nudnik

Nudnik is a noun that denotes a person who is a nuisance or pest: someone who is persistently tiresome, nagging, or intrusive. In everyday usage, a nudnik is not necessarily dangerous; the term signals annoyance or weariness with repetitive, unwanted behavior.

The word is of Yiddish origin and entered American English through immigrant communities. Its exact linguistic roots are uncertain, but it is widely linked to the Yiddish term nudnik and to related Slavic words that convey boredom or nuisance.

In use, nudnik can describe a range of behaviors: a persistent asker for favors, a talkative bore, or someone who continually interrupts or badgered others. It is usually informal and can be affectionate in light contexts or pejorative when used more harshly.

Spelling variants include nudnik or nudnick in English transliteration. It has found a place in American humor, literature, and everyday speech, particularly among speakers familiar with Yiddish or Jewish humor. It is akin to terms such as pest, nuisance, bore, or nag but carries a specific cultural association with an annoyingly insistent temperament.