Standard Lemma guide

blech

intj · noun · verb · 3 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot

Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.

Sound

Pronunciation

Each Play button uses your device's default local English voice, or a natural local fallback. The selected voice name appears after playback. This is synthesized speech, not a source recording.

  • /blɛk/
  • /blɛx/
  • Southern-England: Recorded audio is listed in the source snapshot.
  • Southern-England: Recorded audio is listed in the source snapshot.
  • rhymes with -ɛk
  • CMU ARPABET: B L EH1 K Digits mark lexical stress: 1 primary, 2 secondary, 0 unstressed.

1

intj

Meaning 1

An imitation of the sound of gagging, used to express disgust or disdain.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: slang

Examples

  • Blech! Look at all those maggots!

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

2

noun

Meaning 2

A metal sheet used to cover stovetop burners on Shabbat to allow food to be kept warm without violating the prohibition against cooking.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: Judaism

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

3

verb

Meaning 3

To have the vomiting reflex triggered.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: slang

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

History

Etymology

Imitative.

From Yiddish בלעך (blekh). Related to German Blech.

Across languages

Translations

16 source translations are retained for this English entry.

  • Catalan: ecs — gagging sound of disgust
  • German: kotz — gagging sound of disgust
  • German: würg — gagging sound of disgust
  • Greek: μπλιάχ (bliách) — gagging sound of disgust
  • Polish: ble — gagging sound of disgust
  • Polish: fe — gagging sound of disgust
  • Polish: fu — gagging sound of disgust
  • Polish: fuj — gagging sound of disgust
  • Polish: pfu — gagging sound of disgust
  • Polish: pfuj — gagging sound of disgust
  • Russian: тьфу (tʹfu) — gagging sound of disgust
  • Vietnamese: ọe — gagging sound of disgust
  • Hebrew: פְּלָטַת שַׁבָּת (p'latat shabat) — metal sheet for keeping food warm on Shabbat
  • Hebrew: פְּלָטָה (p'lata) — metal sheet for keeping food warm on Shabbat
  • Polish: blech — metal sheet for keeping food warm on Shabbat
  • Yiddish: בלעך (blekh) — metal sheet for keeping food warm on Shabbat