ZILCH

What Does ZILCH Mean in a Text?

The Quick Answer

ZILCH means "Nothing."

More Observations...

The origin of the term ZILCH is uncertain, but it probably stems from the use of ZILCH as a surname for an insignificant person (especially Joe Zilch) in the 1920 and 1930s. (The most commonly cited person called Zilch is Mr. Zilch, who was a comic character in the US magazine "Ballyhoo" in the 1920s.)

The term ZILCH has since come to mean "nothing." Based purely on how it sounds, ZILCH is said to have German or Yiddish origins, but no sources offer the root word for this claim. (Of note, however, the surname Zilk is common in Austria.)

Image for ZILCH

When I write ZILCH, I mean this:

ZILCH means "nothing." (It might derive from the Austrian surname ZILK.)

Summary of Key Points

"Zero, Nothing" is, by far, the most common meaning for ZILCH when it is used in a text. (Bear in mind that it could have another meaning if used in a different context.)

ZILCH
Definition:	Zero, Nothing
Type:	Slang Word (Jargon)
Guessability:	2: Quite easy to guess
Typical Users:	Adults, Teenagers, and Under 13s

Examples of ZILCH in Sentences

Here are examples of ZILCH in conversations:

• Tony: Have you got any money?
• Jordan: Nah, ZILCH.

• Tony: What have you been up to today?
• Jordan: ZILCH nichts, nada, nothing at all.

An Academic Look at ZILCH

The term ZILCH is typically used as a noun (i.e., a naming word).

Example of ZILCH Used in a Text

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