Schlep Meaning in English

word

US

ʃlɛp

shlep

UK

ʃlˈɛp

sh-LEP

Definition

To carry or move something heavy or awkward, often with effort, or to travel somewhere with difficulty.

Usage & Nuances

Informal, sometimes humorous or complaining. Common in American English, borrowed from Yiddish. Used for both carrying heavy objects ('schlep groceries') and tiring journeys ('schlep across town').

• Spanish: arrastrar - cargar (andar cargando algo pesado)
• Portuguese (BR): carregar - arrastar (caminhar com algo pesado)
• Portuguese (PT): carregar - arrastar (andar com algo pesado)
• Chinese (Simplified): 费力搬运 - 拖着
• Chinese (Traditional): 費力搬運 - 拖著
• Hindi: खींच कर ले जाना - भारी चीज़ उठाकर चलना
• Arabic: يحمل بصعوبة - ينقل شيئًا ثقيلاً
• Bengali: বয়ে নেওয়া - টেনে আনা - কষ্ট করে টানা
• Russian: тащить - волочь - переться
• Japanese: 苦労して運ぶ - 面倒くさく持ち運ぶ
• Vietnamese: kéo lê - vác nặng nhọc - di chuyển vất vả
• Korean: 힘들게 나르다 - 고생해서 옮기다
• Turkish: zahmetle taşımak - güçlükle taşımak
• Urdu: کھینچنا - گھسیٹنا - مشکل سے لے جانا
• Indonesian: mengangkut dengan susah payah - membawa dengan berat hati

Example Sentences

I had to schlep the boxes upstairs.

basic

She didn't want to schlep her heavy bag all day.

basic

Why do I have to schlep all this stuff?

basic

We had to schlep across town in the rain to get there.

natural

It's a real pain to schlep groceries up five flights.

natural

He always complains when he has to schlep his kids' sports gear.

natural