noun
gogo
GOH-goh
Gogo (noun) means a stretchy fabric band used to tie back or bunch up hair. Example: “She wrapped a gogo twice around her ponytail before the game.”
noun
1
A stretchy fabric band used to tie back or bunch up hair.
"She wrapped a gogo twice around her ponytail before the game."
2
An informal word for grandmother or an elderly woman, used mainly in southern African English.
"The children ran to greet their gogo at the gate."
"On the weekdays she and Bawinde worked for the South Africans, but as the weekend approached Elizabeth was anxious to get home to see if James had come to visit his gogo in the village."
— Debra Liebenow Daly, The Kingdom of Roses and Thorns (2009)
How to use gogo
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishDepending on context: either a stretchy hair tie, or (in southern African English) an affectionate word for grandmother.
When to use it
The "grandmother" sense is regional to southern Africa and carries warm, familiar tone.
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Word forms
- Plural
- gogos
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
She wrapped a _____ twice around her ponytail before the game.
Etymology
The "grandmother" sense comes from Zulu ugogo, meaning grandmother; the hair-band sense is a separate, unrelated use of the same spelling.
Rhymes for gogo
See all rhymes for gogo →Frequently asked questions
What does “gogo” mean?
The word “gogo” means a stretchy fabric band used to tie back or bunch up hair. In plain terms, depending on context: either a stretchy hair tie, or (in southern African English) an affectionate word for grandmother.
How do you pronounce “gogo”?
“Gogo” is pronounced GOH-goh (/ˈɡoʊɡoʊ/ in IPA).
How do you use “gogo” in a sentence?
Here is “gogo” used in a sentence: “She wrapped a gogo twice around her ponytail before the game.”
What part of speech is “gogo”?
“Gogo” is a noun.
How many meanings does “gogo” have?
“Gogo” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: a stretchy fabric band used to tie back or bunch up hair.
