A (usually derogatory) term for a young, spoilt, wealthy (Jewish) woman who is preoccupied with materialism or frivolities, and is characterized by nasal, drawling speech. Also shortened form kug (see quotation 1992), attributive, and combination (objective) kugel-spotting. Cf. bagel.
1970 New Nation Oct. 17He married, quite thoughtlessly, a middle-class Kugel, but soon sees that her eccentric zany charm is merely slovenly vacuousness.
1971 Personality 29 Jan. 49Kugel is a Yiddish word meaning pudding, but in this country it now also means daughters of wealthy parents whose only interest in life is their appearance and how to spend more money. Kugels have developed a jargon and accent of their own.
1975 Rhodeo (Rhodes Univ.) Vol.29 No.6, 2I regretfully observe that a fair number of kugels are managing to infiltrate the Rhodes Campus..all dolled up to the nines.
1981 B. Ronge in Fair Lady 2 Dec. 352‘A kugel is not a radical or ethnic phenomenon’ he said. ‘It is really a state of mind. And an accent of course.’
1982 Sunday Times 28 Mar. (Mag. Sect.) 1He took to the business the way a kugel takes to Krugerrands.
1982 I.H. Klevansky Kugel Book 6How to spot a kugel. She’s well-dressed. She wears diamond studs in her ears. She smells expensive. She speaks through her nose...Thursday nights make for good kugel-spotting.
1986 Frankental & Shain in Burman & Reynolds Growing Up 220Some Jewish girls will virtually act out a fascinating stereotype which has been named and articulated in recent years. This is the ‘kugel’ phenomenon, a caricature of a young woman with ‘the latest’ in everything and a single-minded determination to find the ‘right’ husband, the ‘perfect’ home in the best area and to raise ‘perfect’ children. Clearly, the ‘kugel’ is a product of urban affluence associated with the nouveau riche, to be found in many countries and not restricted to Jews. The word, however, has become a code reference for young Jews (and increasingly for non-Jews) in South Africa, with the user aspiring sometimes to the status, but more often rejecting association with the category.
1986 Style Aug. 146Ran into a kugel friend last week. Expressed surprise that she hadn’t already left for Australia. ‘Never!’ she shrieked. ‘As I said to Merv, I’d be rather killed in my bed than have to get up and make it.’
1989 Flying Springbok Sept. 14She has a wardrobe that would make a kugel blanch (1200000 pairs of shoes).
1989 B. Ludman Day of Kugel 8‘Kugels are mostly from the wealthy northern suburbs of Johannesburg..’ Clive said. ‘If you’re a kugel, you’re doing a BA degree while you look for a medical student to marry. Your heart is as big as all outdoors and your head is an empty as the Karoo.’
1991 C. Sampson on TV1, 11 JuneIn America we call the kugel the JAP — the Jewish American princess.
1991 I. & F. De Moor Informants, Grahamstown (now Makhanda, Eastern Cape)Kugel (probably originated at the University of the Witwatersrand) — a rich, spoilt, shallow female. Usually a first year University student, often Jewish. Has a particular accent and manner of speaking, epitomised in Pieter Dirk Uys’s send up in his many satirical reviews. Definitely associated more and more with Johannesburg than anywhere else in the country.
1991 H. Phillips Informant, Johannesburg, Gauteng‘It’s outstanding’, the ultimate mark of kugel approval.
1992 B. Ronge in Sunday Times 10 May (Mag. Sect.) 8I hung around..observing the shopping patterns of the kugels because I was looking for a jet-set, you see, and if the Sandton kugs can’t set your jet for you, then 10-to-one it can’t fly at all.
1993 H.P. Toffoli in Sunday Times 16 May 15Studies show the black-tipped hanging fly chooses her man..on the size of the prey he provides. A regular kugel.
FAQs
South African slang (usually derogatory). A type of wealthy young (Jewish) woman, characterized as being shallow and materialistic.
What does "kugel" mean? ›
ku·gel ˈkü-gəl. : a baked pudding (as of potatoes or noodles) usually served as a side dish.
What is a kugel slang? ›
(ˈkuːɡəl ) noun South Africa offensive, derogatory, slang. a young Jewish woman from a wealthy background who is seen as being excessively materialistic.
What is the meaning of Kugela? ›
Meaning of kugel in English
in Jewish cooking, a baked dish usually made of potatoes or noodles (= long, thin strips made from flour or rice, water, and often egg, cooked in boiling liquid): Matzo balls and potato kugel are a regular part of the family's annual Seder.
What is the simple definition of South Africa? ›
Officially the Republic of South Africa , a nation at the southern tip of Africa spanning the Cape of Good Hope where the Atlantic Ocean meets the Indian Ocean .
What is a kugel in South Africa? ›
South African slang (usually derogatory). A type of wealthy young (Jewish) woman, characterized as being shallow and materialistic.
What is another name for kugel? ›
Litvaks (Jews from Lithuania, northeastern Poland and northern Russia) call the pudding kugel, Galitzianers (Jews from southeastern Poland and western Ukraine) call it kigel.
Why do Jews eat kugel? ›
And then I read in The Jewish Kitchen: Recipes and Stories from Around the World of a Hasidic rabbi, Pinchas of Koretz (in Galicia), who claimed that lokshen kugel itself symbolizes Jewish unity, since the noodles are all tangled together and are really inseparable, just like the unified Jewish people.
What does kugel symbolize? ›
Some also say that the tangled pasta of the noodle kugel specifically has been said to be a symbol of Jewish unity – from the Ashkenazi to the Mizrahi.
How do you eat kugel? ›
Kugel is traditionally served as a side dish alongside something meaty like brisket or roast chicken. In this case it would normally be served warm, but it can also be refrigerated and eaten cold the next day. Sweeter versions can also be eaten hot or cold, and taste great with fresh cream or vanilla ice cream.
The name of the dish comes from the Yiddish word kugel meaning 'sphere, globe, ball'; thus the Yiddish name likely originated as a reference to the round balls of dough that were placed in the center of the cholent, a traditional Shabbat stew, to cook alongside it and absorb its flavors for its later use as a side dish ...
What country is kugel from? ›
Hailing from Germany, kugel is, at its core, a baked casserole with starch (usually noodles or potatoes), eggs and fat. While that's the base, kugel can be found in many variations from savory to sweet.
Does kugel taste good? ›
Her version of every Jewish holiday's favorite noodle pudding is a touch sweet and a little eggy, landing somewhere between airy and rich, with small curds from cottage cheese. Tugging on a few noodles so they breach the surface means you get golden brown bits that crunch.
What was the old name for South Africa? ›
What was South Africa called before South Africa? During the British Empire, South Africa was called the Union of South Africa. It was formed by the union of four republics, i.e., Natal, Cape Colony, Transvaal, and Orange Free state.
What is the new name for South Africa? ›
Since 1961, the long formal name in English has been the "Republic of South Africa" and Republiek van Suid-Afrika in Afrikaans. The country has an official name in 12 official languages.
What do they call South African? ›
This colorful mix of cultures gives South Africa its nickname "rainbow nation." South Africans are passionate about music, often using song and dance to express social and political ideas. They're also known worldwide for their skill in sports, including rugby, cricket, golf, and soccer.
Is kugel a Yiddish word? ›
The name of the dish comes from the Yiddish word kugel meaning 'sphere, globe, ball'; thus the Yiddish name likely originated as a reference to the round balls of dough that were placed in the center of the cholent, a traditional Shabbat stew, to cook alongside it and absorb its flavors for its later use as a side dish ...
What word means a snack in Yiddish? ›
Definitions of nosh. noun. (Yiddish) a snack or light meal.
