General
maljo
What does maljo mean?
A curse or bad luck believed to be caused by someone's envious or admiring gaze. Also maljeaux.
"Put a jumbie bead on the baby to keep off maljo."
Origin
Trinidadian, from French 'mal yeux' (bad eyes).
Frequently asked questions
What is maljo?
Maljo is the Caribbean evil eye, misfortune or illness believed to be caused by someone's envious or overly admiring gaze.
Where does the word maljo come from?
It comes from the French 'mal yeux', meaning 'bad eyes'.
How do people protect against maljo?
Traditional protections include wearing a jumbie bead or other charm, especially on babies and young children.
Study it as flashcards or scroll it in Vocabulary Flow — saved to your collection.
