newyork.localmean.com/schmear
Schmear
SHMEER
Local meaning
A spread or layer of cream cheese on a bagel; it can also mean a spreadable topping more generally.
In New York bagel language, a schmear most often means cream cheese spread across the cut bagel. The word comes through Yiddish and remains tied to the city’s Jewish food history.
Example in context
- “Everything bagel, toasted, with a scallion schmear.”
How it is used
Widely understood in U.S. food language and strongly associated with New York bagel culture.
neutral, culturally rooted
bagel shops, delis, breakfast orders
Widely understood in U.S. food language and strongly associated with New York bagel culture.
Schmear does not specify the amount or flavor, so clarify when the shop offers several spreads.
Spelling and scope
Widely understood in U.S. food language and strongly associated with New York bagel culture.
- Search forms
bagel with a schmearschmeercream cheese schmear
LocalMean keeps common search spellings discoverable without claiming that every borough, community, or generation uses one written form.
Frequently asked questions
Does schmear always mean cream cheese?
In a bagel order it usually does, though the broader word can mean another spreadable food.
How is schmear pronounced?
It is commonly pronounced like shmeer.
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.
- schmearMerriam-Webster
Dictionary definition, pronunciation, Yiddish origin, and cream-cheese sense of schmear.