noun Uncommon

afro

AF-roh

Afro (noun) means a rounded, voluminous hairstyle of tightly curled hair. Example: “He grew out a large afro in the 1970s.”

noun

A rounded, voluminous hairstyle of tightly curled hair.

"He grew out a large afro in the 1970s."

"She wore her afro naturally, without straightening it."

How to use afro

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishA big, round, curly hairstyle.

Common pairings

grow an afro wear an afro

Word forms

afros plural

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He grew out a large _____ in the 1970s.

Etymology

Shortened from "Afro-," the combining form referring to African origin, on the model of words like "Latino" and "Anglo."

Origin: Latin

Synonyms

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'fro

Frequently asked questions

What does “afro” mean?

The word “afro” means a rounded, voluminous hairstyle of tightly curled hair. In plain terms, a big, round, curly hairstyle.

How do you pronounce “afro”?

“Afro” is pronounced AF-roh (/ˈæf.ɹoʊ/ in IPA).

How do you use “afro” in a sentence?

Here is “afro” used in a sentence: “He grew out a large afro in the 1970s.”

What is another word for “afro”?

Words with a similar meaning to “afro” include 'fro.

What part of speech is “afro”?

“Afro” is a noun.

Where does the word “afro” come from?

The word “afro” comes from Latin. Shortened from "Afro-," the combining form referring to African origin, on the model of words like "Latino" and "Anglo.".

Is “afro” a common word?

“Afro” is an uncommon word in modern English.

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Vocabulary lists that include afro:

Words with Latin origins Words that end with O