich, fatty, or excessively sentimental. The "-iness" suffix is added to form an English adjective, turning "schmalts" into "schmalzy", and subsequently "schmalziness" to describe excessive sentimentality or cloying sweetness.