kitsch (English)

Where does "kitsch" come from?

The English adjective kitsch was borrowed from the German noun 'Kitsch'[1]. This German term originates from the dialectal verb 'kitschen', meaning 'to coat' or 'to smear'[1][2]. The word and its corresponding concept were subsequently popularized during the 1930s by various critics who used it to contrast with avant garde art[1].

Full etymology tree

• kitsch (English), 'Of art and decor: of questionable aesthetic value; excessively sentimental, overdone or vulgar.'
  • borrowed Kitsch (German), 'kitsch'
    • derived kitschen (German)

Ancestors

• Kitsch (German)

Sources

1. kitsch (English) - Wiktionary
2. Kitsch (German) - Wiktionary

Updated August 2026

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Etymology data from Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0 · About Miraris