newyork.localmean.com/schlep
Schlep
SHLEP
Local meaning
To carry or drag something awkwardly, or to make a tiring, inconvenient trip.
A New Yorker may schlep groceries up a walk-up or describe a long multi-transfer journey as a schlep. The Yiddish-derived word is standard enough to appear in dictionaries but remains culturally visible in New York English.
Example in context
- “I’m not schlepping that suitcase across three boroughs.”
How it is used
Yiddish-derived English used widely, with a particularly strong cultural association with New York speech.
weary, humorous, practical
travel, errands, moving, carrying, commuting
Yiddish-derived English used widely, with a particularly strong cultural association with New York speech.
The word is not uniquely New York and should be recognized as part of a wider Jewish and American English history.
Spelling and scope
Yiddish-derived English used widely, with a particularly strong cultural association with New York speech.
- Search forms
schlep meaning new yorkschlepping across townyiddish new york words
LocalMean keeps common search spellings discoverable without claiming that every borough, community, or generation uses one written form.
Frequently asked questions
Does schlep mean walk?
It can describe a tiring trip, but it can also mean carrying or dragging something difficult.
Where does schlep come from?
English borrowed it from Yiddish, and it became especially familiar in cities with large Jewish communities, including New York.
Read next
All words →Evidence and further reading
These sources support the regional association, dictionary sense, or broader spread. The entry remains open to correction from New York speakers and qualified reviewers.
- schlepMerriam-Webster
Dictionary definition and Yiddish-derived history for carrying, dragging, or making a difficult trip.
- Geographic Variation in Slang SemanticsarXiv
Research showing that slang meanings and associations vary by geography and community.