noun Common

jo

Jo (noun) means a sweetheart or darling (chiefly Scots). Example: “The old ballad calls out to "my bonnie jo.”

noun

A sweetheart or darling (chiefly Scots).

"The old ballad calls out to "my bonnie jo.""

A wooden staff used in the Japanese martial art of jōdō.

"Students practiced strikes and blocks with the jo."

How to Use Jo

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishAn old Scots term of endearment, or a martial-arts staff — two unrelated words that happen to be spelled the same.

Word Forms

jos plural, jo plural

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Fill the Gap

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The old ballad calls out to "my bonnie _____."

Etymology

The "sweetheart" sense comes from Scots jo ("joy"), tracing back through Old French joie to Latin gaudia; a doublet of "joy."

Origin: Latin

Rhymes for jo

dojo mojo jojo mijo Tojo Hojo Hijo banjo Navajo pendejo

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Frequently Asked Questions

What does “jo” mean?

The word “jo” means a sweetheart or darling (chiefly Scots). In plain terms, an old Scots term of endearment, or a martial-arts staff — two unrelated words that happen to be spelled the same.

How do you pronounce “jo”?

“Jo” is pronounced jo (/d͡ʒoː/ in IPA).

How do you use “jo” in a sentence?

Here is “jo” used in a sentence: “The old ballad calls out to "my bonnie jo.".”

What part of speech is “jo”?

“Jo” is a noun.

Where does the word “jo” come from?

The word “jo” comes from Latin. The "sweetheart" sense comes from Scots jo ("joy"), tracing back through Old French joie to Latin gaudia; a doublet of "joy.".

Is “jo” a common word?

“Jo” is a fairly common word in modern English.

How many meanings does “jo” have?

“Jo” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: a sweetheart or darling (chiefly Scots).